I was called to be a tired mom.

 

A tired mom is my calling.

 

As  I was looking over our weekly Sunday picture, I noticed I looked so tired. I looked exhausted. When did I become so tired looking?? What happened to that young lady who wanted a job modeling?? Why is it that a mother has the most important job on earth, yet among today's standards, her job is the least appreciated??

 

When you are a mother , your life is given to taking care of people. Children whose wants never seem to cease. Sometimes when your days seem to be completely taken up with cleaning things, dishes and laundry, little nasty snot noses and great big sad tears. Then you wonder about what "fulfillment" is supposed to mean for you. You wonder about being (besides the perfect wife and mother) creative, smart, beautiful. And slowly the dreams you once had seem to disappear when you hear............You mean that's all you do?" That's all?

The meaning of being a mother is endless. A mother is a protector, disciplinarian and friend. A mother is a selfless, loving human who must sacrifice many of their wants and needs for the wants and needs of their children. A mother works hard to make sure their child is equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities to make it as a competent human being. Being a mother is perhaps the hardest, most rewarding job a woman will ever experience.

I am just learning that in order for me to laugh more, stress less, and have a calmer attitude, I need to give up my prideful side. The side that always thinks about what I lost out on when I became a mother. What are we teaching our children when we act that way?? I am still learning how to be a selfless mom. But I am strongly working on it. I stay reminding myself what my priorities are in life. And my children are defiantly my number one priority.

According to an ancient Jewish proverb, "God could not be everywhere, and therefore He made mothers." I pray my children will one day say "mother put herself on hold as she was raising us. She put us first, always; and she was second." If our calling is to be mothers, let's be mothers with all our hearts--gladly, simply, and humbly. A mothers love will never end.

Be Still My Heart

Be Still My Heart



Oh, my heart!! My heart is so overwhelmed. I just received this picture from Jacks teacher. Instantly started crying. Student of the month!! Wait!? My kid?? My Jack??

 Wow!! This is may Jack!! This is the same kid who kicked and screamed his first 7 weeks of school. Like any other mother who has a child with special needs, I had mixed emotions about him starting school, especially so early. I was terrified for him. But the school does everything in their power to make him feel... safe, comfortable and happy.

 

This is the same little boy who hates going anywhere with a crowd of people. He won't even eat in a restaurant (unless we are the only ones there). But does so great in school. In May he wasn't even talking. Only simple words. Now he can talk in small sentences. And has even started talking at school this month. We may not have it together at home (probably never will).....but he sure has everything together at school. He is able to control himself for nearly 5 hours everyday.

 

This is what progress looks like. Its scary being a parent of a child with learning disabilities , last year I was told by one of his teachers "It’s OK to be scared mom. He's scared, also. But I promise you, everything will be okay. Better than okay. We will do everything in our power to help your child thrive." And that is exactly what this whole school has done for us.

4 kids in sports

All My Kids Play Sports

For the last 5 years I've been a sports mom of four. Yes, you read that right. All four of my kids play sports. Its no easy task to be the parent of young athletes. They are all athletic. Something they sure didn't get from my side of them family.  My life had never included anything athletic. I come from a family who would prefer not to sweat or even run unless we were being chased by Michael Myers. Even then we would probably hide somewhere and pray for the best. For whatever reason God seen it fit to make me the mother of not one, but four really active children. For kids who love playing sports. Baseball, Softball, Tee-ball, Football, Basketball, and Cheerleading. Playing sports is fun. It gives your child something to do and a group to belong to. They have a group of friends that has the same goals and interests.

 

I've just about seen it all when it comes to youth sports. The good, the bad, and the not so nice. For the most part they work hard at it. Practices can be so overwhelming at times for their little bodies. The games can be physically exhausting. The games can either lead to a overjoyed child from a win or a heartbroken child from a one point  lose. They work hard. They work really hard.
 

Mom has it hard also. First its getting all the sports fees paid, signing all the liability papers and getting them turned in to each coach. (They have had Great coaches and they have even had horrible coaches) Shopping for equipment is a bank-braker. Football and Basketball, not so bad. Now Baseball.....that's a different story. Have you ever bought a baseball bat?? They are anywhere from $50(cheap) to $300!! For one bat!! After you have all the supplies on each checklist....that's when the running around beings.

 

We average about 4 practices a week. Sometimes 3, sometimes 6 depending on the weather. 2 to 4 games a week. Getting them to practice or games on time is hectic. Load the van with all their equipment. Don't forget the cooler full of drinks and snacks. Everyone is in the van ready to go when all of the sudden someone had to pee.......someone forgot their cleats. Getting them where they are supposed to be on time is a absolute nightmare. We spend more time in the van going from point A to point B than we do at the actual game.

I’m constantly thinking how are we going to manage, how am I going to get them there on time and how in the heck am I going to afford all of this!! But you stick with it all. Because they like it. They want to play sports. Because the joy they recive from one win is so great. Because you love when they wave and yell "mom" from the field. Because you are proud of them all. Mothers are the backbone of sports teams.