Many years ago, when I thought about my life with kids, I imagined our house to be The House. You know, the house where all the kids end up hanging out? I wanted to be the mom who could be mom to my own kids and Second Mom to their friends. I never wanted to be 'Cool Mom' or try to be buddy-buddy; I just wanted to be The Mom.
Fast forward to present day.
Turns out I don't really like other kids.
Well, that's not totally true. Let me back up for a moment: My husband and I made the decision to put our kids into public school for a number of reasons, one being that we are looking to build relationships with people. We've gotten to know a few families and have had the opportunity to have their kids in our home. One family in particular has visited quite a bit. The son is a classmate of our oldest, and his sister is two years younger. She can be a little.....much. Like when she opens my cabinet to ask for something to eat. Or when she tells me that my baby doesn't want to be in her high chair anymore. Or when she tries to take my 2 year old to the bathroom. I feel my ire rising, and feel the need to put her in her place. This is my house, not yours; keep your hands to yourself. You may be thirsty, but I will be the one to decide what we're going to drink, not you. I'm the mom, thank you, I'll figure out when the baby wants to get down.
Oh yeah. I'm getting territorial with a six year old. Not my finest hour.
Right in the middle of my snit fit, God tapped gently on my shoulder and reminded me that this is what I wanted. This is the reason that we chose public school, this is the reason that we wanted kids in our house. She doesn't need me to correct her, she needs me to love her. She needs me to show her Jesus. She doesn't know that's what she needs, nor does her brother or mother for that matter, but Jesus is what they need. And this is how I show Him, by loving her.
How in the world do I think I'm going to stand having all these kids in my house over the years? Kids come from all different places in life, all different backgrounds, all different personalities, habits, you name it. My job is to love them, to show them the One who can love far better than I ever can. My job is to give them the love that they might not get anywhere else. My job is to be a mom who is capable of all this love because I'm not concerned with besting a six year old, but rather I've laid down my self to take up Christ.
And that's The Mom that I want to be.
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Hands full
The baby was asleep, the 2 year old down for her nap, and the 4 year old settled into his computer games. I was ready to tackle some work. Then the phone rang. It was the school calling to let me know that the 7 year old had a fever and would I please come pick him up? So sleeping baby into the snowsuit and carseat, 4 year old lured away from the computer with the promise that we'll be gone for just a few minutes and of course he can do computer games as soon as we get back, and at the last possible moment, the 2 year old gently awakened and coated and into the car - socks, no shoes.
Of course, nothing is easy, so when the 7 year started screaming in pain as soon as he was picked up, I called the doctor, and we didn't even go home. One and a half hours later, we had a diagnosis and a prescription. I checked the time, hoping to get right to the store to avoid rush hour, and realized that the baby needed to nurse. So home after all, feed the baby, give out snack, listen the the forecast for snow, realize that preparing dinner isn't going to happen tonight, and remember that we're out of milk and toilet paper. Quick decision to dine at Chick-fil-A on the way to Target to get all errands done at once.
Chick-fil-A first, three kids meals, baby gets hungry while we're eating. Visions of a quick dinner fade as I settle in for the minimum 30 minutes. 2 year old drinks brother's lemonade while he's not looking. Brother gets upset. 2 year old then drinks other brother's chocolate milk while he's not looking. Other brother mildly annoyed. 7 year old asks for ice cream, which 4 year old and 2 year old quickly second. Send all kids up to counter to trade their toys for ice cream. Watch helplessly from other side of table with nursing infant as 2 year old makes ice cream mess. Get everyone cleaned up and back to the van in 42 minutes and on to Target.
7:12 p.m. Bedtime was supposed to be 7:00 because of shortened naps today. 7:00 turns out to also be the time that the pharmacy closes. Errand #1 shot. Milk and toilet paper still on the needs list. Baby seat in the cart, 7 yr old and 2 yr old in the cart too. 4 yr old hanging off the side. Quick quick quick, I think. Almost to the toilet paper aisle, 4 yr old shouts "I need to poop now!" U-turn back to the bathrooms. 2 yr old says she needs to go too. I look at her bundled up in her coat, and decide that her Pull-ups will suffice for the bathroom this time.
Second attempt to get to the toilet paper aisle, baby starts crying, 2 yr old wants out of the cart, 7 yr old complains that 2 yr old is stepping on his hand, 4 yr old is asking if we can buy every product that we pass. I put my head down and resolve to just power through when an older woman catches my eye.
