Family | laborofwonder

Did I Show You?

by motherofwonder

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.
-Audrey Hepburn

Those are just such lovely words, and as I sat thinking about them this morning, I thought about all the other wonderful things I want my children to grow knowing. And hoping that not only do I teach them and tell them things to prepare them for life, but also to show them. So this is my letter to the future them…

Dear children, you are adults now. I hope that I taught you and told you all of the things I meant to, over the years. But most importantly I hope I showed you by modeling them in my own life. Did I show you how important you each are as individuals? Because you are. Even on days when things get lost in the busyness of doing the laundry, making the dinner, and driving you to Tae Kwon Do and dance class.

Did I show you how to be courteous to each other and to others, without ever being anyone’s doormat? Did I show you that life is filled with choices and so you need to choose carefully. Did I show you to reach for, wait for, and work for all the things that really matter in life, including your biggest dreams?

Did I show you that even in the middle of the biggest heartache, you can find some reprieve in humor? Did I show you that there is always reasons to hope? Did I show you that even though sometimes things don’t go the way we planned, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a blessing or that there isn’t a plan? Did I show you what faith looks like? Did I show you how to believe in yourselves, by believing in you myself?

Did I show you how to be creative? Did I show you that creativity has many forms, and all of them are worthwhile? Did I show you to invest in whatever your creative interests may be?

Did I show you to be thoughtful of people and their needs? Did I show you to have meaning behind your manners? Did I show you to not just say the words of politeness, but also to mean them? Did I show you to have some courage? Did I show you how to embrace the unknown and live your life to its fullest? Did I also show you to have some control over (your father’s) sense of adventure and to pair it with (your mother’s) good judgement? (*wink*)

Did I show you that even when we disagree the most, we can still love the deepest? Did I show you to dance wherever you feel like it; to sing as loud as you can; to love as thoroughly as you feel; to listen to the words said and unsaid; to laugh as hysterically as you can; be as compassionate as you can be?

Did I show you how to learn from your mistakes? To accept your mistakes? To move past them? Did I show you how to embrace the past, without dragging it into your futures? Did I show you to be considerate of the feelings of others, but to not sit still or silently when change is necessary? Did I show you how to not be afraid of speaking up and speaking out?

Did I show you how beautiful the world around it can be? Did I show you how to live in a way that makes the best of what we have been given? Did I show you the value of making your own path in life? Did I show you the reasons behind the things I believe, and the beliefs I hope you cling to?

Did I show you that I love you more than words could ever express? Did I show you that I am proud of your beyond belief? Did I show you that I believe in you, even when you don’t believe in yourself? Did I show you that I am someone you can always trust and come to for support, comfort, and laughter? Did I show you the joy of being a family? How to live and work as a team? Did I show you my joy of being your parent?

I know you learn through experiences as much as through what you see being demonstrated for you, more than just what has been told to you. So I am hoping that I have shown you all of these things along the way. I hope that I did, but if I missed one along the way, I hope that I have shown you enough that you can make the right choices for yourselves.

Did I show you I love you forever, and always, to the moon and back, plus *16?

Because I do, and I always will.

*As soon as Big E could talk, when I’d ask how much he loved mommy, he would shout 16! When asked why 16, he said it was because it was a big number. So big that it was too big to count. So now when we say our “I love you’s” I always include the 16. (Miss E has also joined in the fun.) But Big E now responds with, Moooom, there’s no numbers in love. And I can’t help but smile and say, but if there were it would be a big number. So big that it’s too big to count.

Family Life According To Me Things You Should Say

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Things And Stuff

by motherofwonder

After reading a post about how people used to struggle when they were first starting out in life, I recalled our own simple beginnings. Hubbyman was still militaryman, enlisted military man… which means, nevermind. I won’t go there. Let’s just suffice it to say, that we do not properly compensate our service members and their families. (Especially when you think about how one term in congress sets you up for life… it’s ridiculous. But I won’t continue that direction.) And if you think that we do properly compensate them, then you’ve never been exposed to life as an enlisted servicemember. Sure there are perks, like the Commissary (grocery store) where things are discounted and tax free (they are also closer to expiration date, and who doesn’t want to go through armed security every time they’re out of milk?!), the housing (hey, who doesn’t love espestos and having to call in a special team anytime you want to hang up a picture?! Or walls so thin you can have conversations with your neighbor without having to leave your bedroom?! And those were the nice ones.) Anyways….I was thinking about our first year of marriage.

