In a day of being a Mom

These are things I learned or practiced today by being a Mom.

1.  How to read a story or two to two two year olds and one one year old, while trying to keep the one year old from turning the page every few seconds.

2.  How to try very hard not to get upset or talk too loudly while listening to one of my children argue with me for a while.

3.  How to motivate and encourage a child for twenty or so minutes while they work on some homework and I am there helping mostly for support.

4.  How to effectively manage time and resources by creatively arranging dishes in my dishwasher so they all fit.

5.  Folding piles (literally) of laundry while being reminded that I do this because I love my family and do not want them to stink.

6.  How to practice and show kindness to a child who was sad.

7.  How to learn to practice and deal with continuous and often screaming and fussing from a child who doesn't always communicate their feelings.  Really, it seems like most of these deal with patience in a way.

8.  How to remember how a child feels, and that they don't always know how to work out or understand all their emotions yet, that they can be very sensitive to their parents' words and expressions, etc., and to be aware and thoughtful to their sensitivities and what is really important to them.

9.  How to practice (still learning his one) how to be a good chef and make something good and sort of healthy for dinner while learning to not expect exclamations of great praise or even gratitude, when in fact, the opposite of those are often given.  Matthew does say thank you often at least. :)

10.  How to give to my children and try to be patient with them when all I want to do is lie down and they don't want to let me.

11.  How a bathroom break is not a break, or a deterrent for kids.  Questions, fussing, and/or tantrums can still commence.

12.  How to share in a child's excitement as they reached a goal they wanted and worked hard towards.

13.  How to force myself to nudge, remind, and ask children to do a chore, their laundry, or pick up after themselves when I know beforehand that just doing it myself is sometimes easier than the fight, or often hearing the fussing, but then my kids won't learn to work and so I choose the more-often-than-not fight.

14.  How to think/ponder/pray for ways to help a specific child with an individual problem.

15.  How to remember and remind myself not to be too busy or ready to do the next job that I miss the smiles, cuddles, or the special moments.

16.  How to not lose it or be too impatient when my 3-year old tells me that they colored on the walls downstairs, when they fuss when I turn off the TV, when they constantly ask for snacks, Ioad turns, or shows, when they kick and wiggle as you change their diaper because you love them and don't want their bums to hurt from diaper rash, etc.

17.  Realizing how lucky and unworthy you are to be raising this child when they stare at you with wide eyes, bright and innocent, and you know how many mistakes you make even though you're trying so hard.

18.  Knowing you can be told what to do when your baby knows you think they are adorable because they are, and they smile and beg and you might give into that extra treat or cuddles before nap time, or whatever it may be.  At times, this might apply to your other children as well. :)

19.  Hoping that you can drench in the beautiful, small, fun moments of life, remembering what is most important and WHO is most important and that sometimes, nothing else really matters in comparison.