Hello Hot Mamas! Long time, no write! It seems like the days are shorter and busier during the Fall. We are progressing well with home schooling and I will be posting some of our most successful lessons in the near future. But let's move on to what's really on my mind tonight!
We live in a small house. 6 people, 1280 square feet, no basement. That doesn't leave a lot of room for storage, toys, clothes, guests...the list could go on and on. I usually find myself in a continuous cycle of purging and organizing. I must admit that there are days when I feel physically and emotionally squeezed. I go through times of acceptance, where I look at rooms anew and try to make them more practical and usable. Recently however, I have been in a state of agitation over our lack of space. The kids are getting bigger, their need for quiet time away from each other is getting more evident. I find myself irritated that we are very simply, out of space and that lack of space is affecting each family member in some way.
I'm sure that many of you out there have similar stories and feelings about your homes. So let's make a pact: until it is time for a bigger house, let's promise to intentionally enjoy the hidden benefits of our small homes! What benefits?! Ok, there are some days when it is difficult to find ANY. But, think of how creative we have become in our storage solutions. I know that I have had to stretch my imagination to figure out just the right way to divide a wall for shelving, how to transform our garage into a playroom, and how to fit THREE kids in a 10x12 bedroom. This sort of creative thinking is what will keep our brains young Mamas! And although my kids do enjoy time to themselves occassionally, our small house has aided them in becoming great play buddies and put all of us in a position to share common space quite frequently. It has allowed us to get to know each other in a way that a bigger house might not have encouraged.
I know that you can come up with some highlights of your own. Let me know what they are and let's help each other be at peace with the houses we have! God is faithful and he will show us the way that is best for our family. He knows our deepest desires and what breeds them. Let's lean on Him and each other for joy and gratitude when the walls seem just a little too close!
Lord, thank you for the home that we have. Lead us to a home that will better suit our needs and give us the patience to wait until the time is right for a move. Lead us to the right home and help our hearts to be open to your whisper. You are faithful and good. Help us to remember that you will give us our daily bread. Allow us to be examples of gratitude to our children. Mary, Holy Mother, pray for us. Amen
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Friday, November 6, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Public Displays of affection - Strangers and kids
Okay, I'm going to try to write this post in as kind and tactful a manner as possible. Strangers: don't touch my kids! Don't tickle their feet, don't pinch their cheeks, don't grab for my infant's hands!!!! Well-meaning-Grandmas-who-are-in-no-way-related-to-me-or-my-children - THIS MEANS YOU!
Ummm, okay, so much for kindness and tact. In all seriousness, however, this is becoming increasingly irritating on my daytime trips to the grocery store or Target. Let's face it, the people who are shopping at these institutions in the middle of the day are moms and retired folks. Now, I realize that we are supposed to act in a Christian manner toward our bothers and sisters in Christ. This is a tough act to balance while also trying to teach your children stanger safety.
I don't mean to sound like a crab, and maybe I am just having one of "those" mommy days, but I'm getting tired of the following two comments: "Are they all yours?" and "You must be busy!". Yes and yes, people. Yes, I have four adorable, well behaved children who are close in age and I know that when I take them all somewhere with me, we are quite a darling sight to behold. This is not, however, an open invitation for people to come up and touch them in some manner. Add into this scenario the very real threat that their food allergies pose and going out has become rather stressful. Imagine if grandma-we-don't-know has just finished some peanut-butter crackers and she touches my child before I can stop her. The rest of our day will be spent in the emergency room!
There are some days when I just need to get in and get out of wherever we are. I do not necessarily have time or the inclination to tell a stanger all of my children's names and ages! This simply makes me uncomfortable. I am generally a pretty friendly person. I like to be around people and I consider myself to be fairly kind and generous. I would hope that those who know me would agree. I also feel a stong need to keep my children safe from all the creeps out there. Because you can't tell a "bad apple" from the outside, I need to be a good example to my kids in regards to stranger safety.
Okay, this post is more of a rant, and I realize that it is more negative than positive, which is not my intent on this blog. I just really needed to vent about feeling like people don't respect your privacy if you have a large family. Maybe the age of reality TV has entitled people to think that if you match a profile, your business is their business. So, thanks moms for giving me space to vent today!
