Okay, I'm going to whine a little. I'll sandwich it with the truth. The truth is that I LOVE being a mom. I LOVE my kids. I know God has put our family together in a way that can bring Him glory. I know that these things that are driving me crazy are not unique to me and my family!
On to the whining. First of all, I am about ready to go to Play It Again Sports and purchase a bunch of black and white striped shirts (vertical stripes) and whistles, because if I am going to be a referee all day, I might as well look the part. Maybe the calls I make will be more respected if I actually LOOK like a ref! I just get tired of thinking "what can we all learn from this", "how can I just be a facilitator and help them to solve this on their own", "what are the right words to say to prevent this from happening again"! I get to the point where I really just want to say "beat each other up. Whoever wins gets the __________ (front booster seat, pink cup, chance to sing alone)!" I haven't gotten to that point yet, but I have been WAY too close! I have a friend with three kids who told me that this summer she has a new tactic; every time her kids come to tattle on each other or are fighting/arguing, she hands them a rag and has them wipe spots off the floor! Genius. That might be my plan of action tomorrow morning (when the first scuffle happens before any of our neighbors are even awake)!
The other thing that's driving me crazy (and that I'm feeling a little guilty about) is that I REALLY don't like playing pretend with them. Today, the four of us where in the pool (it's one of those round, plastic ones) and we were pretending to be on a raft paddling through rapids and dodging waterfalls. So fun! But it can't ever stay that way. It somehow ALWAYS takes a turn and I become the mommy and they are my newborn babies. Now, this is where the guilt comes in. I know that it's really healthy and good play for the girls. They are basically doing their own play therapy! They curl up on the ground and I hunch over them and they pretend to be born. That's fine. It's once I have the three (Seth usually joins in) "newborn" babies, the pretend play becomes just like my normal life. I suddenly have three little ones who are literally climbing over each other and pushing each other to be in my arms and have all my attention. And, I know this is dumb, but as they tell me how old they are (0 or 1 day or 2 weeks) and they do things like crawl or say words or whatever I get so annoyed because that's just not "pretend age" appropriate! I know, I'm lame:)
I am so thankful that I have three healthy kiddos that have all their limbs (to hit and kick each other with) and working minds (to come up with great arguments) and adorable faces (to make us keep them)! It really is a super big blessing. I'm thankful that we have a home and a yard and that they even want to play with me. I'm thankful I have the "luxury" of staying home and being able to play with them (at the expense of laundry being done, floors being swept, food being prepared, phone calls being returned). I do know that there is really no room for whining or complaining in this incredible life the Lord has blessed me with. Thank you, God for your grace and mercy:)
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