(Poppy – 9 months – favorite thing is baby mum-mums and her cat leggings from here)
I have always wanted to be a mom. I always imagined I would be the mom of all boys, never imagined I would have 5 kids and certainly never imagined how crazy this mom gig would be. How much I would love and question and laugh and worry and be tested and be drooled on. Or how little sleep I could operate on and how hard it would be to fit a shower into my day. It’s all so hysterical and delightful and ironic.
Last weekend I went away (with ma mama!) on a women’s retreat. The speaker talked a bit about motherhood and the different seasons of parenting and how important and affective it is to speak life into our kids. Like how sweet they are (even after pile driving their sibling) how brave they are (even though they won’t let you out of their sight) or how diligent they are (after spending hours begrudgingly making up math homework that’s late).
I’ve been doing a lot of this over the last week. Mostly while tucking my kids in and it’s amazing to see their demeanor change, heart soften and bodies relax. It’s also amazing how at the same time I’m filling them up I find myself being filled up too. I’m reminded of how important my job is and how worth it they are. Sometimes after all the wiping of spills and body parts, behavior correcting, and laundry folding the mom title looses it’s lustre. It starts to feel more like a chore than a calling and that’s not cool.
Chores are unpleasant but necessary jobs you do. Yuck. No one likes chores. A calling is a way of life, an urging. It’s inspired and exciting and frees you up to play and have fun. A mom that is playful is hard to resist. For anyone really. Especially husbands. And it’s even effective on a child throwing a tantrum…. “I’m going out to jump on the trampoline. Feel free to join me when you are done crying.” It’s genius really and maybe a little manipulative, but effective. Unfortunately I haven’t found away to make it work at the grocery store.
Anyways, just one of the things that’s been on my heart and mind lately. Seems like I’m always learning, growing and saying lots of sorries in the process. Thankful for a God that is able to fill in where I fall short. What about you?
Happy belated Mother’s Day!
XO . Rae
I used to take a little tantrum myself in the store and that would stop them in their tracks.. They would say STOP momma.. Ha ha..
funny! i could see that working for a couple of my kids :) xo
What a great reminder of how we need to speak life into our kids!! I have two in college and two in high school now and they still need to hear these words. Life is hard no matter what your age and we all need to hear words of encouragement. I know my demeanor sure changes when a kind word is spoken to me!
Happy Mother’s Day to you, too!
absolutely karin!!! love this!
xo
Kitchen tour for sure!! ;)
Loved this article and the little nuggets about being a mom! All so true and encouraging! Thank you for sharing! I’d love to hear the speaker, was her message recorded, do you know?
Hey Ashley! Her message wasn’t recorded but her name is Jennifer Kraker from City Church in Kirkland, WA. You may be able to google and find some of her messages but you should for sure check out the City Church podcast. Amazing stuff….. Hope you find what you are looking for! XO, Rae