The Joyful and Tired Mom
Monday, October 1, 2012
"Wack Off"
Today I am grateful. I would like to believe that I live my life with gratitude, but there are days...
There are days when I seem to wear my angry face, a lot. It is not cute. But those days are fewer and farther between as I continue to learn how to embrace my calling as a mom to 3 incredible little boys, and a wife to the most remarkable husband I never even had the courage to know exisisted. Yeah, my kids are awesome; and my husband is amazing, and makes me laugh till I cry, and selflessly loves me every day. And he's hot, so yeah, bonus.
I am grateful for my family. I am grateful for my parents. I am grateful for my in-laws. I am grateful for my neighbors. I am grateful for our friends. I am grateful.
I am grateful, most of all, that Jesus loves me inspite of my junk. And he loves me without reservation. I am grateful.
But today I am also grateful for laughter. My sweet son always tries to be funny...not really his gift. But when he does something unintentional (like misspell a spelling word), oh my gosh, I can't stop rolling. Love this boy!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Clean Eating Adventure Extravaganza
And...I'm back. My goodness it's been awhile. It isn't because there was nothing to write about; certainly with this wild and wonderful family there is plenty to write about.
(Exhibit A)
I have just either left the blogging to my hubs who is hysterical; or we have both been too exhausted to even think, much less, write, so we lay on either end of the couch together and play Draw Something or Scramble. Quite the life.
But I am back today because my mind is racing. We were advised the other day to cut out all sugars and artificial coloring in food in an effort to help slow down some little brains that work overtime. In a home where the staple foods are: fruit snacks, goldfish, and Go-gurts...this seems like an overwhelming, incredibly daunting task. However, after beginning my research today, and with the help of some awesome friends, we are preparing to embark on our Clean Eating Adventure Extravaganza! To be honest though, I had no freakin' idea how much work and preparation it would take to even plan a week's worth of meals and snacks for a picky crew. But I am up for the challenge! Or atleast, that is what I am trying to convince myself.
I read on the blog "100 Days of Real Food" the husband said that they were eating "real foods". I liked that. This isn't a "diet" for us. My hope is that it is a new way of living for us, that changes all of our lives for the better.
I may be chronicling this process for you on my blog. That is, if I can come up with really clever titles for my blog posts; or have an especially funny story to tell~ like one of our kids throwing up at the table because he ate a pepper...yes, that has happened. Hmmm...after writing that last sentence I may need to reconsider Beet Chips as a new snack I am introducing to them this week. Oh Lord Jesus, help us.
Help us enjoy the food from Your awesome creation, and not that which was created in the kitchen of Betty Crocker.
Until next time...PRAY FOR US!!!!!!!!!!!
The Joyful and Tired Mom
Monday, February 6, 2012
What if I Want to Carpe Diem Motherhood? I Need Your Help!
Hey all! I need ideas and I need them quick!
I spent much of Friday night bawling my eyes out (tears were reminiscent of my high school days crying in anguish over a broken heart-however, I can't just lock myself in my room and play "Love Hurts" on repeat. These tears require action.) While watching Courageous I was convicted, AGAIN, about the privilege, honor, and responsibility required to raise my children to love God and love others. We got back into the car after watching the movie and I looked at Mark and said, "So I guess parenting requires more of me than just making sure my kids survive each day?" He laughed. I did too...sortof. Because what seems so obvious, "Yes, you are supposed to do more than make sure the entertainment cabinet is bolted to the wall so when your child climbs it it doesn't topple over," is actually very difficult to do. Parenting is not for the faint of heart my friends.
To begin walking in our calling as parents more and better Mark and I decided this weekend to ban all forms of technological entertainment: tv, wii, computer, itouch, ipad, and leapster explorer for a week. AAAAAAHHHHH! I am quite confident that people in Indianapolis could hear my screams, weeping and gnashing of teeth over the thunderous crowd in the Colts stadium last night during the Super Bowl. While this is wonderful for our boys and for me and for spending much more intentional time with them, I have to confess...I am nervous. I'm nervous because truth be told, our boys watch a LOT of tv. I feel like this is an area that parents kindof fudge the truth a bit.
"How much screen time does your child get a day?"
"Um, only 30 minutes. Yep, just Curious George."
All the while your 3 year old is disecting line by line of every Backyardigans, Dora, Super Why, Dinosaur Train, Olivia, Cat and the Hat, Diego, Bubble Guppies, Blues Clues, and Sesame Street he has ever watched. Thing is though, there is such a stigma to TV time, and I get it. This is the area of my greatest mommy guilt. But could someone please join me as a castaway on the Island Where Other Parents Judge You from Afar for a minute and tell me I am not alone?! Do you allow your kids to watch tv all day some days? And yes, you can even give me the noble answer that you do so the kids remain calm so you can clean a lot one day. But for me, if I am really being honest, I will plop them in front of the tv just so I can find out what some long lost friend made for dinner last night on facebook...and geez, I hope she included a picture! What is wrong with me?!!!!
