I didn’t get around to the laundry this weekend.
The boys’ hamper is overflowing. Literally. There is an assortment of super heroes all gazing up at me forlornly from the bedroom floor. There is an epic battle between the Legos raging on the run down dresser I’ve been meaning to paint for months now– headless horsemen by the hundred.
I didn’t get around to cleaning the kitchen or re-organizing the kid’s play area. There are boxes I meant to sort through and toys I meant to pitch and they’re all still lining the hallway higgledy piggeldy.
There are leaves that didn’t get raked and the three lawn chairs we’ve been meaning to move into the garage for weeks. They’re still braving the cold outside. Along with the patio umbrella.
I didn’t find that missing library book – the one I can’t even remember checking out.
I didn’t make a list of Christmas gifts or address the Christmas cards I ordered a couple weeks ago. I didn’t buy that twin bed sheet that is long overdue for a boy whose bed needs as much help in the freshness department as possible.
I meant to pick up the wild collection of plastic weapons that decorate our front lawn because we’re the house in the neighborhood that hosts the armies of kids who use the back yard as their battlefield. But they’re all still out there. A weird polka dots of plastic blues, oranges, yellows and reds.
And there are socks by the dozen that still aren’t matched.
I had to call Peter tonight to warn him what he was coming home to, because that level of chaos can quite take the breath away.
So I told him what we did do.
…..I’m sharing the story over on (in)courage today. Click here to come over and keep reading what keeps us busy some nights over here.
Oh this is so lovely. I so wish that I had taken more time to dance and less time to cling when mine were littles. Thank you LisaJo for always being willing to share with an honest heart.
Thank you for reading my mind and writing EXACTLY what I needed to read right now.
You and me both :)
Before I even read the article, just seeing the title in my inbox, I said to my husband, ” ‘On the days you get nothing done.’ Ha! That was today for me! … but, you know, we say we get nothing done when we don’t get the cleaning or the dishes done, but if you’ve enriched the lives of your children and kept them alive for another day, you’ve done SOMETHING!”
My husband replied, “That’s what I’ve been telling you!” :)
I’m so blessed to have a husband who understands this. Yes the chaos bothers him too, but mostly he just wants ME to stop stressing about the chaos. And today was one of the days I didn’t stress. We have the rest of our lives to have a beautiful, organized house, but we only have this little while while our children are little. It’s an important time. I want my children to remember me as a “joy bringer,” and not the stressed-out mom with a clean house.
Joy bringer. That was perfect. I remember a long time ago someone prayed over me, and asked/said/prophesied/who knows about me being a “life bearer. a joy bearer.” I’m going to take your article today as a little reminder from God, and encouragement that I’m on the right path.
Thank you, Lisa-Jo, for taking so seriously your gift of encouragement. I’m thankful for you.
Great post today, Lisa-Jo! I think we can all relate to the chaos (at one time or another) of raising our crazy kids—which for me, is WAY more than one time! Lol! It’s always nice to know that we are not alone in the journey! By the way…did you take the picture of the Lego superhero? It really caught my eye because of the focus and also had me cracking-up because these little guys are all through my house staring at me, too! Haha!
Love this. I just found you through BlogHer and I’m so happy I did! First time mom and some days I just feel like nothing gets done and it’s so frustrating. But my little guy is a ray of sunshine and he makes me not worry about it so much since taking care of him means I did get something done right. Can’t wait to read more posts and thanks for telling it like it is.
LOVE this! This is pretty much every one of my weekends. I think we share a lot of similar ideas for blogging, and life. :) Feel free to take a look at my blog. I am a newbie, so I could use any advice!
exactly the sigh of relief i needed tonight!
*forget the laundry and just dance* : ))
i know THESE are the days my kids will long remember over whether or not they ever had matching clean socks~
my 14 yr old son sent me this video in a text the other day.
if you get a chance take a min to watch. hilarious. and TRUTH!
xo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ4Rnba85o8
Just want to say that I LOVE the term, “renaissance mother!”
It makes me feel better about the days I’m reading Annie Dillard’s “Teaching a Stone to Talk”rather than cleaning the kitchen. (I home school high schoolers, and how can I ask a 16 year old to read “Teaching a Stone to Talk” alone???? :-)