We’d only been married a few months when we were sent to the next duty station. Which will probably always be one of our most favorite places on earth. An island in the Puget North Sound; surrounded by ocean and mountains; filled with state parks and beaches. It’s also the place I became a mother, but this isn’t about that… so we moved. We trekked our vehicles, some necessary belongings, and ourselves up the coast. When we finally landed and moved in… well, let’s just say we were thankful for all the bath and kitchen supplies we’d gotten as wedding gifts, but that’s basically all we had. And most of it was still in transit, along with our 20ish year old TV. So what did we do? We played lots of games. I beat hubbyman in Trouble, so many times, that he still refuses to play it with me. And one of our, well, at least one of mine, favorite memories happened in our office. The only piece of furniture we had, other than our bed, was a desk with our computer on it. So we’d set up our camping chairs (literally, no furniture.) in the office, and watch movies on the computer. Even once our TV arrived, either it was so old it didn’t have a connection, or we just didn’t have a DVD player. Either is possible, and I don’t remember which. Either way, we continued to watch movies, in our camping chairs, on our computer… and while we probably thought it was “lame” back then, now I’m very appreciative of those times.

So while we have stuff coming out of our ears now, including furniture, a newer TV (that can use -and does- a dvd player), and three children… I love our earlier times. I loved that we started out with nothing and worked our way from there. I appreciate that we did what we could with what we had. And what I really appreciate was the fact that without all the “things” distracting us, we really were able to focus on what was really important, like each other, and hiking new trails, and visiting amazing places, and meeting amazing people.

And so in memory of those days and because all of the “things” that are overtaking our house… I’m in full-on organizational mode! Things are getting done, and put away, and probably over organized if it kills me… and it might.

Anyone have any great organizational tools, or favorite tips? My kids love puzzles. They also love to dump every single puzzle piece on the floor in a big pile. I’m such an organizer that I’d go through and put them all back together before putting them away. Well, one day I got tired of it. So I took each puzzle board (if there was one) and numbered it. The back of each puzzle piece has a correlating number, and the big ziploc bag they go in, also has a correlating number on it. So pick up is a breeze. The kids can look to see what numbers are the same and group them all together and do it themselves! And I’m happy because they’re all where they belong, and I didn’t have to do it myself! Have you done anything that made your day to day so much easier?

Family Life According To Me Marriage

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Perfect I Am. Not.

by motherofwonder

I’m going to share a secret with you. Nevermind, no, I’m not… Oh, fine. *Sigh* Ok, here goes. ~~Sometimes~~ I am not a perfect parent. I have a temper, I can be impatient, and some days I get really, really frustrated. (And I realize that I basically just said I’m impatient three times.) (This may go along with why I’m not a perfect spouse either, but that’s another story.)

I never would have imagined myself getting this frustrated with my children. After all, I wanted them and I love them… how could these three sweet beings make me so mad I could become a fire breathing dragon? I know this is all very shocking to find out… I was shocked as well. But there you have it, I am not a perfect parent.

When I’m tired, I am not my best self. And I’m tired a lot. I am guilty of giving them “quiet time” just because I needed some quiet time (and not because they actually needed/deserved the time out). I am guilty of disciplining them above their paygrade (or age). I am guilty of giving one preferential treatment over the other, based on who is currently being “the whiney one”, even when I know they are just needing some focused attention. I am guilty of wishing they would just shut up, even when they’re just (noisily) playing, or asking a question-filled child, Can’t you ever be quiet?!? I am guilty of parenting in a way that does not coincide with what I believe parenting should be, for our family. I am guilty of throwing temper tantrums that may rival most 3 year olds.

Before you call my husband, or social services, you should know that these aren’t daily occurrences (at least not all of them every day/in the same day). But they happen, and I’m admitting it because… well, because maybe they happen to you too? And admittance is the first step, right?

So while I may have a meltdown one minute, I can assure you that it’s usually (about 98.5% of the time) followed by immediate remorse, apologies, talks, hugs, kisses, and the taking of a deep breath. Because while my impatience can sometimes reduce me to 3-year-old-antics, I am actually an adult, and I really do try and behave like one. At least when it comes to my children. And I know that really, this is not the way I’d envisioned parenting, nor is it the way I want to be parenting.

Why am I telling you this information? Because I’m human. Because I’m being honest. Because I want you to know that you’re not alone, and since I’m being honest, I’ll admit that maybe it’s because I want to know that I’m not alone. Most importantly, because I want to make a change. I have gotten so little sleep lately that my patience has been thin-to none. And Mommy has been more drill sergeant than teacher. As my children are getting older, they will be remembering more and more. I can’t help but wondering if I’ve been behaving in a manner I’d appreciate them remembering?

