Having said all that, I did have a really special moment this year. We were at church in the morning and the baby will not sleep in my arms anymore so grouchy him and I spent the morning in the foyer. During that morning I found myself sitting beside a friend who had come to Canada from China in January to study. This Sunday morning she was holding her beautiful two year old girl who had just now arrived from China after being separated by an ocean for over four months. As I was sitting with her my baby boy was fussing and would not drink him bottle. Then along came a friend from Nigeria who popped her sweet four month old boy on my lap and took my fussy baby and convinced him to drink his bottle. As we were all sitting on that bench in the foyer I had to smile. Three different nationalities from three different parts of the world. We all grew up in different countries, speaking different languages, with different upbringings. But here we sat with our kids scattered in each others arms. We were all moms. We were all raising our children differently with different cultures and languages but as we sat there and chatted it didn't matter. There is something about children that brings people together. Maybe it's their funny expressions, their clumsy movements, or their adorable little noises. I think maybe it's how they smile at anyone who smiles at them. They meet a new baby and they don't care if that baby is bottle fed or breast fed. They could care less what foods they were introduced to first. They don't care what brand of diaper the other baby is wearing and they certainly don't care if their outfit is from Walmart or The Gap. They don't care if that baby is long and skinny or short and chunky. They will pat that other baby's head and smile whether their hair is long and thick or shiny and bald. They will giggle together when one of them falls down and giggle even harder when the other one falls on top. They will sit and drool all over themselves and not care what the other one thinks. Maybe babies bring us together because they will smile at us just because we are there. They will love us regardless of what we look. They don't compare us to one another or judge us for our faults. I always thought I had some growing up to do but maybe I have some lessons to learn from the baby I assumed I was supposed to be teaching. Maybe, from time to time, this mommy needs to remember to see the world through her baby's eyes.
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Monday, 12 May 2014
A Mother's Day Lesson
So, yesterday was Mother's Day. Year after year when I imagine Mother's Day I think it will be my day to kick back, relax, sit in my lawn chair and drink coffee all day. After six years you would think that I wouldn't let my imagination get the better of me. I am still a mom on Mother's Day. My husband does a wonderful job trying to take care of everything for me so that I can relax but there will still always be a little finger poking me in the face at 6:30AM asking me to open the present she made for me at school. And, there will still be the baby who will not fall asleep for his nap unless mommy is there to give him a final kiss before closing his eyes. And, there will always be that little boy who truly believes with all his heart that a mud pie and a handful of dirty weeds is a the best way to tell his mommy that he loves her. I guess I will relax when they are all teenagers and simply grunt at me to say "Happy Mother's Day".
Having said all that, I did have a really special moment this year. We were at church in the morning and the baby will not sleep in my arms anymore so grouchy him and I spent the morning in the foyer. During that morning I found myself sitting beside a friend who had come to Canada from China in January to study. This Sunday morning she was holding her beautiful two year old girl who had just now arrived from China after being separated by an ocean for over four months. As I was sitting with her my baby boy was fussing and would not drink him bottle. Then along came a friend from Nigeria who popped her sweet four month old boy on my lap and took my fussy baby and convinced him to drink his bottle. As we were all sitting on that bench in the foyer I had to smile. Three different nationalities from three different parts of the world. We all grew up in different countries, speaking different languages, with different upbringings. But here we sat with our kids scattered in each others arms. We were all moms. We were all raising our children differently with different cultures and languages but as we sat there and chatted it didn't matter. There is something about children that brings people together. Maybe it's their funny expressions, their clumsy movements, or their adorable little noises. I think maybe it's how they smile at anyone who smiles at them. They meet a new baby and they don't care if that baby is bottle fed or breast fed. They could care less what foods they were introduced to first. They don't care what brand of diaper the other baby is wearing and they certainly don't care if their outfit is from Walmart or The Gap. They don't care if that baby is long and skinny or short and chunky. They will pat that other baby's head and smile whether their hair is long and thick or shiny and bald. They will giggle together when one of them falls down and giggle even harder when the other one falls on top. They will sit and drool all over themselves and not care what the other one thinks. Maybe babies bring us together because they will smile at us just because we are there. They will love us regardless of what we look. They don't compare us to one another or judge us for our faults. I always thought I had some growing up to do but maybe I have some lessons to learn from the baby I assumed I was supposed to be teaching. Maybe, from time to time, this mommy needs to remember to see the world through her baby's eyes.
