I’ve come to a conclusion.
Yes, this craziness will pass, but more craziness will come into play.
Does that sound disheartening? I don’t mean for it to. It’s just the way of things. When my boys were 3 months, 3, 6, and 9, life was crazy. Oh, yes – certifiably so!
Fast forward a couple of years. Still crazy. Fast forward again…yes. Still crazy.
It’s the way life is with boys (especially four of them), with children, with a family of six. But it’s such a happy, creative crazy!
We can spend our mom lives wishing away the crazy, or we can relish it. I choose to relish.
Let’s face it, though – too much of anything is hard. So how to survive the craziness?
Carve out small pauses for yourself.
We all need that breath, that chance to think, regroup. When I don’t have that, it becomes pretty obvious. So, how can you find some relief from the craziness?
First, if you need help, tell someone! Don’t keep it to yourself. Who are we fooling? Our own sense of perfectionism only leads to disappointment and guilt.
Success doesn’t hinge on getting everything right. Instead, success has to do with how you handle getting things wrong. Seeing you work through a tough problem, through times when the pace of life is dizzying, is a lesson for your kids. Ask for help – from your hubby, from a friend, from someone.
Second, listen to others. Blog friends, friends you can reach out and touch, family. How have they dealt? Get ideas.
Third, join in. Sometimes life feels crazy because there’s no relief valve. We’re preoccupied with the laundry, the bills, the homework, the cleaning – and we just need to blow off some steam. Jump in the sprinkler with your kids. Blow bubbles. Sit down and color with them, write a poem with them, create a family work of art.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or to listen, or just to jump in.
Call on each other.
And don’t forget to look up.
Linking up with Jen at Finding Heaven Today for Soli deo Gloria. Click on over and come along with us!
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8 comments:
Wonderful timely advice, Laura. You know as a mom AND a teacher how nutty things get this time of year, but you're right ~ take the pause you need to catch your breath. Easier to enjoy this phase that way. :)
Have a great {short} week!! :)
amen, sister! wish i had figured it out earlier....
Oh, yes, this was good for my soul today. And, I have to say, I really agree with the "join in" part. Yesterday, I played with my kids with an undistracted mind and so enjoyed it. I think God knew my need to put down all the stuff I had to do and just enjoy my kids. It made me feel like such a better mom, too.
When our first daughter was born, I often felt myself wishing she would just sleep through the night or just get potty trained already. . .or ___________ (whatever!). After all, when that happened life would slow down. Life would be normal. I learned quickly it's never normal, and now I try to focus on the now.
I don't have many friends who have older children. I love reading words from moms who have truly been there. Thanks, Laura.
Found you through the Soli Deo Gloria link-up. And I am so glad you did. I have had many older wiser moms tell me the same thing and it is always good to be reminded. When I know someone who is adding a child to their family I always encourage them by telling them they will find a "new normal." Because life is ever-changing.
grace and peace to you today,
cheryl
I can truly relate to this...carve out a bit of time for yourself - something I have been doing. And I am realizing how productive I am becoming :-)
Maria
"First, if you need help, tell someone!" This is something that I've had to learn painfully. I'm not one to show my weaknesses. Thank you for this advice.
Yes!! The craziness goes on. That's why God created us to live in community. That whole "bear one another's burdens" takes on a whole 'nother meaning when you become a mom!
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