I have one more thing to admit- The downside to attempting to have more patience and be a more patient parent? I’m going to be given opportunities to be tested. Crap.

Family Life According To Me

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ISO: Coffee IV

by motherofwonder

Yesterday, I used the humor that is my daughter to drag myself through the day, and put me in a better mood. Today, however, I will be inserting a coffee IV to simply keep me alive. I have no gotten more than 5 hrs of sleep at night for the last month, with only one exception. Last Friday, Littlest E slept through the night and I only woke once with a coughing fit. My allergies have been worse this year than they have in the last couple, and when they were at their worst, we had several dust and plaster filled projects going on that left their particles to settle in my lungs. The last two weeks Littlest E has gotten two of his molars in (One on top and one on the bottom- on opposite sides. For some reason, I find this weird.) and therefore has been waking every half hour after midnight, and due to the dust in my lungs, I was spending the first couple hours coughing and trying to get comfortable. I’d finally fall asleep just in time to be woken by a cranky little man. And, despite the state my home is currently in, I have been up until waaaay toooo late cleaning multiple times a week, for the last month. So short story made long and boring- I’m tired. So very tired.

We were supposed to have someone coming to the house for an inspection this morning and so I ran frantically yesterday (we didn’t get the notice until right before I left for a weekend away) trying to unpack and clean… with two children (MissE and Littlest E) who are either having allergies or are coming down with something. So as much as I could do with two little ones who don’t feel good (especially considering one is just over a year… and therefore becoming a stage 5 “clinger”). And then I stayed up until 1:30am cleaning. Or attempting to, in my sleep exhausted state. Staying up when I’m that tired is really kind of pointless, because I move in such slow motion. I finally climb into bed and just as I drift off, littlest E wakes up and is not happy. He remains unhappy until almost 6, and then sleeps until about 7:45ish. I then rush around doing a final clean up before the 9:30 appointment, only to find out that it’s been cancelled.

It’s only 11 and I’ve already endured 3 hours of pretty constant whining and have only had a brief reprieve from having multiple children (simultaneously) try and form themselves to my leg. I finally get Littlest to release his vice grip on my leg, so I can attempt and get something productive done… only to turn around and have him run screaming to me. When he settles I finally see what’s going on… there was a bucket that still had some paint left in it, without being sealed shut. He had eaten some, had it smeared all over his face and hands, along with his brand new clothes. And it’s not all over one of my favorite shirts and one of my 2 pairs of jeans that actually fit.

I clean him, and myself, as much as can, and feed him (to get rid of the paint taste if nothing else). And while he’s content to play for a moment, I grab the computer looking for a moment of reprieve. Only to find that Hubbyman has messaged me to tell me he’s going out to happy hour with some vendors from work tonight and that Friday they’re going on a “booze cruise” (a paddle boat ride around one of the rivers) as a work outing. I’ve decided I’m not going to respond until I’ve gotten at least 10 hours of sleep. At this rate, I will be responding in late December.

I no longer track my sleep by how many hours I get (why would I when the number is so low and scary, like last nights >2?), but by how many cups of coffee will be needed to keep me awake. Today, I will be requiring an IV.

What do you do when you’ve gotten no sleep after multiple nights?

Family Life According To Me Marriage

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Messy MissE

by motherofwonder

Whooo…whooo….Is that what owls say, Mom?

Ribbit…ribbit…Is that what frogs say, Mom?

Hump…hump (with back arched like it has a hump)…Is that what camels say, Mom? The word hump was coupled with her doing a little jump each time. You may to have witnessed this to understand it’s funniness.

She not only likes to announce to me, and however’s within earshot, whenever she has to go potty… and exactly what she’ll be doing in the bathroom. We’ve had many conversations lately about how it’s ok for her to tell me, quietly, once we’re already in the bathroom, but when we’re in public, she should just say, I need to go potty, and leave it at that. Well, while out for lunch with Grandma S, she informed me she had to go potty. I took her by the hand and led her down the aisle filled with other Grandma’s all oohing and ahhing over her curls and sweet smile and Miss E waved at each of their smiling faces. She then (very loudly) turned to me and said, “Don’t worry Mom, I won’t tell those grandma’s that I have to go poop. I’ll just whisper it to you when we get in the bathroom.” (*insert a handful of grandmas chuckling*)

