the point being, cats don't really do what they are told and sometimes kids don't either. if your children do what they are told all the time, please discontinue reading and move to the head of the line:)
so i had a moment today where i was trying to get ethan ready to go to school. we had the snack, the water bottle, the homework...what we needed were socks and shoes...and the three kids were playing together loudly and running around which is great, but it was time to get ready to go...it took about 15 minutes to get shoes and socks on just Ethan. {I don't make Avery and Blake wear shoes when we take Ethan because they don't get out and we don't go anywhere but back home.} i digress...15 minutes! i was shocked how long it took! like i was herding cats....
and then i read this essay during nap time, that my cousin had posted on her facebook...and it made me cry...and laugh. but i seriously think there is a lot of truth in what this woman is saying...go read it...i'll still be here when you get back....did you read it? okay then, so i don't necessarily feel pressured to have my spices magnetized and alphabetized but i understand the idea behind what she is saying. don't take your eye off the ball here...which reminded me of this quote from Neil L. Anderson from the October 2011 General Conference (he's quoting a woman named Rachel Jankovic)
"Growing up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood...Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get." She then adds: "Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for."
And those two things, the essay and that talk, today have made me ponder my own mothering. we haven't felt very good lately, and when i don't feel well, i'm a little cranky. we've had pink eye, coughing, sore throats, stomach cramps/diarrhea...i am hoping we are done with the sickies for a while. But even if we aren't, my children deserve the best i can muster. i love them. they are amazing. they make me laugh, they make me cry, they make me frustrated, they make me proud, happy and thrilled. so, not that everyday won't be a little bit of herding cats and saying the same thing 80 times, but that i may have a better perspective on WHY i am herding these particular cats and WHY i am telling these particular darlings the same things over and over...i am writing it here....perhaps i'll even come back to read it again and again. cause it seems like i'm the one that has to be told things over and over sometimes to get the point.
proof that we did do eastery things this weekend...we went to our ward egg hunt on Friday and then couldn't do the family things on saturday cause Avery came down with pink eye. we didn't go to church either, for the same reason, quarantined. but they sure had fun at this egg hunt and then the indoor one we had on easter morning:)
most of all this easter i was glad to remember our Savior and the amazing gift of his Atonement and Resurrection, without which, we could not return to live with our Heavenly Father again. It is because of His matchless gift, that our families can be together forever as well. Amen to that.
(this is Christian, just 3 days old:))
6 comments:
Great reminder! I read that same post that someone else had linked up to on facebook! Loved it so much because it is SO TRUE!
We have had a lot of frustrating days between the move, house hunting, school switching...etc. It's been so hard not to let things get to me, like the fact that my blog is SO. OUTDATED! ;)
Thanks for the reminder!
Jen, you're amazing. It seems like I am constantly being convinced that my job isn't as important as it is by my own children, by the world, by people who have no idea. I have especially felt this way lately.I am glad I am not the only one that has been tried this way. Colby is really great at reminding me everyday because in his field, the kids aren't looked at as the incredibly valuable people they are going to become and the refining skills that they are helping their parents develop like we see them they are seen as the opposite. Thanks for reminding me that it's through one 15 minute shoe application, illness, interrupted shower/bathroom setting,temper tantrum,food throwing at the table,matted jelly bean in my hair,silly putty in my coat pocket at a time that we get there.Patience is more than a virtue in this job;)Thanks for being in the trenches with me today.
I love that essay! It is everything a stay at home mother needs to hear. I just wish us women weren't so darn hard on ourselves! Thank you for that reminder of what matters in life.
Also, can I just say that I love that picture of Christian. He is such a handsome little man and I know he's doing wonderful things in Heaven. I always tell my boys that only special kids get to be a brother to an angel, and I really believe that to be true! We were both given AMAZING children who were faithful enough to have an angel brother. What a gift that is :)
Now you made me cry with that link! Gosh Jen.
I may have to do my own post on motherhood and great friends and everything in between because I feel so moved by what she and you both said.
You are amazing!!!!! So glad to have you nearby.
I just love you Jen-nay! Thanks for sharing.
I've been following your blog but I haven't told you yet how sorry I am you lost your sweet little baby. I can't even imagine how tough that must be. Your positive attitude and eternal perspective are truly inspiring.
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