Do you have feel like this? I got it from Fans of being a Mom.
My kids love the popular book series by author Laura Numeroff and illustrator Felicia Bond that started with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. The mouse, the moose the cat, and the pig are all cute and quirky animals who are easily distracted by the task at hand. Eventually, a few pages and a circuitous route later, they wind up back where they started. For busy moms, it’s a familiar story.
I opened up my laptop to write a blog post, but a couple of unpaid bills amidst the piles on the kitchen counter caught my eye. Might as well hop online, do some quick banking, and get rid of the clutter. But, an email from Banana Republic for 40% off and free shipping pinged my inbox.
Well, I’ve been meaning to replace my favorite, yet well-worn pair of black pants, but haven’t wanted spend full price. Perfect, I’d order the pants at a discount while it’s fresh in my mind.
Of course, I couldn’t quite remember the size and style, so I left my desk and went to my closet to look for the pants. Wow, was my closet a mess! So I started pulling clothes off their hangers and doing a little reorganizing. Half an hour later, I had a pile of items to donate and a lot of empty wire hangers on the rod.
Some new, matching hangers and maybe some bins to consolidate the things that don’t need to be hung up would really pull my closet together. And, since I was low on detergent and toilet paper anyway, I might as well head to Target. One hundred dollars and a full cart later I headed back home.
As I pulled back into my driveway I realized that I was about to be late for kid pick-ups. I raced back out. Naturally, they were starving and expecting dinner as soon as we got home, so I got that going – followed in quick succession by the baths, books, and bedtime routine.
Once the kids were tucked in, I headed back to the kitchen to clean up and noticed my laptop sitting there. So, I decided to open it up and write a blog post.
The bills are still unpaid.I haven’t ordered my pants (what size am I, again?).My closet looks like a bomb went off.The Target purchases are still in the trunk of my car.The kitchen is a mess from dinner.But, here’s my post. : )
Posted: 09.14.2010 by FoBaM: Meredith
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Motherhood
Motherhood changes everything. That’s what they say, and it’s true. It changes your sleep patterns, your body, your work choices, your relationships, your priorities, your aspirations, your morning routine, your evening routine, and everything in between. It stretches you to reach into places you never knew were accessible to you, unearthing deep pockets of courage, ingenuity, and patience. It makes you stumble over roadblocks that you never considered before, giving you the chance to learn about the Real Life at every turn.
But, more than any of these changes, motherhood changes your heart. It’s not just that it’s bigger and more capable of love than ever before. Being a mom actually changes the way your heart works. Your children become a part of every equation. Your heart doesn’t make a move without them. Each decision is now predicated on how your choice will affect your kids. They are, more often than not, the deciding factor on the Big Things in your life.
Even when you’re not faced with any decisions, your children are always there in your heart. Ask any mother on any day about what is most important to her, and you will always get the same answer – her kids. World peace would be nice, but the kids come first. No matter where you are or what you are doing, a piece of your heart is always focused on your little ones – wondering what they are doing, if they are okay, and when they will be home.
And, apparently, that never stops – once a mom, always a mom. Though your role will change as the years fly by, the core essence of what it means to be a mom – to love unconditionally, without reservation, completely and wholly – only grows stronger and deeper as you watch your babies grow up. Though you may start out changing diapers and end up babysitting the grandchildren, you will never stop being a mom to your kids. You will always worry about them. You will always want what’s best. You will always share your opinion (for their own good, of course), and you will always remind them to bring a sweater, eat their vegetables, and mind their manners. You will never stop thinking of them as your little angels, and – happily – you will always be able to embarrass them with hardly any effort at all.
Motherhood – it’s the life-changing, heart-expanding, reality-altering experience that will stay with you forever. Aren’t we lucky?
taken from www.fansofbeingamom.com
But, more than any of these changes, motherhood changes your heart. It’s not just that it’s bigger and more capable of love than ever before. Being a mom actually changes the way your heart works. Your children become a part of every equation. Your heart doesn’t make a move without them. Each decision is now predicated on how your choice will affect your kids. They are, more often than not, the deciding factor on the Big Things in your life.
Even when you’re not faced with any decisions, your children are always there in your heart. Ask any mother on any day about what is most important to her, and you will always get the same answer – her kids. World peace would be nice, but the kids come first. No matter where you are or what you are doing, a piece of your heart is always focused on your little ones – wondering what they are doing, if they are okay, and when they will be home.
And, apparently, that never stops – once a mom, always a mom. Though your role will change as the years fly by, the core essence of what it means to be a mom – to love unconditionally, without reservation, completely and wholly – only grows stronger and deeper as you watch your babies grow up. Though you may start out changing diapers and end up babysitting the grandchildren, you will never stop being a mom to your kids. You will always worry about them. You will always want what’s best. You will always share your opinion (for their own good, of course), and you will always remind them to bring a sweater, eat their vegetables, and mind their manners. You will never stop thinking of them as your little angels, and – happily – you will always be able to embarrass them with hardly any effort at all.
Motherhood – it’s the life-changing, heart-expanding, reality-altering experience that will stay with you forever. Aren’t we lucky?
taken from www.fansofbeingamom.com
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Asking for Grace
This morning as I was flipping thru my book "Whispers of Wisdom for Mothers of Preschoolers (a year of inspirational readings)" I found one titled Child of Grace, which I knew I had to share.
Kendra hauled Thom to a time-out corner, clasping him in an iron grip while he howled and kicked. Kendra looked at the clock. Not yet 9:00am. Days like these made her wish she had remained single.
A gorgeous baby with big blue eyes and a sideways smile, little Thom changed overnight after his second birthday. He methodically destroyed the house. His biting habit made it impossible for Kendra to take him to playgroups or to the church nursery.
This morning, Thom tried to flush Bob the cat down the toilet. Soppy and cold, Kendra and Thom now sat in the time-out corner until he finally quieted. Kendra wiped his runny nose-and Thom's rage erupted all over again.
Lord, can I give him away?
At the thought, her arms tightened around him. Though his diaper erupted with unspeakable odors and he buried his nasty nose in her neck, Kendra knew she would never, ever give Thom up. Instead, she held him close and sang to him.
In the Old Testemant, God's chosen people seemed anything but a holy nation. They threw endless tantrums and disgraced His name. Yet he remained faithful and even rejoiced over them.
Lord Jesus, I often come to You like an obstinate, dirty, smelly two-year-old yet You hold me on Your lap. Thank You for loving me, Amen.
Kendra hauled Thom to a time-out corner, clasping him in an iron grip while he howled and kicked. Kendra looked at the clock. Not yet 9:00am. Days like these made her wish she had remained single.
A gorgeous baby with big blue eyes and a sideways smile, little Thom changed overnight after his second birthday. He methodically destroyed the house. His biting habit made it impossible for Kendra to take him to playgroups or to the church nursery.
This morning, Thom tried to flush Bob the cat down the toilet. Soppy and cold, Kendra and Thom now sat in the time-out corner until he finally quieted. Kendra wiped his runny nose-and Thom's rage erupted all over again.
Lord, can I give him away?
At the thought, her arms tightened around him. Though his diaper erupted with unspeakable odors and he buried his nasty nose in her neck, Kendra knew she would never, ever give Thom up. Instead, she held him close and sang to him.
In the Old Testemant, God's chosen people seemed anything but a holy nation. They threw endless tantrums and disgraced His name. Yet he remained faithful and even rejoiced over them.
Lord Jesus, I often come to You like an obstinate, dirty, smelly two-year-old yet You hold me on Your lap. Thank You for loving me, Amen.