Some days life comes at you in a fast, blurry, haze.
You have to take a step back before it knocks you down. You adjust your focus and still can’t quite see things clearly.
All you know for sure is that motherhood is a series of meals half eaten but never while they are still hot. It means finding John Deere tractor snacks in unexpected places and vacuuming sandbox sand out of the toy kitchen. It means the temptation to wax lyrical on the high calling of being a mom when your kid would rather be wrestling with you and keeps pawing at your computer with grubby hands to make his point. It means learning to say “yes” to someone else’s needs before your own.
It also means learning to say “no” when you know the result will be tempter tantrums of epic proportions. It means being brave. It means moments of locking yourself in the bathroom to shriek like a banshee and howl at the moon.
It means you are never alone.
It means finding joy trapped in back between two car seats. It means surrendering your car, your laundry room, your dining preferences, and your life to the whirlwind of raising human beings. It means pretending you don’t hear the sounds of someone kicking a soccer ball when it’s supposed to be naptime because you are so desperate for a break that you’d rather have them in there pretending to sleep than in here kicking up a ruckus.
It means you are tired, all. the. time.
It means coaxing out reluctant bowel movements and rejoicing at discovering products labeled with you in mind (I heart you “Pets and Kids” stain remover!) It means learning the names of all Barney’s playmates and picking ticks off places that no boy ever wants a blood sucker to take up residence. It means losing your mind and finding the funny all on the same day.
It’s bliss. That just happens to be hard to find some days under all the layers of dirty dishes, discarded toys, hot air humidifiers, and broken chair legs.
It’s motherhood. Some days you squint as it barrels your direction. But amazingly, wonderfully, courageously you spread your arms anyway. I hope you know how remarkable that makes you. Because it does.
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As part of refocusing I am re-offering this post, originally written October 14, 2009 as part of my friend Jo’s Flash Back Friday.
Motherhood. Some days it comes barreling toward you whether you are braced and ready for it or not.
I hope your weekend gives you a chance to adjust your focus and switch all your settings down to “real slow.”
Praying that the moments of pure bliss are abundant and easy to find in the clutter of your days!
I remember I so enjoyed this post (and related!) the first time you published it. Thanks for linking up today!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
It’s so true. So, so true! Thank goodness we have those kids to help us find that center again! Even when the center is in the middle of all the chaos!
My favorite comment – what a neat description! LOVE IT!
I’m pretending I don’t hear kids awake in their rooms during ‘nap’ time as I’m reading….
Enjoyed it!
This is such a great post! I’m glad you shared it again since I didn’t catch it the first time. :) I don’t have kids yet, but I’m looking forward to it some day. In a terrified kind of way. ;)
I needed to read this today.
It means you’re never alone.
I need to come to grips with this, I think, and realize that for my particular being, it’s one of the best things that has ever happened. I just need to peel my eyelids open and stare at it for a few minutes. Kids have a way of making you stretch and grow, far beyond the marks we garnered while carrying them in the womb.
Oh man, you are so right. They just mark us up in all kinds of ways from conception onwards, don’t they?
And again – you nailed it.
Thanks – high praise indeed coming from the woman behind clarity and “chaos”! ;)
Embrace it all it will be gone before you know it.
Thanks! I’m switching to “real slow” this WHOLE week. Last week was a doozy so this week, I’m crock-pot’ing it!
Oh, “Crock-pot’ing” it – that’s brilliant. Exactly what I need more of in my life.
I am so glad you shared this, I was not a reader way back when…your writing is always so honest, heartfelt and inspiring!
So well said, Lisa-Jo. Parenting rocks in all its messy and marvelous moments.
And it ain’t for wimps!
Oh, I loved this post!!
just wait til you can go to the bathroom by yourself again! it will be a day you remember forever!
Ha! It will be like a little mini vacation!
Loved it the first time, and love it again! Just means a little bit more since Grant (my tank of an almost two year old) has started running at me full force, arms spread open wide, knowing that mommy’s open arms will be waiting to catch him :)
Yup, that’s my “tank of a two year old” in the pic. He nearly knocks my knees out from under me every time he barrels in my direction! It’s awesome!
thanks! last week i spent too much time complaining about the sacrifices of parenting and not enough time embracing the joy. by gods grace i intend for this week to be different. your reminder was timely.