Today the big two were bickering back and forth, and several “No more bathroom talk!” conversations were necessary as Big E has entered that “boy stage” where everything is bathroom talk. Unfortunately, his sister wants to do and say everything he does, and I was reaching my limit! I told them they’d start having time out in the bathroom if they kept calling each other names using potty talk. A moment later Miss E asked if I would open the bathroom door for her. She paused and looked out at her brother who then yelled something especially special (about something very lovely being squished into her eye). I told him to sit down. (Meaning to deal with him when done with Miss E) I then turned to her and asked if she needed any other help. She said no thanks, and gently pushed me out the door. She then hung her body out the door and began to divulge her retort back to her brother. Exasperated I continued my tyrade about my feelings towards all the “bathroom talk” going on. Miss E continues to push my buttons as she’s just sitting there giving me a look that says, Clearly, mom has lost her marbles… when she comes back with, But Mooooom, I am in the bathroom. I look at her, and ask (with eyebrows raised) What?! And she gives the answer I was afraid of: That’s why I went into the bathroom!

This girl is too smart for my own good!

Family Life According To Me

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Ugh.

by motherofwonder

Since I missed it this week (and maybe the week before too! Yikes!), I’m going to start with a couple things I’m REALLY thankful for!

Family!
My lovely children!
My hardworking hubby!
My project oriented hubby!
My willing and able brother! (he was hubbyman’s painting partner)
My in-laws! We love to go to their house and it’s so wonderful to spend time with them.
My sister-in-law got her medical assistance approved (my brother and his wife are missionaries)
A hubby who can anticipate my needs- there was creamer in the fridge when I woke up!

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming (ha!):

I want to blog. I like to write. I love to talk. The problem is, I’m having a difficult time actually doing it. Somewhere in between the 3 children, the husband, the laundry, the cooking, the painting (we have vaulted ceilings that were in dire need of painting… not fun. Poor hubbyman.)… and we have someone coming to the house TOMORROW and I was gone all weekend. So the house is covered in paint, tools, and toys.

I spend lots of time thinking about the things I want to say… but when it comes to taking “time out” to do it… I’m not so disciplined. I’m needing to work on a better schedule I think, or better time management at least. I took the kids to my in-laws this weekend for some Grandma & Papa time (an added bonus was then I didn’t have to keep the kids out of the way during painting, or have smell the paint fumes!) and it was nice to “get away.” We did some shopping (for necessary winter gear as we could have snow this month), lots of playtime, and Big E even helped me make super, super yummy Fallen Souffle Cupcakes! It was so fun to have the time and space to do some of these fun things with my little ones that sometimes I miss out on because I’m too busy with the daily grind.

My hope it work super hard this week getting things done (and cleaned!) and organized!!! And the final painting will hopefully be finished next weekend… and then I can get a much better schedule implemented where I’m doing fun things like baking with the kids and making you laugh… those are important things, you know! (*smile*)

In the meantime, anyone have a place they go for really great redecorating or (re)arranging furniture?

Family Life According To Me Marriage Thankful Fridays

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My Nametag

by motherofwonder

Have you ever had to give yourself a word that sums up everything you do and/or everything you are? You search tirelessly to find one word that culminates your very existence? Well, today I’ve attempted to do just that… I’ve poured over my emotional, creative, and cognitive ways. And this is what I’ve come up with…

If you do one, a few, or all of these things… you might be one too.

