Wednesday, January 12, 2011
i'm a lazy mom...
one of the things i've always felt is important is consistent, family meals around the table. that is, until two years ago when theMr started his job that causes him to be gone in the evenings... suddenly it felt sad and lonely to sit at the table without him! plus, i don't eat dinner with the kids now, i wait to eat with him. so over time i've let us get in the really bad habit of eating in the living room. which is something i've always hated :( i think i rationalized it in my head that i don't let the kids watch much tv the rest of the day so that time is ok. sigh... i decided recently it has to stop. it's a terrible habit and i'm putting a stop to it! so the first night he was back to work i informed the kids that we would no longer be doing that and we would sit at the table together and talk. no more tv! we sit down that night at the table and what do the kids talk about? TV! i'm not kidding. they talked about shows and movies and funny quotes. i had to purposely steer the conversation to other things! i can't win :)
Monday, January 10, 2011
top 10 ways to keep your sanity with many children..
let's face it... having a house full of young children is not always conducive to sanity! it's always messy and loud and expensive and tiring... in order to get by, there are a few areas of parenting where we've become downright rigid. but at the end of the day...we gotta hold it together over here!
10. no kids in the parents' bedroom...ever. not during storms, not during sickness and never, EVER in our bed. i have to share a bathroom, towels and every dessert i ever eat with these little monkeys. i have to have some sanctuary! and that is our bed. it's ours. if you are sick? you can sleep on the couch (right outside our room) so i can hear you. if you have a bad dream? i'll be happy to come tuck you and in pray for you in your own bed. this ties directly into the next one...
9. children go to bed early. period. after 8p is mommy and daddy time. you are free to stay awake (quietly) in your room until 3am if you so desire but do not come downstairs. (under penalty of death... or at least grounding!) this means that no later than 7:30 should you have your chores done and your snack eaten cause your little behind is heading up to get ready for bed! goodnight! mommy loves you! see you tomorrow!!
8. a smooth evening and morning routine! kids are responsible to pack their lunches, lay out their clothes and empty their own folders each night after dinner. i am not the personal assistant. here's the deal: if my kindergartner can do it- your kid can too! it's never too early to teach self reliance and personal responsibility! and with five kids, it's a necessity. as for the morning, you get yourself dressed, brushed, combed, fed and ready to head out the door. daddy is available for hugs, kisses and reminders for mittens. you are responsible for the rest!
7. kids who don't watch tv all the time learn to play and entertain themselves! shocking, i know :) my five children (ages ranging from 1-11) will all play together! they make up plays and songs and imaginary villages and forts and worlds where polly pockets are married to little people and barbies are married to power rangers. is is sometimes easier to turn on the tv? not when your kids ages are so varied. tv is just another thing to fight about... don't try convincing theMr of this.. he won't believe you :)
6. proper manners and behavior can be taught at a very young age and should be. especially when you have a family our size. any unruly child is a distraction and irritation to people in public. five unruly children are a nightmare of epic proportions. do i expect perfection? no. do i expect them to act like adults? nope. i do, however, expect politeness, respect, appropriate voice levels and consideration. even out of the little ones. no matter how cute your baby is, the people in front of you at church do not appreciate the talking all through the service!
5. patience is a virtue and a child who doesn't interrupt is a blessing! this is a tough one to teach... especially with certain, ahem, personality types. now i have a child with ADD so i understand how challenging this one can be but it is possible. it's another one that needs to start young, as early as 18 months. the key is teaching an appropriate, non intrusive way for the child to let the parent know you need attention. and being consistent in enforcing it.
4. learning to see the humor in things. especially when the alternative is to cry. and remembering that this too shall pass!
3. having mom friends you can be totally real with. i'm talking real. as in "can you come and take this child before i shake them" real. sometimes we all need a little break...
2. date nights! (or if you are single, nights out!) the best mom is a happy, content mom. the happiest, most contented moms are those who have strong, fulfilling marriages. those types of marriages do not come from spending 24/7 with your children, having them all sleep in your bed and never shaving your legs! let's face it ladies, it's a jungle out there. keep your marriage alive by taking care of your spouse and taking care of yourself. you know i'm a fan of the sweats, that's no secret, haha. but when i'm out with theMr, i try to always look nice. one day those sweet children will be all gone and it will be in your best interest to still like your husband when that happens!
