My mom makes mistakes sometimes!

Today my kids and I went to Mcdonalds to eat for a valentine's treat. Daddy was suppose to meet up with us but he got tied up at work so it was just the three of us. I got each of them a happy meal, which we never do because we usually make the kids share a meal with us and share a drink but since it is valentine's weekend and since I like to do small things like that when they are out with me so that they remember it's specail being out with me!

So we said our prayer and the kids started munching away at thier nuggets and fries.

A mother with two boys comes in and she is trying to get her kids to follow her while she carries the tray filled with drinks and food, balancing the tray with one hand while she opens the door to the play area and keeps her eyes on her youngest while he dawdles in as if he has no idea the kind of balancing act his mother is putting on right now!

She is trying to get them seated, situated..."I wanted the blue truck," "Where's my truck," "I want fries," He got more nuggets than me..."

If you have been there say, "Amen!"

So as she gets everyone what they want of course one of her kids drops the drink on the floor and sprite and ice flow.

You could see the pained look in her face but she calmly picked up the cup and looked for napkins but, with all the sauces and drinks forgot to get those!

I, having been in her shoes so many times, grabbed the few napkins that I had and helped her soak up some of the soda. She thanked me and went to get the janitor.

As I was going back to my table the older of the two boys said, "Thank you for helping, my mom makes mistakes sometimes!"

I choked back a laugh and said, "Yeah, all mommies do."

Newsflash! Mommis make mistakes sometimes!

Sometimes I yell.

Sometimes I roll my eyes and get obviously annoyed at my children.

Sometimes I forget to get stuff out of his folder and we are doing homework at the last minute.

Sometimes I mess up dinner.

Sometimes I leave the clothes in the wash overnight and I have to wash them again the next day.

Sometimes I would rather be on the computer than playing with my kids.

Sometimes I give in to what they want so they will stop bugging me.

Sometimes I spend too much money.

It's hard being a mom. It's hard getting it all right. But thank God for his Mercy. Thank God for forgiving kids. You know the beauty of children, is that you may make lots of mistakes, but when you are trying to do what is best for them and praying for God's help in that, your kids know that. They feel that. And even when you make mistakes, they still love you. They still think you are the greatest mom. When you do sit down and play with them...and laugh with them. Those smiles are worth it all. Pure forgiveness and love.

"Thank you Jesus for your amazing Mercy. Lord bless that mom today, let her know that she is a great mom and that she is doing a great job. Lord help me to remember that I am not perfect and that's ok. Help me to remember that I make mistakes. Big ones sometimes. Help me to forgive myself and help my children to forgive me and love me just for being mom. Remind me that motherhood is my calling and my ministry and I will not take it lightly! I love you Jesus. Thank you for making me a mom. In your precious name, amen."

Being Mom

I was one of those little girls who always had a baby doll.

I love playing house and school.

I would carry my dolls around and brush their hair, give them a bottle, change the diapers, etc. I loved my dolls.

Even at a young age I wanted to be a mama.

The romantic in me thougth it would be wonderful, glorious, precious...

When we got married I was good for about three years and then the feeling hit me like a ton of bricks. I wanted to be a mama.

I couldn't shake the feeling. The only rememdy was holding babies.

Everywhere we went my husband would find a baby and ask if I could hold it, hoping it would put me off for a while.

We got pregnant pretty fast. We weren't necessarily trying. We were more like practicing without a net!

Now I know that if he were to spit my way I would get pregnant. We didn't know that then, so it happened pretty quickly.

I love being a mom. I love staying home. I know it's not for everyone, but staying home is definitely for me. Sure it has it's moments, hours, weeks, etc. There are days when I don't want to be mom. I don't want to be needed. Where all I want to do is go shopping without a stroller or the need to be back by nap time.

Days when I feel a little off, when glimpses of my past life come in, when I feel like maybe I'm not very good at this...on those days my son will do something so cute or sweet or lovely.

He cups his hands and comes up to me and says, "Mama look," and I look in his chubby hands and he opens them wide and says, "Big hug."

And I can't get enough kisses. He sometimes gets annoyed with my asking for another, but sometimes, he comes and kisses me without asking. I love that.

Lately I wonder, can I do this again? Will I be as good to a mom of two?

Thank you God for mothers, for my mom and mother in law, for sisters and friends who have taught me and who I can go to at any time for advice and encouragement. What would I be without such women in my life.

Thank you Jesus for patience when I mess up and for blessing me with a child who thinks I'm wonderful. To take someone who is so crazy sometimes, and allow her to raise your children - Your grace is overwhelming.

Happy Mothers Day.

Yea Me!

Ok, today is a proud day.
Today for the first time in like three weeks I was not only a good mama, but a good housewife.

YEA Me!

Let me tell you what the last few weeks have looked like...

Crazy kid has a new freedom called a "big boy bed." He is waking up around 2:30 every night wanting to play. (At first we made the mistake of rocking him back to sleep and even laying in bed with him. NOT a good idea.) So, now he wakes up and we immediately put him in bed. It's getting better and I am praying that the "newness" of it all will fade and he will sleep through the night like he use to. To add to the crazy midnight awakenings, he now likes to begin his day at about 6:15 to 6:30. Thank God for DVR because Curious George can come on at any hour!

So, here I am, preggo and nauseated, crazy kid is awake and ready to go, I barely am able to make my hubs breakfast (Before I got pregnant God had convicted me about not taking care of my husbands nutritional needs and so I had been getting up to make him Breakfast every morning, now that there is no excuse for my early rising, I am continuing to do so, another Yea me!) I then make crazy kids breakfast and proceed to lie on the couch for a few more episodes of curious George, some Clifford episodes and sesame street. (Yes I know this is over the two hour limit on TV children should be watching, but I am just going to stop typing because I'm thinking not nice things that include asterisks and exclamation points.)

The sad thing is that during all the TV watching I am in and out of sleep, sometimes even a deep sleep. Bad Mommy.

Eventually I get up and maybe we go out, maybe we play and read, but all I really have been doing is lying on the couch.

As far as cleaning the house goes...if no one is coming over then who cares!

BUT...

Today there was a change. A movement. A surge of energy.

This morning I woke up at 6:30. I made breakfast and then I laid on the couch for a little bit. But then, I got dressed and began to clean. I swished and swiped with Windex and pledge and fabulouso. I cleaned my kitchen, washed dishes. Clorox ed the sink. Dusted the living room. Vacuumed. Then, I took my kid to the park and played with him in a never ending game of hind and seek. He slid and swung. I conversed with another mommy. We then walked back home and around the block a few times and I talked to him about what he heard and what he could smell.

And when we finally got home, I continued to clean and do laundry!

YEA me!

So now if I can clean my bedroom, get dinner on the table and make a craft with my kid for his grandmothers I will be mommy of the day!

And then tomorrow I'll go back to lying on the couch and TV!