I had always envisioned sitting down and having tea parties with my girls, and playing with my American Girl dolls and accessories that we kept from when I was a little girl. Well, as you all know, I have 3 boys. Three really incredible boys that wake up early, with a ton of energy, a desperate need for justice that causes multiple arguments a day in our house, an inability to play alone, and if given the chance would all crawl back up into my womb, or glue their head to my rear so it looks like I have a tail. No joke.
So yeah, the tv helps me day to day. But I want to be better. I want to be better for them, for Mark, for myself, and for God who has truly given me three priceless, precious, perfect gifts in each of them. But here is where you come in: what should I do with them day in and day out? Here are the parameters though that I need to set:
1) Must be mindful of my childrens ages: 6,4,2. Storytime with all 3 is not practical. Especially when the woman dressed as Mother Goose is 90 years old and trying to teach our kids what the word "tuffet" means. Tuffet. Keep in mind our 2 year old has approximately three words he says very clearly: Mario, Luigi, and Fart.
2)It can't be the zoo or Cosi because I can't afford a season pass for either of those places right now, and I Am too cheap to spend that kind of money for an hour of playtime.
3) If at all possible, the activity needs to be free. And an added bonus is that the area would be enclosed so one or two of my children can't escape.
There, that is a load off of my inadequate mother chest...I am referring more to my feelings of inadequacies rather than my flat chest...just for the record.
I really look forward to your ideas and creativity. Please help!
The Joyful, Tired, and Stumped Mom
I spent much of Friday night bawling my eyes out (tears were reminiscent of my high school days crying in anguish over a broken heart-however, I can't just lock myself in my room and play "Love Hurts" on repeat. These tears require action.) While watching Courageous I was convicted, AGAIN, about the privilege, honor, and responsibility required to raise my children to love God and love others. We got back into the car after watching the movie and I looked at Mark and said, "So I guess parenting requires more of me than just making sure my kids survive each day?" He laughed. I did too...sortof. Because what seems so obvious, "Yes, you are supposed to do more than make sure the entertainment cabinet is bolted to the wall so when your child climbs it it doesn't topple over," is actually very difficult to do. Parenting is not for the faint of heart my friends.
To begin walking in our calling as parents more and better Mark and I decided this weekend to ban all forms of technological entertainment: tv, wii, computer, itouch, ipad, and leapster explorer for a week. AAAAAAHHHHH! I am quite confident that people in Indianapolis could hear my screams, weeping and gnashing of teeth over the thunderous crowd in the Colts stadium last night during the Super Bowl. While this is wonderful for our boys and for me and for spending much more intentional time with them, I have to confess...I am nervous. I'm nervous because truth be told, our boys watch a LOT of tv. I feel like this is an area that parents kindof fudge the truth a bit.
"How much screen time does your child get a day?"
"Um, only 30 minutes. Yep, just Curious George."
All the while your 3 year old is disecting line by line of every Backyardigans, Dora, Super Why, Dinosaur Train, Olivia, Cat and the Hat, Diego, Bubble Guppies, Blues Clues, and Sesame Street he has ever watched. Thing is though, there is such a stigma to TV time, and I get it. This is the area of my greatest mommy guilt. But could someone please join me as a castaway on the Island Where Other Parents Judge You from Afar for a minute and tell me I am not alone?! Do you allow your kids to watch tv all day some days? And yes, you can even give me the noble answer that you do so the kids remain calm so you can clean a lot one day. But for me, if I am really being honest, I will plop them in front of the tv just so I can find out what some long lost friend made for dinner last night on facebook...and geez, I hope she included a picture! What is wrong with me?!!!!
I had always envisioned sitting down and having tea parties with my girls, and playing with my American Girl dolls and accessories that we kept from when I was a little girl. Well, as you all know, I have 3 boys. Three really incredible boys that wake up early, with a ton of energy, a desperate need for justice that causes multiple arguments a day in our house, an inability to play alone, and if given the chance would all crawl back up into my womb, or glue their head to my rear so it looks like I have a tail. No joke.
So yeah, the tv helps me day to day. But I want to be better. I want to be better for them, for Mark, for myself, and for God who has truly given me three priceless, precious, perfect gifts in each of them. But here is where you come in: what should I do with them day in and day out? Here are the parameters though that I need to set:
1) Must be mindful of my childrens ages: 6,4,2. Storytime with all 3 is not practical. Especially when the woman dressed as Mother Goose is 90 years old and trying to teach our kids what the word "tuffet" means. Tuffet. Keep in mind our 2 year old has approximately three words he says very clearly: Mario, Luigi, and Fart.
2)It can't be the zoo or Cosi because I can't afford a season pass for either of those places right now, and I Am too cheap to spend that kind of money for an hour of playtime.
3) If at all possible, the activity needs to be free. And an added bonus is that the area would be enclosed so one or two of my children can't escape.
There, that is a load off of my inadequate mother chest...I am referring more to my feelings of inadequacies rather than my flat chest...just for the record.
I really look forward to your ideas and creativity. Please help!
The Joyful, Tired, and Stumped Mom
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