1. give yourself grace, each and every day. give your husband extra grace ( i need to work on that one :). give your kids all the grace you can summon. hug them, love them and don't treat them like the center of the universe. they'll thank you later!
10. no kids in the parents' bedroom...ever. not during storms, not during sickness and never, EVER in our bed. i have to share a bathroom, towels and every dessert i ever eat with these little monkeys. i have to have some sanctuary! and that is our bed. it's ours. if you are sick? you can sleep on the couch (right outside our room) so i can hear you. if you have a bad dream? i'll be happy to come tuck you and in pray for you in your own bed. this ties directly into the next one...
9. children go to bed early. period. after 8p is mommy and daddy time. you are free to stay awake (quietly) in your room until 3am if you so desire but do not come downstairs. (under penalty of death... or at least grounding!) this means that no later than 7:30 should you have your chores done and your snack eaten cause your little behind is heading up to get ready for bed! goodnight! mommy loves you! see you tomorrow!!
8. a smooth evening and morning routine! kids are responsible to pack their lunches, lay out their clothes and empty their own folders each night after dinner. i am not the personal assistant. here's the deal: if my kindergartner can do it- your kid can too! it's never too early to teach self reliance and personal responsibility! and with five kids, it's a necessity. as for the morning, you get yourself dressed, brushed, combed, fed and ready to head out the door. daddy is available for hugs, kisses and reminders for mittens. you are responsible for the rest!
7. kids who don't watch tv all the time learn to play and entertain themselves! shocking, i know :) my five children (ages ranging from 1-11) will all play together! they make up plays and songs and imaginary villages and forts and worlds where polly pockets are married to little people and barbies are married to power rangers. is is sometimes easier to turn on the tv? not when your kids ages are so varied. tv is just another thing to fight about... don't try convincing theMr of this.. he won't believe you :)
6. proper manners and behavior can be taught at a very young age and should be. especially when you have a family our size. any unruly child is a distraction and irritation to people in public. five unruly children are a nightmare of epic proportions. do i expect perfection? no. do i expect them to act like adults? nope. i do, however, expect politeness, respect, appropriate voice levels and consideration. even out of the little ones. no matter how cute your baby is, the people in front of you at church do not appreciate the talking all through the service!
5. patience is a virtue and a child who doesn't interrupt is a blessing! this is a tough one to teach... especially with certain, ahem, personality types. now i have a child with ADD so i understand how challenging this one can be but it is possible. it's another one that needs to start young, as early as 18 months. the key is teaching an appropriate, non intrusive way for the child to let the parent know you need attention. and being consistent in enforcing it.
4. learning to see the humor in things. especially when the alternative is to cry. and remembering that this too shall pass!
3. having mom friends you can be totally real with. i'm talking real. as in "can you come and take this child before i shake them" real. sometimes we all need a little break...
2. date nights! (or if you are single, nights out!) the best mom is a happy, content mom. the happiest, most contented moms are those who have strong, fulfilling marriages. those types of marriages do not come from spending 24/7 with your children, having them all sleep in your bed and never shaving your legs! let's face it ladies, it's a jungle out there. keep your marriage alive by taking care of your spouse and taking care of yourself. you know i'm a fan of the sweats, that's no secret, haha. but when i'm out with theMr, i try to always look nice. one day those sweet children will be all gone and it will be in your best interest to still like your husband when that happens!
1. give yourself grace, each and every day. give your husband extra grace ( i need to work on that one :). give your kids all the grace you can summon. hug them, love them and don't treat them like the center of the universe. they'll thank you later!
Monday, January 3, 2011
resolutions smecholutions
i've never done resolutions. i can't keep my promises to myself the rest of the year so why try in january?? if i were going to make them though... they would be as follows:
1. stop making people mad on facebook. seriously. i am always ticking someone off with my offensive, opinionated status updates. ok, maybe i can't stop making them mad all the time... i can try to cut back!
2. lose the weight. not to be better for my kids or because my body is a temple or any of those great reasons.... but because i'm a vain chick and i want to fit into my cute clothes again! which leads me to #3...
3. stop going in public in sweatpants. i know, there is no excuse. it doesn't matter that walgreens is only a few blocks away... have i no self respect?
4. stop operating in the thought process of "this is who i am" and be open to being something totally different. stop settling for my weaknesses as part of my personality and actively try to change them. get out of my comfort zone. you know what i mean!