Insist that you can pick your child’s cry out of the mass hysteria of a summertime, lunchtime playground.
You actually can pick your child’s voice out.
At least one meal of the day consists of whatever your child(ren) didn’t eat.
You feel like a teenager sneaking out of the house when you go out past 8 o’clock.
You feel like you’re breaking curfew when you stay out past 10 o’clock.
Do things in quiet, so as not to disturb sleeping child(ren)…even when they’re not at home.
Do things in quit when no one else is home, just to remind yourself what quiet sounds like.
Find yourself saying words to other adults, in the way that your child(ren) say them. (Example, my mom still refers to ice cream as “arse cream” because that’s how my brother referred to it as a small child. I know, it’s a good one.)
Sway back and forth, as if rocking a child, even when your arms are empty.
Find yourself swaying when your arms are holding an inanimate object, as if it were a child.
Find yourself listening to kid’s songs, without your kids in the car.
Find your heart skipping a beat when you look in the backseat and only see carseats (without children in them), even though you left them home on purpose.
Find yourself singing kids’ songs, even when the kids aren’t around. (Hubbyman and I like to text each other the lyrics to a couple of kids’ songs randomly, because it ensures that the other party will then have to suffer through having that song stuck in their head for the rest of the day as well.)
Go shopping for an outfit for you to wear to *insert special occasion here* and walk out with clothes for the kids, and nothing for you.
Stand with arms crossed against your chest when another baby starts crying, in effort to prevent leakage.
Your partner that you used to refer to as a variety of “cutesy” names is now simply Daddy.
You’ve had a variety of nicknames over the course of your life, but the only word you respond to now is Mom (or a variation of this word).
You have a preference of which variation of the word mom is used. (Mama, mommy, ma, mom, madre, etc.)
You have slept in a toddler bed… and you are not a toddler.
Make sure to close the toilet’s lid and bathroom door behind you, even when you’re home alone.
You leave/put up baby gates, even when your baby is not there.
Spend hours packing your child(ren)’s clothes so that they have plenty of outfits and everything matches before a trip, only to get there and find that while your child(ren) has enough clothes to turn your weekend get away into a month long vacay, you forgot to pack anything for yourself.
You have any combination of these things in your purse at any given time: wipes, diapers, fruit snacks, cereal.
The bathroom is a place of sanctuary. (when you have someone else to keep an eye on the kid(s) while you’re in there catching up on your magazine subscriptions or taking a ridiculously long shower.)
Nap time is your favorite time of day.
Eye your sleeping child(ren) jealously.
Have to stay up till midnight to get anything done.
(Almost) always look like you just got off a red eye flight.
You think of your # of children in # of years like a soldier and their tours. (I did 3 tours in 4 years = I had 3 children in 4 years.)
Have experienced love in a way you never imagined and/or never thought possible.

Obviously, there are other things that define me as an individual, and not “just” a mother. It is amazing the fun, silly, sleepless, ridiculous things that change when you go from a person who is mainly just responsible for oneself to someone who is responsible for the whole lives of someone (or or some two or three or more.). So even though I’ve gone from someone with the uncanny ability to organize things to the Nth degree to someone who can realize they’d forgotten to turn the monitor on, only to have baby wake up seconds after (this happens all the time!), or hear one of my little voices in a crowd, on trips I never have all of my things, will rock anything you put in my arms, speaks toddler fluently, and you can frequently find me cleaning the kitchen floor at midnight…. I would not trade it for anything in this world. I am a mom, and I prefer Mama.

Dino, dino, dino- saur, dino, dino, dino-saur….racing day it’s racing day, today’s the day we race…Linny, Tuck, and Ming Ming too, we’re wonder pets and we’ll help you… this is the song that never ends, yes, it goes on and on my friends, some people started singin’ it not knowin’ what it was…

You are welcome.

Family Life According To Me

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Bananas over Candy

by motherofwonder

Everywhere we go, my kids are given things… food, toys, candy…you name it. I don’t know what it is, but it just always happens. I’ve decided it’s either one of two reasons. Reason a) they’re so cute. Reason b) they look like little hobos that just hopped off the train as covered in sand and dirt as they tend to be. (Our yard is basically all sand, which the kids of course love.) Anyhow… I realized just as I was about to head out to the farmer’s market that I didn’t have any cash. (*sigh* I knew that was going to happen.) So I walked to the grocery store to get some cash first. As we walk in (I’ve got all three kids in the stroller, mind you), I figure kids are getting a little hungry and head to the bananas. We get there as the produce man is loading them up. For some reason there is a row of candy in front of the bananas (talk about product placement), which of course catches the eyes of all my Es. Miss E is in front, so she pipes up first, Mom look at that candy. My tummy might be rumbling for some of those things. (How is it that kids know, without any prior tasting, that it’s candy and/or will taste good?) I simply respond with, Ooor, we could get a whole bunch of bananas so we’ll have some for now and some for later at home. They all nod in agreement. Produce guy laughs at our interaction. and says, Not only are you brave enough to venture to the store at this time of day, but with three kids, and somehow convince them that they want bananas instead of candy? You’re like supermom. (*blush*) He then picks out bananas for each of the kids to eat while we walk through the store. Big E looks up at me and says, Does he know we like broccoli too? Ahh, that’s my boy.

I cannot stress enough the importance of the things we eat, let alone the things we feed our children. It is not an accident that my children will pick bananas over cookies and candy. Or that broccoli is one of their favorite foods. Or that they think apple slices with nutella are a very special treat. Don’t get me wrong, my kids have candy and cookies… not every day, but maybe once a week or every other week. While part of it is that hubbyman and I just aren’t too into the sweets, the other part is that there are just so many foods out there that are healthy and delicious. And kids fill up so quickly, why would I waste any of that belly space with junk? And it’s just as important that they see those kids of healthy practices modeled for them.

