Skip to main content

Better Days Ahead

Ross and I have talked about how when a student has issues with every teacher, or an employee with every boss they've had or and athlete with every coach - it might not be the teacher or boss or coach that is the problem.  I like patting myself on the back during these conversations because that's never been me. But then I heard a very convicting quote along those same lines - if everyone in your family is acting terrible at the same time, it might not be your family.  Oh.  Bummer.  

So I might not have earned my "Mom of the Year" demerit badge today.  I was most definitely not the best version of myself.  Actually, I was the best version of my worst self - impatient, snarky, sarcastic, and basically finding joy in being short-tempered and a victim of the childness of our children.  I tried to blame Daylight Savings, the New moon, an early wake-up call, anything but myself. 

Wahwaaaaah.  

That's the loser buzzer sound if you're wondering.

I was feeling pretty rotten about being a terrible person to these humans that I love beyond life, and in the midst of this, we went to get their haircut.  My friend who was doing the cutting happened to ask Sawyer how his day was going.  I about melted in my chair.  But instead of griping about what a rough time I had given him all day, he said, "I'm having a great day! My brother and I have been working on some trees outside..."  I didn't hear much more.  "A great day."  In spite of me, the boy was loving life.  He hadn't let me ruin his joy.  I was stunned, humbled, and so greatful.  

I then admitted to the boys and my friend what a grouchy mom I had been most of the day. My friend's kids are older and almost out of the house, and she told me she felt like me 90% of the time as a young mom.  "And you know what, my kids don't remember any of that."  

And they all still speak to her.  

It was some encouragement I was happy to hear today.  It was also a good reminder that we need each other - moms who are currently in the trenches with us and those who have seen the light on the other side.   It makes the mess we make of this momming business a little easier to swallow.  

We are hopefully teaching our kids to be good humans all the while trying to become better ourselves.  And by the time they are adults, if we are still on speaking terms, I'm going to call that a win!      

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sheltering in Place

In the past three months Corona Virus has more or less turned the world on its head.  I feel almost guilty for not being more stressed or put out by the whole thing.  We have been extremely fortunate. What we thought was a most impractical move on our part, wound up being a huge blessing.  With our two boys and our two newborns, we moved out of our house with no yard in the city limits and into my parents' house in the country while waiting for our new house to be completed.  The weekend we moved "quarantine," "social distancing," and "shelter in place" became the new mantra of our state.   Moving in with my parents meant ten plus acres of play space and two extra able bodied adults to help even out the score with the four kids.  Win for the St. Clair's!  Unfortunately, my parents are beginning to realize they may have made an error in judgement.   Yesterday, Sawyer gave their cat swimming lessons.   Last week th...
1 comment
Read more

For the Love of Kids

I love the contrasting sides of our children.  It's one of my favorite things that I didn't know I was going to love.  I think it's fair to say that when we have kids, we all know we will love the squishy babies, hearing kids laugh, seeing holidays through their eyes, and dressing them in the cute little outfits (I'm told boys don't wear outfits , but it's my blog). I didn't know how much I'd love seeing my loud, dirt loving, gun fanatic, wrestling maniac five-year-old turn into the sweetest and most gentle big brother while holding his baby sister.  He sits and quietly tells her stories about his fishing and hunting conquests unaware of anyone else in the room, and my heart absolutely melts. Then we have my slightly crusty, flannel loving, mismatching three-year-old that will choose a princess dress from the costume closet because although he likes sand and rocks and sticks and filth, he also likes and appreciates things that are beautiful. I lov...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week in the Real World

Exhausted.  Mentally and emotionally drained.  And that's where I'm at, at the end of this week.  I'm almost embarrassed to admit it.  I've been defeated by a six-year-old and a three-year-old.  Plus a couple of babies.   This is Ross' first week back to school full-time after a wonderfully long summer and spring of being mostly at home.  We are grateful he has a job, but we are sad to see him go.  This is the first time since March that I have been running solo with all four kids all day everyday.  I was feeling pretty low by the end of this week, and then I had to give myself a reality check.  We have a friend who has been doing this for a whole year.  No nights off.  No weekends off.  Her husband has been deployed since last fall.  I have it pretty good.   But, lest you think better of me than you should, sit tight, and I'll give you a little glimpse into our week.   We don't do transitions...
Post a Comment
Read more