Ahh, it's been one of "those" days

You know, where you want to go back to bed and pull the covers over your head? Yeah. That kind. In fact, as I pulled up the "new post" option here on my blog, I heard a glass crashing to the floor in the kitchen, shattering and scattering shards of glass everywhere. Big sigh from Mommy. But thankfully, no one got hurt or cut. I've gotten it up as best as I can. Later I'll get out the vacuum to try to get up any pieces I can't see.

We're all tired from our few days away at my sister's house, and so it's Crankville for our clan. Including Mommy. The baby is sick again (nasty, nasty cold and she can't breathe well at all, poor thing), and home just isn't exciting enough for some of our smallest members.

I'm finding that I have no patience for even the little, harmless, silly things they are doing that just make them children. On other days, I would find it funny and mentally file it away for later memories of how fun it was when they were all little. But today, I'm not that person. Today I'm the grumpy Mom who is more concerned with her own little wants: complete silence, no interruptions, and to think in complete sentences. I don't like this "me" very much at all.

I keep telling myself that they can't see Christ's love through me if I'm being growly. And, I'm missing all these wonderful chances to talk about spiritual things because I just want to retreat into my own shell.

I think it's time to grab the kids, cuddle on the couch with some big blankets, and read a book (or ten) together. I know Mommy needs her love tank filled up, and it seems the others do, too. But mostly, I need to get my head focused on them, and not me. They are not here to please me. I'm here to guide them, to love them, to teach them, and to nurture them. How can I teach them how to handle their grumpy moods if I am not handling mine well?

Um, sorry - I've gotta go! I'm going to gather the children. We're going to make a list of our blessings, tell each other we love each other, and then we're piling up with some books!

(I love blogging. It's so theraputic.)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Mommy: What do mommies do?

Sunshine: Cook food.

M: What else?

S: Give their kids baths if they poop or have diarrhea.

M: Is that it?

S: Put their boogers in the trash.

M: Anything else?

S: No, that's it.

M: So all mommies do is cook and clean up messes?

S: Yup.

M: I think I can agree with that.

At least, that is my main job description here. *wink*

Drive-by Lovin'

Remember the days of being a teenager and doing phone pranks? Ah, come on... you never did it? Not even once?

Well, I did. My best friend and I used to do this. Well... ok, so she did the calling, but I sure laughed my tuckus off while listening in. A few times she'd do the typical scenario - call a random house to ask if their toilet is running. But people quickly caught onto those. And she always hoped they didn't have caller ID or she'd be in big trouble. (This is largely why I let her do the calling. I know, shameful.)

I remember one rather funny one, though. Back before the days of everyone having a cellphone, she'd call Walmart (or a similar store large enough to have a PA system), explain there was a family emergency of some sort, and ask them to page Ipey Freely so Ipey could come home right away. Now, if you're scratching your head, then say Ipey Freely aloud.

Are you groaning from the lameness (...yeah, not a word... oh well)? Well, quite a few people fell for it. The only thing is, we had to imagine what the announcement sounded like over the PA system. Well, ok, so we weren't the masters of this. Teenagers can be pretty lame, lol. We obviously were.

But fast forward 15 years and you will find that I still love a good phone prank. Especially when it leaves you with a smile and a warm feeling somewhere under your left set of ribs. (That is often referred to as "warm fuzzies.")

"How?" you may ask. Well, you do what is called a Drive-by Lovin'. I came up with this myself one day when I just wanted to call my sis up to tell her she was loved, but I didn't have time to engage in the hour-long phone conversation that would automatically ensue.

To do a Drive-by Lovin' you need a loved one, a phone, mastery of obnoxious loud kissing noises, and about 30 seconds of free time. When they answer the phone, you say, "This is a Drive-by Lovin'!" Then proceed to make those loud, obnoxious kissing noises, and hang up immediately after. Even if they are talking. (That's where the drive-by part comes in. If you stay and talk, it is now a Lingerin' Lovin'.)

They very well may call you back. That's ok. And you just might get some Lingerin' Lovin', too. But if you don't, at least you'll know you gave someone (and yourself) a smile and some warm fuzzies.

Who cake?

As you know, my youngest goes by "Shortcake" here on my blog.

Today my sister and I were discussing that she just doesn't fit the description anymore, as she is large for her age (wearing 12 month clothes when she is only 7 months old). So my sister suggested we change her name... to Poundcake. LOL

I'm not going to, though. Gotta keep the alliteration going, ya know.

Another mess... or another memory?

Taking advantage of the break in winter weather, we went for a lovely walk today. During that walk, I was the kind of mom I always want to be: I let them play in the puddles. Oh, not just any puddles, either. Puddles so deep that the water went up over their shoes. Yes. That deep.

I can hear some of you gasping in horror. I know, I know - the laundry! The possible stains! The mess when we go back into the house! Their shoes will never be the same!

And that almost stopped me, too. But I did it anyway. You see, my natural reaction is to say, "Hey, stay out of the puddles. You'll get your clothes dirty." I don't relish the laundry mess or having to clean the floor again. But I do love those grins on their faces when they get to do something "forbidden" and messy.

Today I got to be the mom I really want to be. The Fun Mom. The Carefree Mom. And it felt great! I couldn't help but think what is the use of being kids if they can't do stuff like this? So I decided to look at it as another memory, not another mess. I'm pretty sure they do, too.

Didn't ya know?

Sugar-n-Spice was giving my youngest sister a hand with her laundry this afternoon. My sister was washing some of her boyfriend's laundry for him. As she pulled out a red shirt for Sugar-n-Spice to put in the basket, the scenario went like this:

Sugar-n-Spice: Is that "J's" shirt?

Aunt: Yep.

(Aunt pulls out another shirt that is also J's and also happens to be red.)

Sugar-n-Spice: Is that "J's" shirt, too?

Aunt: Yep.

Sugar-n-Spice: It's red, too. He must be a teacher.

Well, didn't ya know? Teachers wear red.

Dinnertime Tradition: Best and Worst

With my family of only little people, it is easy to just run from one need to the next all day. Especially with homeschooling thrown in the mix. When they have a discipline issue, we sit down and have a heart to heart, and I try to fit in good conversation in every day, but you know, with 4 kids in 4 years... it can get hairy some days. So one way I discovered was a good way to really talk to the kids (actually really the older two - ages 5 and 3) was to do a dinner time "best and worst." We take turns, even the grown ups, and say what was the best part of our day, and what was the worst part of the day.

It starts with the youngest ones, because they just can't wait too long for their turn. So for us, Sweetheart starts, and trust me, at age 2, he can give some bizarre answers. Most of the time he has no idea what we really mean, but if we skip him, he gets upset. Then it's on to the next oldest.

I am finding this really is a great way to learn even more about my kids. I am getting peeks into what offends them or hurts their feelings, even when they said nothing about it at the time. It's taken off into some great discussions, too. (This is why we have to start with the little ones... they can't wait for the discussion to end.) It is also fun to laugh over some things they thought were so wonderful! They really have a knack for reminding me to take pleasure in the simple things.