5. memorize scripture. i'm terrible at this... and i really have no excuse! if i can remember the words to every nirvana song from the 90's surely i can memorize God's word. sheesh.
6. dial the sarcasm back a notch. yeah, that's probably gonna happen...
7. live free, smile more, laugh often, judge less, give generously, love without boundaries, forgive immediately, let go of the past and live up to my potential.
that shouldn't be so hard, right??
1. stop making people mad on facebook. seriously. i am always ticking someone off with my offensive, opinionated status updates. ok, maybe i can't stop making them mad all the time... i can try to cut back!
2. lose the weight. not to be better for my kids or because my body is a temple or any of those great reasons.... but because i'm a vain chick and i want to fit into my cute clothes again! which leads me to #3...
3. stop going in public in sweatpants. i know, there is no excuse. it doesn't matter that walgreens is only a few blocks away... have i no self respect?
4. stop operating in the thought process of "this is who i am" and be open to being something totally different. stop settling for my weaknesses as part of my personality and actively try to change them. get out of my comfort zone. you know what i mean!
5. memorize scripture. i'm terrible at this... and i really have no excuse! if i can remember the words to every nirvana song from the 90's surely i can memorize God's word. sheesh.
6. dial the sarcasm back a notch. yeah, that's probably gonna happen...
7. live free, smile more, laugh often, judge less, give generously, love without boundaries, forgive immediately, let go of the past and live up to my potential.
that shouldn't be so hard, right??
Thursday, December 30, 2010
top ten of '10
10. eclipse... the proposal, the meadow, the proposal, sigh
9. the deluxe keurig
8. my little princess continuing to prefer me over all else. she's still my baby sidekick, at least for one more year!
7. a much anticipated, long awaited vacation!
6. a year of being debt free~
5. sweet baby pearl's birth!
4. career stability in unstable times
3. a year of (mostly) health
2. not getting pregnant!!!
1. happiness, joy, peace and blessing in our family!
happy 2011 to you and yours!
9. the deluxe keurig
8. my little princess continuing to prefer me over all else. she's still my baby sidekick, at least for one more year!
7. a much anticipated, long awaited vacation!
6. a year of being debt free~
5. sweet baby pearl's birth!
4. career stability in unstable times
3. a year of (mostly) health
2. not getting pregnant!!!
1. happiness, joy, peace and blessing in our family!
happy 2011 to you and yours!
Friday, December 24, 2010
merry christmas from theMrs!
merry christmas from our family to yours! spend it seeing what you have instead of what you don't... focusing on what you can give and not what you receive... loving those who are here and not dwelling on those who are not... and thankful for a tiny baby who came to save us all!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
happy holidays?
two days? TWO DAYS?? it all started last thursday.... just your typical thursday. take care of kids, take care of husband, go to bed, wake to kid throwing up.... yep. it's here. christmas? no, the stomach flu. each day a new member gets it. dragging it out as long as humanly possible. nearly every bed has now been vomited in. carpets, sheets, tile, pj's, it's all soiled. i have a pile of laundry you wouldn't believe... the house is trashed... there's cooking and wrapping to do... and still more puking. i want to have a pity party... when will it end? why us? but i have to remember, we are all here this christmas. alive, breathing, together, loving. we have friends and family and each other and are blessed. sickness is a bump in the road. a small one at that. we'll just keep pouring the cups of 7up and it will be over before i know it. merry christmas to you :)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
ode to sick kids...
i know it's not flashback friday anymore, but this old post from 2008 (unfortunately) is totally appropriate again this year :( have a laugh... it's better than cleaning up puke~
twas the week before Christmas,
when all through the house
children were vomiting out of their mouths.
Papaw was at his job,
while i hold the fort
these are the days it'd be easier to work.
fevers keep climbing
children are whining
haven't eaten all day there's no time for dining.
sheets in the washer,
cartoons all day,
who'd have thought i could miss all that rambunctious play.
one silver lining
there has to be one
with seven days until Christmas we soon shall be done.
twas the week before Christmas,
when all through the house
children were vomiting out of their mouths.
Papaw was at his job,
while i hold the fort
these are the days it'd be easier to work.
fevers keep climbing
children are whining
haven't eaten all day there's no time for dining.
sheets in the washer,
cartoons all day,
who'd have thought i could miss all that rambunctious play.
one silver lining
there has to be one
with seven days until Christmas we soon shall be done.
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