BACK AT 'ER 2013

I had a wonderful back to school day, today!  My Tuesday brothers don’t start until next week, and so it was a relaxing and quiet (in comparison to 5) morning around here.

Anyways, my kids were all so happy and content and were so good just playing games, reading, and sharing with one another this morning.  Robyn started cruising along the furniture this morning, and so has had fun finding new things she can pull herself up to.  While she napped, the older kids and I got to work making a back to school cake together.  Janna was very serious about stirring in the vanilla, while Jesse was very serious about cleaning off the beaters

  After a quick trip into the store for icing and a few other odd groceries, we ate lunch, had story time, and everyone went down for their naps so happily and quietly. 

Jesse had quiet time for a bit over an hour, and then he came downstairs to do school with momma while the girls napped.  He was so excited he almost tripped down the stairs.  I had the materials we were working with today all out, and so we made a sign and took a picture to mark the start of the school year!

Jesse was SO good and serious about the whole thing.  We learned a memory verse today, sang a song, and talked about “attentiveness.”  We then did readings from 4 or 5 different books.    We talked about each of the readings and what was the same or different between the characters.  We did some “developing the early learner” activities in his work book, and started on pre-writing skills by introducing a bunch of large letter piece cut outs and playing with them together.   Big line, little line, Big curve, and little curve were quite the hit.  I loved spending this time with Jesse, and see him SO eager to learn and discuss and try new things.  It was really very special, and I hope that he continues to love this time each day J    I hope all you families today had some great moments during this memorable day of the year.  I’m sure there will be several ups and downs along the path, but kids are just so stinkin’ resilient, adaptable, and forgiving.  I’m amazed, daily.

Recently, several articles or blogs have been brought to my attention about how our kids love us, despite our imperfections.  That all moms and different, and nobody can be the perfect mom.  That while we often see in other moms WHERE they shine, everyone has weaknesses.   Sometimes we feel like we aren’t as good or got it together as others... or we can judge and tear down methods that aren’t our own.  It’s so true, and I’ve really just been inspired to try my best to accept my strengths and weaknesses.   While I can organize like a pro, and keep a ship sailing smoothly, I suck at other things.  I am horrible at laundry.  I don’t sort things and I don’t fold fresh out of the dryer.  I forget to spray and wash stuff.  Along with my kids having stained and faded clothes permanently, I am really bad at keeping them clean.  They usually have stuff on their faces or shirts when we are out in public and while I could just grab a wipe that is in my oober oorganized bag,  I just don’t care enough to do it.   I often forget to brush their teeth in the morning (thank goodness for Dave who makes sure they always get done at night), and I give them unhealthy treats at the grocery store to keep them happy.   On the health note, while I do aim for healthy meals and snacks, my kids probably eat frozen pizza or KD a few times a week.  These are just a few of the surface areas I struggle with, and that isn’t even the deep stuff. 

I mention all of this, in that I hope I never sound like I have it all together or know all the answers.  I want to be an encouragement to other moms.  I assume most of them are, at heart,  just as wiped, sticky, and depleted as I am.  I truly thank God for his daily grace and new mercies each morning.  I know He can give me all I need to make it though the days, and on top of that Joy.   I know he cares and lifts me through the rough days.   All the same, I know he works and speaks through others, and that our stories are intertwined.  And so, as a mom, as I encourage and uplift my kids, I hope that I can be an encouragement to other moms despite our differences in child rearing, priorities, and what we put on the table for supper.   I think it would be so great to put aside judgment and self-doubt, and speak love and encouragement into each other.   I’ve been writing out some fall goals for myself over the past few days, and that is one personal area I’m going to be working on this year. 

SO, enough about mommas.  Let’s talk about daddies.  Dave had a great day, as well, and we all enjoyed pizza for supper compliments of Nana Vance!   Dave got home to the kids playing in muddy water outside.  It started out as a science experiment.  Then an older neighborhood gal joined in and made it into some sort of game that involved certain ways of stirring or else you’d get “kicked out of the club.”  As Janna was breaking said rules, our neighbor exclaimed, “Janna will NEVER be kicked out of the club because she is such a little cutie” as she glared at Jesse and threatened to kick him out of the club. 

Dave and I have expressed some concern to one another about Janna getting a bit spoiled as people tip toe around her because she is so tiny and sweet (by times).  However, this morning, I had a bit of a reality check as my 3 kids were playing together.  They were all looking at books with me, and Jesse was tickling Robyn’s stomach and blathering on in baby talk to her, “ Oh you little cutie pie pie pie.  You are just so so sweet, you little girlie girlie.  I could NEVER EVER be mean to you!................. (long pause)  Just Janna.  But NEVER to you!”   Oh my land,  I had to try hard not to laugh.  Needless to say, Jesse will provide Janna’s dose of humbling material for her life, I think.

The kids continued to play the game, which  ended up with them all pretending to throw up into the bucket.  This produced INTENSE laughter, and then the spitting started.  It was here that I spoke up and asked the kids not to spit.  Our neighbor looked up at me with the saddest and more sincere eyes and said, “ But it’s for the customers!”  Kids say the funniest things.

Anyways, we got the kids in and cleaned and fed, AND enjoyed a homely, yet tasty back to school cake.  The kids were down and house tidied by 7:30, and now Dave sits at his computer putting in the necessary night time hours that are a teachers life.  

With that stunning photo, I shall be on my way.  I’m trying to get to bed nice and early when I have a full house the next day, so here I go.  Thanks for reading. I’m out.