Having said all that, I did have a really special moment this year. We were at church in the morning and the baby will not sleep in my arms anymore so grouchy him and I spent the morning in the foyer. During that morning I found myself sitting beside a friend who had come to Canada from China in January to study. This Sunday morning she was holding her beautiful two year old girl who had just now arrived from China after being separated by an ocean for over four months. As I was sitting with her my baby boy was fussing and would not drink him bottle. Then along came a friend from Nigeria who popped her sweet four month old boy on my lap and took my fussy baby and convinced him to drink his bottle. As we were all sitting on that bench in the foyer I had to smile. Three different nationalities from three different parts of the world. We all grew up in different countries, speaking different languages, with different upbringings. But here we sat with our kids scattered in each others arms. We were all moms. We were all raising our children differently with different cultures and languages but as we sat there and chatted it didn't matter. There is something about children that brings people together. Maybe it's their funny expressions, their clumsy movements, or their adorable little noises. I think maybe it's how they smile at anyone who smiles at them. They meet a new baby and they don't care if that baby is bottle fed or breast fed. They could care less what foods they were introduced to first. They don't care what brand of diaper the other baby is wearing and they certainly don't care if their outfit is from Walmart or The Gap. They don't care if that baby is long and skinny or short and chunky. They will pat that other baby's head and smile whether their hair is long and thick or shiny and bald. They will giggle together when one of them falls down and giggle even harder when the other one falls on top. They will sit and drool all over themselves and not care what the other one thinks. Maybe babies bring us together because they will smile at us just because we are there. They will love us regardless of what we look. They don't compare us to one another or judge us for our faults. I always thought I had some growing up to do but maybe I have some lessons to learn from the baby I assumed I was supposed to be teaching. Maybe, from time to time, this mommy needs to remember to see the world through her baby's eyes.
Monday, 7 April 2014
Life is Like a Leaky Faucet
I've had a few people ask me lately if I'm still writing my blog. I always plan on writing but, truth be told, I haven't felt super inspired lately. When I started this blog I wanted to encourage people either by having something uplifting to say or by sharing my struggles so that others who feel the same way know they are not alone. I suppose this post may be the latter. Lately I've been feeling a little overwhelmed with life but I didn't realized it until very recently. There have been times over the years when life feels out of control or so busy that I can barely keep up but that's not what has been going on. Maybe it's just the long winter or maybe it's learning to juggle three kids but life has been feeling a bit like a leaky faucet. Nothing overwhelming has happened lately. Nothing crazy or stressful has come up. No new changes are facing us. But day by day little things start adding up.
A couple of months ago we had a leaky faucet in our guest bathtub. I didn't think much of it until one day my hubby put the plug in the drain and the next morning there were several inches of water in the tub. I had no idea how much water we were wasting until I took the time to notice. Much is the same with life these days. I didn't notice how much all the little things were adding up on me until I sat back and took stock of what life was like at this particular moment in time. I have been going through the motions of life every day but it was all adding up.
We fixed our bathtub faucet. It was actually really easy. My hubby took the time to investigate what was wrong, go to the hardware store to buy the part, and replace the old worn out piece. It took acknowledging that something wasn't working right and getting up and doing something about it. I can't change my life and even if I could I'm positive that I wouldn't (ok, maybe I'd throw in a little extra cash for a winter vacation) but I can acknowledge that I'm a little overwhelmed and I can do something about it. Ditch a few TV shows and get to bed earlier so I have more energy. Make sure that I take the time to get out with friends who understand this stage of life I'm in. Read a book that doesn't involve talking animated animals. Find a way to stop the leaky faucet before the tub fills up and cracks.
The hot and cold are now reversed in our tub. We have no idea why but we are used to it now so it isn't a problem. Life is not rainbows, unicorns and marshmallows but we can make the best of it and with a good attitude the things that are not perfect will no longer be a problem. In fact, it is often through our problems that we create our character.
I'm not sure if any of that made sense but I feel better. Now I've just got to figure out how the rattle in the front end of our mini van can be a life lesson.....
A couple of months ago we had a leaky faucet in our guest bathtub. I didn't think much of it until one day my hubby put the plug in the drain and the next morning there were several inches of water in the tub. I had no idea how much water we were wasting until I took the time to notice. Much is the same with life these days. I didn't notice how much all the little things were adding up on me until I sat back and took stock of what life was like at this particular moment in time. I have been going through the motions of life every day but it was all adding up.
We fixed our bathtub faucet. It was actually really easy. My hubby took the time to investigate what was wrong, go to the hardware store to buy the part, and replace the old worn out piece. It took acknowledging that something wasn't working right and getting up and doing something about it. I can't change my life and even if I could I'm positive that I wouldn't (ok, maybe I'd throw in a little extra cash for a winter vacation) but I can acknowledge that I'm a little overwhelmed and I can do something about it. Ditch a few TV shows and get to bed earlier so I have more energy. Make sure that I take the time to get out with friends who understand this stage of life I'm in. Read a book that doesn't involve talking animated animals. Find a way to stop the leaky faucet before the tub fills up and cracks.
The hot and cold are now reversed in our tub. We have no idea why but we are used to it now so it isn't a problem. Life is not rainbows, unicorns and marshmallows but we can make the best of it and with a good attitude the things that are not perfect will no longer be a problem. In fact, it is often through our problems that we create our character.
I'm not sure if any of that made sense but I feel better. Now I've just got to figure out how the rattle in the front end of our mini van can be a life lesson.....
