I was exhausted.
Physically, emotionally. Exhausted!
It had been one of those days. I was one second away from a good ugly cry.
My good friend had just became a consultant for a company that sales through Facebook parties. I wanted so bad to help her get her business going because I know, all too well, how exhausting it can be trying to raise a young family while your husband builds a career. We've been through those years. We're in those years. To be able to stay at home with kids and contribute a tiny bit to the depressing family budget is capable of lightening a heavy burden.
i told her I would host and went ahead messaging all my friends. I had more people to contact than I thought I had.
And then I waited for their responses.
And waited.
And waited.
At the end of the day, I heard from a total of three people. Three!
I know now that I was being dramatic! Its very possible that no one wanted what was being sold. It's very possible that people just spent all their extra money on Christmas and don't have a single extra dime to spend. It's VERY possible that all my friends feel the same way I do about Facebook sales parties and avoid them at all costs!
But, at the moment, all sense had gone out the window.
In that moment, it was a manifestation of the truth I felt.
My friendships had fell by the wayside as I became a mom to three kids.
I felt lonely.
In that moment, it was a manifestation of the truth I felt.
My friendships had fell by the wayside as I became a mom to three kids.
I felt lonely.
I tried to shake it off and move on with my day. I'm still a mom and my kids still need me.
And then my kids.
It seems like very 5 minutes we go on the same exact roller coaster ride. Something doesn't go their way. So they whine and whine. We talk about how whining is not allowed and what the appropriate response should have been. They give the appropriate response. I give praise for such a great response. All is well. Until something else doesn't go their way. Then we start all over.
We do this all day. EVERY day.
It makes me feel like a bad mom. Like I'm not getting results and therefore I'm doing something wrong. Like I'm messing up my kids.
I should study parenting more. I should be more.
And then the hubby comes home. It was a rough day at the office and a longer commute than usual. He's tired. He's hungry. And there's no dinner in site.
We've got young kids. So even though we're both exhausted and just want to go to bed, we still have to feed the kids, play with them, and conduct a acceptable bedtime routine.
I hand the crying baby to the exhausted hungry husband while I make a quick dinner.
We eat.
While the kids whine about how they don't like this dinner.
While we pass the baby back and fourth so we can each have a couple minutes to actually eat.
We put the kids to bed- which we all know is a tedious and drawn out process.
_______________________________________________________________________________
And now I'm back to where I started- I plopped down on the couch next to the hubby.
I was exhausted. Physically, emotionally. Exhausted.
But, as I look back on the day. Its the good that's worth seeing.
Van rolled over for the first time today. He couldn't get his arm out so he just laid there 90% rolled over, on top of his arm. When I went to help, I saw his face. He had the biggest, most proud grin I have ever seen. He had done it! Finally! Today I got to see the look on my baby's face as he realized for the first time that he can do whatever he wants to do- if he just tries hard enough.
Emme woke up from her nap early today. Afton was at preschool and Van was still sleeping so it was just the two of us. Its hardly ever just the two of us. Its bittersweet.
We played Magic Clip dolls. I realize how fast she is growing up. I'm super proud of who she is becoming.
Afton wouldn't eat what we made for dinner. Again.
She was sent to her room.
She threw a fit. Of course.
She also kicked the ceiling so hard it cracked.
We had a talk with her afterwards.
With tear stained cheeks, she gave the most beautiful, unsolicited apology. She said she loves us.
We might just be getting through to her.
I have the most supportive husband.
I married him because I loved him. And he was cute.
But I really had no clue what a great man I married.
I didn't know that the man I married was so kind. So involved.
I didn't know he'd care so much about our kids.
I didn't know he'd be so good at helping them become respectful and responsible adults.
I didn't know that he'd love me for years without a second of hesitation.
I didn't know I could love him so much.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Life with three young kids is rough.
Its exhausting.
Physically, emotionally. Exhausting.
It can be lonely. It can be challenging. It can be without reward.
But this is also true.
Life with young kids is good. Its full of miracles. Its full of love. Its, occasionally, indescribably fulfilling.
The trick is to see the good and forget about everything else.
It seems like very 5 minutes we go on the same exact roller coaster ride. Something doesn't go their way. So they whine and whine. We talk about how whining is not allowed and what the appropriate response should have been. They give the appropriate response. I give praise for such a great response. All is well. Until something else doesn't go their way. Then we start all over.
We do this all day. EVERY day.
It makes me feel like a bad mom. Like I'm not getting results and therefore I'm doing something wrong. Like I'm messing up my kids.
I should study parenting more. I should be more.
And then the hubby comes home. It was a rough day at the office and a longer commute than usual. He's tired. He's hungry. And there's no dinner in site.
We've got young kids. So even though we're both exhausted and just want to go to bed, we still have to feed the kids, play with them, and conduct a acceptable bedtime routine.
I hand the crying baby to the exhausted hungry husband while I make a quick dinner.
We eat.
While the kids whine about how they don't like this dinner.
While we pass the baby back and fourth so we can each have a couple minutes to actually eat.
We put the kids to bed- which we all know is a tedious and drawn out process.
_______________________________________________________________________________
And now I'm back to where I started- I plopped down on the couch next to the hubby.
I was exhausted. Physically, emotionally. Exhausted.
But, as I look back on the day. Its the good that's worth seeing.
Van rolled over for the first time today. He couldn't get his arm out so he just laid there 90% rolled over, on top of his arm. When I went to help, I saw his face. He had the biggest, most proud grin I have ever seen. He had done it! Finally! Today I got to see the look on my baby's face as he realized for the first time that he can do whatever he wants to do- if he just tries hard enough.
Emme woke up from her nap early today. Afton was at preschool and Van was still sleeping so it was just the two of us. Its hardly ever just the two of us. Its bittersweet.
We played Magic Clip dolls. I realize how fast she is growing up. I'm super proud of who she is becoming.
Afton wouldn't eat what we made for dinner. Again.
She was sent to her room.
She threw a fit. Of course.
She also kicked the ceiling so hard it cracked.
We had a talk with her afterwards.
With tear stained cheeks, she gave the most beautiful, unsolicited apology. She said she loves us.
We might just be getting through to her.
I have the most supportive husband.
I married him because I loved him. And he was cute.
But I really had no clue what a great man I married.
I didn't know that the man I married was so kind. So involved.
I didn't know he'd care so much about our kids.
I didn't know he'd be so good at helping them become respectful and responsible adults.
I didn't know that he'd love me for years without a second of hesitation.
I didn't know I could love him so much.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Life with three young kids is rough.
Its exhausting.
Physically, emotionally. Exhausting.
It can be lonely. It can be challenging. It can be without reward.
But this is also true.
Life with young kids is good. Its full of miracles. Its full of love. Its, occasionally, indescribably fulfilling.
The trick is to see the good and forget about everything else.
