Give Me a Break

Being a Mom is the most difficult job there is.  It's very rewarding, but hard.  I hear it gets harder the older your kids get.  Even though I enjoy being a Mom to three boys very much, I sometimes find myself longing for a break.

• Like when I sweep and mop the floor and 5 minutes (if I'm lucky) it looks like a tornado came through
• When I take the time to cook dinner and before we can even sit down some one is saying they don't like it or Daniel's famous comment of its yucky!
• Tripping over Walter and David's many shoes they leave in the doorway.  
• Having to repeat simple tasks like get a shower 7464636633 time before it happens and when he gets out his hair isn't washed.  
• Daniel waking in the middle of the night screaming and can't tell us why.
• Walking in the boys' bathrooms and seeing pee on the floor around the toilet.  Is it that hard to ring the bowl?
• Riding in the car with someone asking question after question after question.

All of these things can drive me crazy, but there's one thing I do know.  One day none of these things will happen anymore and I will miss them.  I will want the noise, the messes (well, maybe) and the chance to cook for all of them.  

So what I'm saying is, I love being a mother.  Life isn't ever perfect, but it's just right for me.

Time Flies

I often think about how time flies.  It seems like I was just riding my bike around the neighborhood playing with my friends and rushing home when the street lights came on.  I often forget it has been 14 years since I played high school sports for the mighty Holtville Bulldogs (I actually saw there teachers wearing shirts today that said "once a bulldog, always a bulldog" and I thought to myself "I need one of those.").  How in the world have I been married for 11 years?  And when did I get a nine year old and two 4 year olds?

I hear people tell me all the time that I go a lot or I stay busy.  I agree.  I do go a lot and stay busy.  I do it because I see how fast time goes and I don't want to miss an opportunity to make a memory.  David is already 9 and there are not too many years left of him wanting to hang out with the parentals.  I want to have as much fun as possible with these awesome boys God has blessed me with.  I want to watch them play on the slip n slide, splash at the splash pad, bowl, jump in the pool, hop in the waves at the beach.  I want to remember the walks in the woods and the critters we find.  I want their childhood memories to include making Popsicles, playing board games, riding the golf cart, and reading together.  I hope they remember fishing in the pond, playing in the creek, and connecting train tracks.  I don't want all their memories to include watching tv or playing video games, because that might would happen if we allowed it.  I want them to see the world and have as many experiences we can provide at home or on an adventure.

God made me a mother 9 years ago and again 5 years later.  That's an important job to have.  I pray often that I am a good Mama and that my children always know how much I love them and that they are always good enough for me, just the way they are.  I hope when they grow up, their memories will include feeling loved and special.