Monday, 23 December 2013
One of Those Days
Have you ever had one of those days that just beats you up? Those days when your toddler seems to yell about everything. Those days when your big kid does something to make you burst into tears and then giggles. Those days when your baby doesn't want to nap or decides to wake up from his nap when you are in the middle of something you have been trying to get to for weeks. Those days when you cannot even go to the bathroom without someone coming in and asking you for something. Those days when you are trying to clean the house and it seems to be getting dirtier as you are working. Those days when you realize that you have much to do and have no idea how you are going to get it done. Those days when you feel like everyone's servant. Those days when you are frustrated and take it out over the phone on your spouse who is at work and who really hasn't done anything wrong. Those days when you realize you haven't been out without your kids for weeks. Those days when you feel invisible.
I love being a mom. I love being a wife. I count it a huge blessing that I get to stay home with my kids. But some days I feel like I have somehow lost myself. On days like this there is only so much I can do about it. I cannot leave and sit peacefully at Starbucks by myself. I cannot ignore the needs of the three little people living in my house. I cannot demand that my husband come home from work and help me. The only thing I can do is pick myself off the floor, wipe the tears away, take a big breath, say a prayer of desperation, and keep going. I'll keep going because, even though I feel like I have lost myself, one thing I have not lost is the freedom to choose happiness in moments that otherwise can be overwhelming. I can do it. And, if you ever find yourself in a moment like this, you can do it too.
I love being a mom. I love being a wife. I count it a huge blessing that I get to stay home with my kids. But some days I feel like I have somehow lost myself. On days like this there is only so much I can do about it. I cannot leave and sit peacefully at Starbucks by myself. I cannot ignore the needs of the three little people living in my house. I cannot demand that my husband come home from work and help me. The only thing I can do is pick myself off the floor, wipe the tears away, take a big breath, say a prayer of desperation, and keep going. I'll keep going because, even though I feel like I have lost myself, one thing I have not lost is the freedom to choose happiness in moments that otherwise can be overwhelming. I can do it. And, if you ever find yourself in a moment like this, you can do it too.
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
These Are the Days :)
It feels like life has been a whirlwind since about a month before Christmas...... actually, make that since September....... ok, make that since T was born. Life seems to be racing by at incredible speed. One year ago today I was a week overdue with T and praying that he would come on a day when Dean was not out of town. Dean was still long hauling until a few days before T was born and I had a backup person for my delivery, and then I had a backup for my backup. It was probably around this day last year when I was pretty sure I was going into labour. I was having mild contractions at regular intervals all evening long. I was just about ready to call my sister (backup #1) and give her the heads up and then it suddenly stopped. It was that evening when I realized that I would not be ok with a backup person.... I wanted Dean there. I guess, if I am going to be honest, I didn't need Dean there. For centuries, delivering babies was women only work but I sure do love having Dean in the delivery room. He is calm, supportive, and he doesn't say stupid things like, "I know how you feel". Plus, the look on his face the first time he met L was something that I am SO glad I was able to witness. I missed out on that with T, but I'll save that crazy story for another day.
Anyway, talking about delivery rooms and labour was not supposed to be the point of today's blog. Today I wanted to share a moment of my day. Dean has been out of town since Monday morning so it's been just the kids and I. They have been really well behaved but it is still exhausting and lonely doing life without Dean for a few days. This afternoon I had to do some baking for T's upcoming birthday and I felt bad making L play by herself since life has been so busy lately and she's had to do a lot of that. So I decided to set up our "kitchen beach" again so she could play in the same room with me while I got the baking done. But, as soon as it was set up, T woke up early from his nap. So, I decided that since it was "only water" I would seize the day and let him play too. It turned out to be a lot of fun for all of us. L got a kick out of T playing with her and T could not believe that there was a "bathtub" in the middle of the kitchen. So, the wonderful moment of my day was sitting next to the warm oven with the smell of white chocolate birthday cake pouring out, while sunbeams sprayed through the windows chasing out the feeling of a cold winter day and replacing it with warm beams that shone on my two little blessings splashing and giggling in the middle of the kitchen with wet toys scattered all around and smiles a mile long. That was my moment :)
Anyway, talking about delivery rooms and labour was not supposed to be the point of today's blog. Today I wanted to share a moment of my day. Dean has been out of town since Monday morning so it's been just the kids and I. They have been really well behaved but it is still exhausting and lonely doing life without Dean for a few days. This afternoon I had to do some baking for T's upcoming birthday and I felt bad making L play by herself since life has been so busy lately and she's had to do a lot of that. So I decided to set up our "kitchen beach" again so she could play in the same room with me while I got the baking done. But, as soon as it was set up, T woke up early from his nap. So, I decided that since it was "only water" I would seize the day and let him play too. It turned out to be a lot of fun for all of us. L got a kick out of T playing with her and T could not believe that there was a "bathtub" in the middle of the kitchen. So, the wonderful moment of my day was sitting next to the warm oven with the smell of white chocolate birthday cake pouring out, while sunbeams sprayed through the windows chasing out the feeling of a cold winter day and replacing it with warm beams that shone on my two little blessings splashing and giggling in the middle of the kitchen with wet toys scattered all around and smiles a mile long. That was my moment :)
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