"You have your hands full!" she says.
Ear infections, interrupted naps, grouchy kids from said interrupted naps, inconvenient nursing schedules. Entertaining two well kids in a doctor's waiting room for far too long, explaining to a sick 7 year old that we can't go right home, pharmacy hours that are 12 minutes too short for my schedule.
Laundry that piles up seemingly overnight, crayons constantly underfoot, dinners reheated, refused, and sometimes regurgitated. Bickering, hitting, screeching, wrestling, crying.
Sweet morning breath, fish kisses, sticky hands against my cheek, colored pictures just for me, silly faces, baking helpers, mixers, and tasters. Awkward somersaults, hopping, jumping, climbing, toddler races, 'look at me, Mom!'
Quiet bedtime cuddles, boo-boo hugs, papers from school with 'Great job!' across the top, brothers holding their little sister's hands, laughing, giggling, smiling, snorting even. A 2 year old surprised smile as she exclaims, 'I di it mom! I di it!'
Hands around my waist, my leg, my chest, my arm, my neck. Sleepy heads on my shoulder, sleeping infants heavy on my chest.
"Yeah", I smile back at the woman in the aisle. "I really do."
Of course, nothing is easy, so when the 7 year started screaming in pain as soon as he was picked up, I called the doctor, and we didn't even go home. One and a half hours later, we had a diagnosis and a prescription. I checked the time, hoping to get right to the store to avoid rush hour, and realized that the baby needed to nurse. So home after all, feed the baby, give out snack, listen the the forecast for snow, realize that preparing dinner isn't going to happen tonight, and remember that we're out of milk and toilet paper. Quick decision to dine at Chick-fil-A on the way to Target to get all errands done at once.
Chick-fil-A first, three kids meals, baby gets hungry while we're eating. Visions of a quick dinner fade as I settle in for the minimum 30 minutes. 2 year old drinks brother's lemonade while he's not looking. Brother gets upset. 2 year old then drinks other brother's chocolate milk while he's not looking. Other brother mildly annoyed. 7 year old asks for ice cream, which 4 year old and 2 year old quickly second. Send all kids up to counter to trade their toys for ice cream. Watch helplessly from other side of table with nursing infant as 2 year old makes ice cream mess. Get everyone cleaned up and back to the van in 42 minutes and on to Target.
7:12 p.m. Bedtime was supposed to be 7:00 because of shortened naps today. 7:00 turns out to also be the time that the pharmacy closes. Errand #1 shot. Milk and toilet paper still on the needs list. Baby seat in the cart, 7 yr old and 2 yr old in the cart too. 4 yr old hanging off the side. Quick quick quick, I think. Almost to the toilet paper aisle, 4 yr old shouts "I need to poop now!" U-turn back to the bathrooms. 2 yr old says she needs to go too. I look at her bundled up in her coat, and decide that her Pull-ups will suffice for the bathroom this time.
Second attempt to get to the toilet paper aisle, baby starts crying, 2 yr old wants out of the cart, 7 yr old complains that 2 yr old is stepping on his hand, 4 yr old is asking if we can buy every product that we pass. I put my head down and resolve to just power through when an older woman catches my eye.
"You have your hands full!" she says.
Ear infections, interrupted naps, grouchy kids from said interrupted naps, inconvenient nursing schedules. Entertaining two well kids in a doctor's waiting room for far too long, explaining to a sick 7 year old that we can't go right home, pharmacy hours that are 12 minutes too short for my schedule.
Laundry that piles up seemingly overnight, crayons constantly underfoot, dinners reheated, refused, and sometimes regurgitated. Bickering, hitting, screeching, wrestling, crying.
Sweet morning breath, fish kisses, sticky hands against my cheek, colored pictures just for me, silly faces, baking helpers, mixers, and tasters. Awkward somersaults, hopping, jumping, climbing, toddler races, 'look at me, Mom!'
Quiet bedtime cuddles, boo-boo hugs, papers from school with 'Great job!' across the top, brothers holding their little sister's hands, laughing, giggling, smiling, snorting even. A 2 year old surprised smile as she exclaims, 'I di it mom! I di it!'
Hands around my waist, my leg, my chest, my arm, my neck. Sleepy heads on my shoulder, sleeping infants heavy on my chest.
"Yeah", I smile back at the woman in the aisle. "I really do."
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