Lord, give me space to breathe so that I may better prepare my kids for the world at large. Help me to balance an awareness of the evil that does prowl our world, with a kindness toward others. Grant me and my family the gift of discernment to be able to see the good and evil in the world around us and the humility to respond appropriately. Thank you Lord, for my family. Please hold us in the palm of your hand. Amen.
Ummm, okay, so much for kindness and tact. In all seriousness, however, this is becoming increasingly irritating on my daytime trips to the grocery store or Target. Let's face it, the people who are shopping at these institutions in the middle of the day are moms and retired folks. Now, I realize that we are supposed to act in a Christian manner toward our bothers and sisters in Christ. This is a tough act to balance while also trying to teach your children stanger safety.
I don't mean to sound like a crab, and maybe I am just having one of "those" mommy days, but I'm getting tired of the following two comments: "Are they all yours?" and "You must be busy!". Yes and yes, people. Yes, I have four adorable, well behaved children who are close in age and I know that when I take them all somewhere with me, we are quite a darling sight to behold. This is not, however, an open invitation for people to come up and touch them in some manner. Add into this scenario the very real threat that their food allergies pose and going out has become rather stressful. Imagine if grandma-we-don't-know has just finished some peanut-butter crackers and she touches my child before I can stop her. The rest of our day will be spent in the emergency room!
There are some days when I just need to get in and get out of wherever we are. I do not necessarily have time or the inclination to tell a stanger all of my children's names and ages! This simply makes me uncomfortable. I am generally a pretty friendly person. I like to be around people and I consider myself to be fairly kind and generous. I would hope that those who know me would agree. I also feel a stong need to keep my children safe from all the creeps out there. Because you can't tell a "bad apple" from the outside, I need to be a good example to my kids in regards to stranger safety.
Okay, this post is more of a rant, and I realize that it is more negative than positive, which is not my intent on this blog. I just really needed to vent about feeling like people don't respect your privacy if you have a large family. Maybe the age of reality TV has entitled people to think that if you match a profile, your business is their business. So, thanks moms for giving me space to vent today!
Lord, give me space to breathe so that I may better prepare my kids for the world at large. Help me to balance an awareness of the evil that does prowl our world, with a kindness toward others. Grant me and my family the gift of discernment to be able to see the good and evil in the world around us and the humility to respond appropriately. Thank you Lord, for my family. Please hold us in the palm of your hand. Amen.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Glue Still Wet!!!
Well hot mamas, the spaghetti yarn bowls have not yet been deemed a success. The glue is STILL wet!
In other news, my oldest son just got his first "big boy" bike with training wheels. Thus far he's had tricycles and a kettle car "pedal go-kart". To see him on a big boy bike was amazing! He wiped out three or four times trying to make the turn onto the sidewalk, but he just hopped back on and tried again. I am so proud of the little boy he is becoming and yet I am teary when I look hard and can't see any baby left in him. I hope I have the strength to let him "wipeout" and pick himself up, while I stand ready to help should he need it. I pray that he meets life's challenges with the enthusiasm he showed getting back on that new bike. I'm so grateful for the gifts that God has given me and my husband in our children. This morning, as I hear the sound of Geotracks coming from across the hall, I am deeply thankful for my family. (Even though the glue hasn't dried on those darn yarn bowls!)
Hot mamas, go hug your kids. No matter the messes they make, the tantrums they throw, they are gifts to you, entrusted to your care because God thought YOU would be the best mom for them.
In other news, my oldest son just got his first "big boy" bike with training wheels. Thus far he's had tricycles and a kettle car "pedal go-kart". To see him on a big boy bike was amazing! He wiped out three or four times trying to make the turn onto the sidewalk, but he just hopped back on and tried again. I am so proud of the little boy he is becoming and yet I am teary when I look hard and can't see any baby left in him. I hope I have the strength to let him "wipeout" and pick himself up, while I stand ready to help should he need it. I pray that he meets life's challenges with the enthusiasm he showed getting back on that new bike. I'm so grateful for the gifts that God has given me and my husband in our children. This morning, as I hear the sound of Geotracks coming from across the hall, I am deeply thankful for my family. (Even though the glue hasn't dried on those darn yarn bowls!)
Hot mamas, go hug your kids. No matter the messes they make, the tantrums they throw, they are gifts to you, entrusted to your care because God thought YOU would be the best mom for them.
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