My hiatus

So, I've had a long break. Well, long doesn't exactly cover it I suppose. But just a quick note to start my blog again. Next post will include pictures. :D

Things

Art Buchwald said that "[t]he best things in life aren't things". That saying always catches me. Sure, a rich boyfriend who wants to give me a big diamond ring would be nice. But a average income boyfriend who made me happy and gave me a piece of his heart would be even better.

I remind myself daily that that is what I want to teach my kids. Toys, books, the latest clothes are all nice things. But do you have love? Do you have kindness?

I'm gonna quote the Bible here, but don't be scared. This is my favorite verse:
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Do you have love?

Picture This

This really only makes sense if you're a parent...

You probably pictured how life would be when you became a parent, didn't you?

You pictured tiny diapers and cute outfits. You didn't quite pictures cleaning up poop at 2 AM and changing outfits 5 times a day because of reflux.

You pictured adorable bedding for the crib, you didn't picture the nights when you both slept in the rocking chair.

You pictured the perfect car seat, you didn't quite picture how'd they scream every time you put them in it.

You pictured watching their peaceful sleep, you didn't quite picture that you'd be watching them sleep, afraid that they'd wake as you left the room.

You pictured the first day they walked, you didn't quite picture that watching them walk would make you cry.

You pictured their first art work, you didn't quite picture it would be on the wall or themselves or the couch, or all three.

You pictured their first day of school, you didn't quite picture how useless it would make you feel.

You pictured how sweet they'd look, but you didn't quite picture that you'd love them so much it literally hurt to look at them.

Of course, life is never quite as we picture it, so why should being a parent any different?

Been awhile

And I'm sure that so many have forgotten I even have a blog, but hey, might as well type to see myself talk.

It came to my attention this week, that I might come across as stern. Huh? Ok, so I have high expectations for my kids' behavior. But if my kids don't know my expectations now, how else will they have a benchmark for their behavior. I can't let them get away with things now that I will expect them to not do later.

My life with my children isn't run by my disciplining of my children. Or rather it is, but not in the manner most think. Discpline is simply leading your children on the correct path. Whether it be praising a job done right, redirecting from some danger or dealing with something more serious.

I'd talk more about this now, but my 21 month old is trying to help me type.

A busy bee...

As I previously posted, I'm working to have my kids help me more around the house. How else are they to learn responsibility? As a friend of mine told me years ago, it's just easier to do it yourself. Yes, but will it still be easier to do it yourself when they're 16? 20? Probably not. So, we start small. The kids pick up their toys and books, usually at the end of the day or right before we head out somewhere. My oldest cleans up her spot at the table when she's done eating. They also put their dirty clothes in the laundry. If I'm doing major cleaning the kids like to "help". It always takes twice as long, but in the long run, I've helped all of us. And won't their future spouses thank me someday?

A little lost...

Sorry to have been so absent lately. I've been a tad bit, well, lost. The kids and work take up much of my time. But I've gotten myself motivated to unpack my house lately. You see I moved in my apartment over a month ago and haven't finished unpacking yet. I figured out the best way to clean and unpack was to involve the kids. I'm assured that it isn't slave labor to have my four year old vacuum my living room....with a hand vac. And I have to say, 700 square feet feel a little bigger without the boxes.

In other news, I've had my first negative comment about extended breastfeeding. My son is 19 months and still happily breastfeeding. I've gotten the occasional odd look when I say I need to find the shirt that says "Boob Man". This past weekend though, a friend gave me an odd look with the words, "You're STILL breastfeeding?". Why shouldn't I? The AAP reccomends it. The WHO reccomends it. And hey, most of you who know me, know that I just like to do stuff to make people go, "huh?"

Bleh

I'm having one of those days. The ones where you finish the day off by banging your head into a wall because of all the things you wish you could do over. Like screaming at your toddler to leave the kitchen, just so you could open the oven. Or forgetting that small children have no concept of time. Never tell them that you're going somewhere later, they only know now.

The good news is that small children are often very forgiving. After about the tenth time I'd lost my patience with my children, my daughter brought me a flower she had picked. It's nothing special, just some little weed she found. But her intent was to make Mommy happy again. We both said we were sorry and picked blackberries. And somehow, that's enough. Just a hug and an apology and all is well again in the world.

Oh to be that little once again.