Sometimes a reminder is good :). Posted this time last year...
The next thing. Thats all.
I wrote about how this was my new favorite saying a while back, but God has been reminding me of it so much lately.
The other day I was in line at the store, the older girls were asking for everything on the display shelf, and Kinley and Raya were fussing over the fact that they couldn't reach that display shelf from the stroller.
(I hate those shelves.)
(I might just start letting the kids open everything on it, the stores can learn the hard way.)
(And check out lady, DON'T EVEN give me that look cause come 4pm I've been known to get that crazy look in my eyes. Know what I'm sayin'?)
I was tired, it had been one of those days, and I was trying to stay patient as they ran around doing things kids do.
The lady behind me see's the barely controlled chaos that is taking place, and she says "Wow, think you'll be done now that you have your boy? Cause this is kind of a lot to handle...how do you do it?"
And for the 1st time, instead of a fake smile with a humorous comment to try and dodge what she was asking, I said, "I just do the next thing."
She stood there with a blank stare and said, "well, I guess that's all you can do."
Yea, it kinda is all I (or any mom) can do. Because on this mom-is-so-worn-out kind of day, if I let my mind go to the fact that Eric is working late, and I have homework, dinner, baths, and bedtimes ahead of me, I might just bang my head against the wall...or cry...or both.
Just keeping it real, people.
Right now, I just need to pay for our stuff and get their sweet little behinds to the car. That's it. The next thing.
I think that's all God wants us to do, no need to worry about things that are further on down the line.
Yes, they wear me out. Yes, they are a handful sometimes. And yes, I never know if that next outing with all of them will push me over the edge. But the reality is, I'm the lucky one to be in their lives, not other way around. They are my greatest blessing.
I've recently adopted another saying from Ann Voscamp, "Life is not an emergency."
Goodness, that is so true. I think every mom should say it everyday.
Kids running down the aisle? Not an emergency.
They're fighting over toy I'm not even buying in the middle of Target? Not an emergency.
Someone just threw up in the toy section? Not an emergency.
People are staring and whispering? Not an emergency.
One of the kiddos just had a meltdown in front of that perfect mom friend? Not an emergency.
Your 2nd grader has started calling you "Dude"? (insert me taking a deep breath on this one, my sisters) Not an emergency.
They're little - I need to love them, train them, teach them, and forgive them. Because like me, they are also doing the best they can.
There are some battles worth fighting with the kids, but I have decided to not lose my cool or get super frustrated over the small stuff. They are such sweet little gifts, why get all upset with them mainly because I'm just overly tired?? It's just not worth it...
Because life, and mothering, is not an emergency. So for now, I'll just do the next thing. :)
The next thing. Thats all.
I wrote about how this was my new favorite saying a while back, but God has been reminding me of it so much lately.
The other day I was in line at the store, the older girls were asking for everything on the display shelf, and Kinley and Raya were fussing over the fact that they couldn't reach that display shelf from the stroller.
(I hate those shelves.)
(I might just start letting the kids open everything on it, the stores can learn the hard way.)
(And check out lady, DON'T EVEN give me that look cause come 4pm I've been known to get that crazy look in my eyes. Know what I'm sayin'?)
I was tired, it had been one of those days, and I was trying to stay patient as they ran around doing things kids do.
The lady behind me see's the barely controlled chaos that is taking place, and she says "Wow, think you'll be done now that you have your boy? Cause this is kind of a lot to handle...how do you do it?"
And for the 1st time, instead of a fake smile with a humorous comment to try and dodge what she was asking, I said, "I just do the next thing."
She stood there with a blank stare and said, "well, I guess that's all you can do."
Yea, it kinda is all I (or any mom) can do. Because on this mom-is-so-worn-out kind of day, if I let my mind go to the fact that Eric is working late, and I have homework, dinner, baths, and bedtimes ahead of me, I might just bang my head against the wall...or cry...or both.
Just keeping it real, people.
Right now, I just need to pay for our stuff and get their sweet little behinds to the car. That's it. The next thing.
I think that's all God wants us to do, no need to worry about things that are further on down the line.
Yes, they wear me out. Yes, they are a handful sometimes. And yes, I never know if that next outing with all of them will push me over the edge. But the reality is, I'm the lucky one to be in their lives, not other way around. They are my greatest blessing.
I've recently adopted another saying from Ann Voscamp, "Life is not an emergency."
Goodness, that is so true. I think every mom should say it everyday.
Kids running down the aisle? Not an emergency.
They're fighting over toy I'm not even buying in the middle of Target? Not an emergency.
Someone just threw up in the toy section? Not an emergency.
People are staring and whispering? Not an emergency.
One of the kiddos just had a meltdown in front of that perfect mom friend? Not an emergency.
Your 2nd grader has started calling you "Dude"? (insert me taking a deep breath on this one, my sisters) Not an emergency.
They're little - I need to love them, train them, teach them, and forgive them. Because like me, they are also doing the best they can.
There are some battles worth fighting with the kids, but I have decided to not lose my cool or get super frustrated over the small stuff. They are such sweet little gifts, why get all upset with them mainly because I'm just overly tired?? It's just not worth it...
Because life, and mothering, is not an emergency. So for now, I'll just do the next thing. :)
8 comments:
I LOVE THIS! :)
Thanks and hope you have a great day tomorrow
Love it!
You might like the post I wrote today ... "The Do's and Don'ts of Having a Baby" ... written to my dear son as he and his new wife are about to have their first baby.
I'm sure you've got a story or two to share with us.
:) :) :)
I really, really despise those that figure since our 4th is a girl (first 3 boys) that is why we chose to not have anymore. What they don't know is that before we knew she was a girl we had made the decision....it was in the chart well before the ultrasound! But somehow that is the reason....I "finally" got my girl so we should be done, not because well we just knew. Or that after 3 years of battling infertility and 2 rounds of IVF we got the twins and then 2 more magically (and the last one one final conversation and a week later she was coming) but in a total of 5 years and 6 weeks we had 4 babies!
You may be one of the bravest women I (sort of) know just in your ability to take the girls with you to Target!! I will do nearly anything to avoid taking more then one at a time with me....but as you said sometimes it is just the next thing!
when i see the nursery workers carrying my baby in a bucket to the closest changing station. which means walking through the entry of the church for everyone to see. Because he has bowel all the way up to his soldiers. i will not be shameful and in tears. I will be glad his bowels work and I brought extra clothes
Thanks for posting that. I so needed it. This week has been super stressful. Josh lost his job, the medical bills are piling up, my boys are being INSANE out of control, etc.. etc... etc...
I needed to be reminded to just take a deep breath... and do the next thing. No worries about tomorrow, because we're in His loving hands.
Also, I have your cream cheese chicken chili in the crockpot and it smells divine!
We love that recipe!! Enjoy!
Haha, maybe more crazy than brave ;).
Well said, Kate. I;m struggling with getting some medical things diagnosed (hopefully, correctly this time) & it can be defeating. And frightening when I think of the "what if's" & timeline ahead. I will take your motto to heart. I will just do the next thing. One thing at a time. Or at least I will try. It seems like a good game plan. So, thank you!
Be Well,
Heather @ Find That Warm Fuzzy Feeling
Post a Comment