Mother's Day and instead of being sentimental I figured we mothers could all use a little humor. So I'm going to make a list of what I've learned from being a mom...
Now these are some practical things, especially if you have more than one child lol
1. Don't buy expensive socks, just don't. They end up missing, or if you have children like mine, they will refuse to take them off, wear them outside, inside, and by the time they actually do remove them no washer, no tide with bleach will ever get them clean again. Dollar store socks? yea Mama...
2. If they throw a fit, Let them cry, walk away, take a breath and realize they'll stop soon enough lol
3. That peanut butter and jelly that you see in the jar together and you scoffed at it? Buy it. I'll never go back to ordinary pb and j, with two separate knives and two jars, when you have 7 and sometimes upwards of 11 sandwiches to make, believe me you'll appreciate the ease.
4. when you ask your children to do something, and then ask them again, and again, don't waste your energy yelling, just start speaking Chinese "Chung mai--chee chung chung chee" and I promise you, they WILL look at you, maybe like your a weirdo, but at least you've now got their attention.
5. That day you're little girl gets into makeup, and writes all over the walls with it, covers her face in red lipstick, and ruins an outfit, don't swear or yell, take your camera out, and one day you'll thank yourself for the memory...(Unless of course it was Ulta makeup...then I'd say get a few curses out, then take a picture haha)
6. Hair grows back. I promise...take pictures of that too, but really just never buy scissors, cause no matter where you hide them, I promise at some point they will find them.
7. Train them early to wear flip flops, and buy them in bulk. There will always be a time you're running out the door and can't find shoes for someone.
8. If you nursed your boys, be prepared for them to always love "them" I was in church holding Malacai who continually kept nesting his hand there, when I asked him to stop, he loudly proclaimed "No Mom, just let me keep it in there"
9. If you take pictures on your cell phone for your husbands eyes only, delete them immediately, cause those days they misbehave in church and you hand them your cell? That might just be the picture they decide to hold up for the entire congregation to see, proclaiming how pretty you are. Yup...
10. If you're tired and emotionally drained, and your house looks like a tornado went through it, leave it, take a deep breath, it will all be there waiting for you tomorrow. (and even if you do clean it, chances are it will need to be done AGAIN tomorrow--so leave it, make some tea and rest)
11. Those kisses that wash your face with their spit? Enjoy them, soon enough kissing will be considered gross, and hey, lets face it, your face could use a cleaning lol
12. Grocery shopping...you dread it, you know its coming, but you put it off. After two days of $5 pizzas, you know you have to brave it with all your littles in toe...They begin pitching a fit, you start getting looks... smile or cross your eyes at the nasty people, take some goldfish off the shelf, open them, hand them out, and keep shopping. Grocery checkout people understand when they see that empty container going through the check out!
13. And finally don't compromise on your beliefs that you feel strong on, even if everyone thinks you're a weirdo. 6 years ago, I began buying raw milk, grass fed beef, cloth diapered, put my babies in wool clothing because it breathed, wore my babies, nursed them exclusively for at least 9 months, and then kept going well past their first birthday, bought them amber teething necklaces, and refused to vaccinate them. Back then people told me I was a hipee and a granola nut case...now? Its all the norm...
Being a mama is hard work, its 24-7, and unless you're rich, you rarely get a break. But do realize that this too shall pass, and before you know it, they'll be your best friends. Make it special when you can, and when you can't, realize you're not superwoman. Your kids will appreciate a "real" mom more than a mom who tries to do everything "pintrest-ly" perfect, but is miserable. And above all remember Who your strength is. He loves you and is just a whisper away. You don't have to carve out an hour somewhere in order to pray. Play scripture on your phone, clean to worship music, and breathe your prayers, and you'll find His strength will be the joy that gets you through your day.
Happy Mothers Day 2012!
