Children are a gift of God, I'm sure. It says so in the Bible and I believe it 100%. I also believe that, through the gift of children, God works on our "gifts." Patience is one of those gifts. I'm almost convinced that there are days in our lives that God gives our children the job of improving our character, of testing us in ways we can never imagine just to help us work on those areas of our lives that could use a little tweaking. Such a day has come today.
It doesn't help matters that my husband is out of town, in Las Vegas no less, spending kid-free time eating, sleeping, and just plain enjoying days without being asked one question 1000 times, wiping snot from a child's face, or packing 3 children into the car to go to the grocery store for one forgotten item.
With this mentality, I start my day. (I love you, babe, but even you admit you've got it easy these next few days). Here are some of the things that my children have thought up, I'm convinced, to just make sure that I get a little "training."
Tyler: wake up at 5:50, just because you can. Cry until mommy comes and gets you. Oh, she's bringing you to her bed because it's so early. Pretend to sleep but make sure to snort and snarfle loudly while making sucking sounds on your thumb so that there's no chance she'll be able to get back to sleep again. Don't worry about the fact that she went to bed at midnight because she was afraid of every little noise...just carry on. Maybe if you do it long enough, the baby will wake up and then you can watch tv...OH, IT WORKED!!
She'll let you watch tv while you're eating. Say you want Strawberry yogurt and then, right after she opens it, make sure you make a huge deal about the fact that you want the one that Mikayla has even though mommy has no more. Keep whining, keep whining. Oh, don't stop yet! Keep whining and complaining even while mommy is taking a shower-in fact, walk to the shower and continue to complain about the injustice. Make her well aware of the unfairness of it all. Hang out there and just keep telling her you want what Mikayla has...that's it...oh, keep doing it. Look, she's getting impatient. Leave now. Wait! Mommy's out of the shower, here she comes. Show her that you all of a sudden like your yogurt, especially with cereal on top. Smile with that sweet smile while you finish it and bring it to her empty. See, she's happy!
Mikayla: Wake up and come and cuddle. Oh, mommy's bringing yogurt over to us. Purposefully almost sit on Tyler because mommy put your yogurt on the side that Tyler's on. Complain that Tyler won't move so you can sit down. Make it a big deal-add some drama! Make mommy switch the yogurt's because you're incapable. Oh, mommy's taking a shower....she's coming back! Oh No! You accidentally spilled your yogurt all over the floor. Maybe it would have helped if you held it with both hands. Oh well, let mommy pick it up. That's what she's there for. Wait, she's making you do it-OH NO! You spilled yogurt on the socks that you borrowed from your friend from school. Just take them off and put them in your hamper, with the rest of your dirty clothes. Hopefully mommy will remember which ones they are..they're the white ones of course! Oh, wait, mommy said she needs to spray them and keep them separate. Go change into your princess dress since mom keeps saying you need to get changed. That's right, there's school today. Hold on! You haven't even started tattling today (except for tattling on Tyler when he moved Lynnea's seat). You'd better get going on that...
Lynnea: Wake up at 6:00 and have the heaviest diaper mommy's ever felt. Make her change it with a diaper from the diaper bag so she'll have to get up and get it. Drink your bottle with no commotion. Oh, she's sitting you in your seat to have breakfast and take a shower. She's giving you Kix! Yum! Pretend to eat them all but really shove them into your chair, under your bottom. When she picks you up...OH, here she comes!!...there they go-all over the floor! YES!!! Now she has to pick up 20 Kix all over the floor. She's done, drop another one! ALL RIGHT!! It went across the kitchen, now she has to bend over again to pick up that one. That's so much fun! When she puts you down, make sure you open the recipe cabinet and take out all of the books. Now go make a mess of the toys in the living room.
So now you know my morning. The funny thing is, this is pretty standard but today it's just a little more challenging. Thankfully, my patience has stayed intact and I thank God for my daily dose. Having kids is definitely a gift!
4 comments:
Speaking of gifts... you have such a gift for writing! Great job capturing what most of us mommies experience in a short amount of time! Pure joy!
Hurry home, Will... Riva needs a shower without interruption:)
oh Riva! I feel for you! Erik just got back from being in Englands for 10 days! and Madeleine decided to come down with a fever for 5 days! it was sooo much fun! hang in there!
Wait, wait, wait. I thought you were writing about your little "gifts" not mine! Are we living the same life? Oh, wait. No, I thought we were but now I can see we are not. You have the better life. You get a shower.
Keep working on your character building gifts. Soon your gifts will rise up and call you blessed. Remember, character counts. They couldn't have a better mommy to model great character than you.
These days do pass...eventually and you will wonder what happened but still remember as something to laugh about. I remember having the 5 kids, the teenagers hogging the bathroom and trying to get the three little ones ready for church, david was already gone. One time I had the 3 youngest all dressed,clean, ready to go and sat them on the couch in a row and told them not to move so they wouldn't get dirty because mommie has to quickly get ready for church. I hopped in the shower for less than 2 minutes, dressed, patchy makeup on and went to the front room while I was brushing my hair to find my shoes and head out to church and be there ontime--even a little early as all pastor's wives who are "spiritual" are on time! Ha Ha Ha Ha The kids were not anywhere to be found in the house. As my panic insued it was quickly quelled as i found them standing soaking wet in the wading pool and assuring me that they were careful not to be dirty=)
It is a good time to build memories for you and yours love you, Nancy Martin
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