Family Life According To Me

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The Decade (Since September 2001)

by motherofwonder

Now I know that today is not September 11th, but with all the talk about the Ten Year Anniversary, it certainly has had me thinking about it. Where we you that September moment? Just getting into your work day? Settling into history class? Maybe even still sleeping? Chances are you know where you were. I was a freshman in college. I remember the noise of the students milling around all talking at once. I didn’t know what was going on…sitting in English class a TV was rolled in and we watched with horror as Tower One burned and cried as we watched Tower Two get hit as well.

Maybe your life wasn’t drastically altered that day, or maybe it changed your life completely. I felt heartbroken and saddened. And watched as 3 classmates left school and went home to visit their families that were now forever altered. Along with countless other classmates that joined the Reserves. My life may not have been immediately altered, but it certainly was in the years that followed.

My dear hubbyman was a bit of a wildman in those days… but he shortly decided he wanted a different road. He has a definite sense of responsibility, and knew that no one else in his group of friends would, so he enlisted. I certainly didn’t know that September morning that a few short years later I would end up being a military spouse.

Even if your life was not directly affected. You didn’t lose a family member, you didn’t enlist yourself for active duty or join the weekend warriors… but it has been ten years. A whole decade. Your life cannot be the same as it was a decade ago, can it? Mine certainly isn’t! I was 18, a college student, a head full of ideas and a heart full of dreams… today I am 25 (yeah, don’t do the math…ha!), I have been married for almost 7 yrs, I have been a parent for almost 5 years, I have 3 children… In some aspects I am nothing like the girl who watched with eyes glued that morning. And in other aspects I am just a better (maybe?) grown up version of that girl. One who’s ideas and beliefs have been tried and tested, one who’s faith has had to hold her up through real heartbreak, and someone who’s vision of life and humanity has been forced to evolve as I have grown and experienced life these last ten years.

At 18, I surely thought I was “grown,” but let’s face it, being an adult has less to do with age and more to do with life experience and maturity. I now have passionate opinions about things I never would have imagined. I have lived and learned, hurt and healed, loved and lost loved ones. I’ve borne three beautiful, healthy children and I’ve held the hand of a grandmother in her final days. I’ve lost touch with a few friends over those years, and reunited with others. I’ve learned how to be myself and that it’s ok to choose your family. In the scheme of things ten years seems like such a short amount of time, but since that fateful day my life has changed by leaps and bounds.

My heart still aches for everyone connected with September 11th and all that has happened in the years to follow, both here and overseas. I wish them peace and pray for blessings in their lives. I certainly hope that the next ten years are filled with more peace than we’ve seen collectively this last decade. I hope that my next decade is filled with as much love, laughter, and life as the last decade has.

2001

GOALS FOR THE NEXT DECADE:

Finally finish my masters!
Raise happy, healthy, responsible children (ones who love each other and of course me too!)
Travel
Take a cooking class, or two, or three…
Be more accepting of myself and be better about taking time for myself
Write more
Find my “dream job” even if it means inventing it!
Revisit the places I’ve lived in my life
Build a home to retire in
Go on a honeymoon before our 20 year mark! (And of course, enjoy each other along the way!)

Family Life According To Me Marriage

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Today Is Friday

by motherofwonder

I spent the whole week looking forward to Friday, waking up every morning thinking surely today has to be Friday (and it never was). And now it’s here and I feel a bit indifferent about it. But it is Friday, and there are things to be thankful for…

Like my oldest not plummeting off his bunkbed to his death. Ok, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but thankfully I went running down the stairs at the first shriek of Mommy! And found him hanging by his feet from the railing. Needless to say, we were both a little shaken, and a lot thankful.

I am thankful for a little girl who until recently would never have left my side willingly. This morning she quickly finished breakfast and begged her brother to go downstairs and play with her. Hugely thankful for her growing independance.

And I am thankful for the hilarity my littlest man brings to my life. The fact that he’s listening and understanding more and more every day! And the fact that he can almost always be distracted with the words, Where is the puppy?!? And he’ll almost always go off in search of beloved friend (who is in fact, a real animal)…and promptly attempt to climb on top of him.

Oh, I am also thankful for a puppy who will let Littlest E (really all of them) climb all over him with not so much as a nip or a bite. And the fact that he saves his “kisses” for the children and not for me, I’m totally thankful for that.

Family Life According To Me Thankful Fridays

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