some of what i’ve learned
being the momma of seven
who seeks joy
{inspired by the picture archives on my blog}
no explanation needed
I mean, look at those feet.
you get to wash your floor afterwards and then check it off your list.
if your house is like mine you’ll always have spills and therefore always have a clean floor
in fact, i love this tip so much that i wrote about it last year
so-thankful-for-those-spills
it’s okay to cry
not about everything
but my kids have seen me cry
about Samuel and Celiac Disease
or when my grandpa died
cry and tell them it will be okay and that sometimes we need to cry
then give them a hug
and display their artwork on your fridge
buy costumes on clearance in november
and then you will get pictures like this
and gradually they’ll learn to love gardening
maybe as much as you do
and playing piano
{just look at baby Samuel…sigh}
then simply call them sand toys.
don’t sweat potty training
really, trust me, they’ll get it
{if you’re in the midst you might not believe me}
but every single time my kids eventually caught on
relax
and invest in cheap underwear that you can throw away if needed
especially when they ask you to stay for just a minute more
because one day they’ll be too big
and you’ll be so sad
and if you need to remember
read Love you Forever
{by Robert Munsch}
pray with them
throughout the day
even if it’s just before math
or soccer practice
and always before dinner
they’ll remember this even more
teach them animal sounds
and make sure to make the pig sound as a real snorting noise
and add odd sounds
cause then your child sounds like a genius
sit and listen
let them talk to you
stay at the table
don’t add your agenda
your schedules
but just listen
listen
listen
listen
favorite lesson of mine?
24 comments
Beautiful post.
I always make the snorting sounds for the pig and act goofy. My kids have definitely seen me cry. I have to remember your floor approach!
Um…lessons I have learned…choose your battles, cuddle any time they want because some day they may be too big to do that, and when a good song comes on, dance around–even if it means jumping on some furniture.
Oh and we hardly ever bother with pairing socks!
This is just wonderful! I needed this reminder today. Sometimes I get so busy and become so consumed with everything that “needs to be done” that I forget to slow down and just enjoy my kids.
Very good reminders! Thank you!
And my daughter changes her mind daily (hourly) if she wants to use the potty, so thank you for that reminder especially. 🙂
Wonderful post. I don’t slow down and play with the kids nearly enough. Or snuggle enough. Or listen enough. Someday soon their desire for me to do so will be gone. Thank you for the reminder!
Love them all 🙂
As a mom of only one (so far) I have a lot to learn from a mom of seven. You always remind me to enjoy every minute I can.
LOVE. THIS. POST.
I hope you don’t mind…I’m gonna link to this today from my blog. 🙂
I have learned to s l o w d o w n. When I had my first two children I was so young. I found myself more or less growing up with them. By the time I had my second two, I was able to see things from a very different perspective. I sometimes felt I owed the older two an apology, but I believe they’re okay because we are very good friends now. 🙂 It’s nice to be friends with your grown children, and even nicer when they tell you that you didn’t do so bad. 😉
Loved this post, especially agree with spying on your kids and listening to them interact…. That’s my favorite part of any day. and yes, IKEA kids bowls and plates are awesome.
So many of these I do, and I absolutely love Love you Forever. I still want to cry everytime I read it. And I love watching my girls when they don’t know I am. Seeing those moments that only them share, it’s when they are the sweetest to each other.
My lesson I’ve learned? (Although my husband doesn’t like it too much, lol) To let the dishes and laundry pile up if your child wants you to play. They’ll be there when you’re done. But your children may not be because they already grew up right infront of your eyes.
Your words are so beautiful! And great suggestion about gardening tools for the beach. We live 10 minutes from the beach and go there frequently. I can’t tell you the number of times we’ve struggled lifting heavy wet sand with plastic shovels. Who da thunk it?
This post hits home…especially the stay with them a minute longer one. When I put my son to bed he always asks if I could stay for one more minute and tickle his back. I love it and know that some day he’ll put himself to bed and probably never even want me in his room.
I’ve also learned to stop whatever I’m doing and just be with them…I get so overwhelmed with what I “have” to do, I forget about what I should do!
Thank you for this lovely post.
your words never fail to touch my heart. i love your advice. praying for you today sweet blog friend.
Thank you-this was so good for me today. My parents have been visiting us this last month and they left today. Makes us all sad and a little on edge and so my eldest daughter and I were not having the best of mornings. I came in here and sat down while she was taking a shower and I read this. As I wrote this I shed a fear tears and ask God to forgive me for not responding to her in the way I should have, her heart is sad today too and we have taken it out on each other I am afraid. Wish that wasn’t the case but we can go on from here and have a better day with each other from this point forward.
So, thank you for yet another wonderful post, for touching so many hearts including mine today.
Hugs
Jill
beautiful post.
I love your words…and this post. What wonderful lessons to learn and pass along. What great moments that you take with each of your children…how blessed you all are. This needs printed off and hung as a reminder. Thanks for sharing.
i love this post. i’ve been feeling like i need to relish in every moment with my little one because we are having another in october, so this really got to me today. thanks for your words of wisdom! especially the night time cuddles, that’s what i’m clinging on to right now!
This was so well-written, and such a great reminder for all parents. It really is so important to treasure all the moments with our kiddos…big and small, important and trivial, and everything in between. Our kids are only young for such a short time.
Happy Tuesday to you 🙂
Love this post.
this is precious. i had an ah-ha moment just now and still felt like it is surreal that i met you. i still think about our fun day every day. : )
i especially love to hear “don’t sweat potty-training.” because that’s up next on my to-do list when i get home. i don’t even know where to begin!
making up silly songs for my kids is one of my favorite things. kelly says they always sound ridiculous… i say, the more ridiculous, the better! i’m sure yours are really good and not ridiculous. : )
all the lines on those precious baby feet just make me melt to pieces.
and talking of noise… i experienced the noise of 10 kiddos (you know, my cousin’s fam) and nothing could be sweeter. the noise of children is simple joy.
i think some of my favorite, all-time martin pictures are those whacky, crazy, full of FUN ones. i just love you girls.
Absolutely beautiful, friend! Thank you for these reminders. For my blog post tomorrow, I am linking back to this post to share it with my readers!
Funny you should mention “training.” My youngest grandson is 14 months…that’s months…and my daughter wants to start trying…yeah, have fun with that! Not gonna happen around here for a long time! Good thing I only have him about 8 hours a week, huh? I don’t want to throw off anything they’re doing at home. But did I mention he’s 14 months?!
Am here praying for your family!
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Prayer Bears
My email address
Wow Rachel, I can relate to all of these! So great to sit back and contemplate all the things you have learned. We read Love you forever too! I think my oldest is afraid I might actually creep into his room at night when he doesn’t know it 🙂
I don’t have a specific comment, I just love this post and wanted to let you know.
Love, love, love.
I have 4…I don’t know when my 8-year-old turned into an 8-year-old and not a baby…even my baby is going to be 2 this winter…
I love this.
Beautiful. Thanks for reminding me how fleeting and precious these days are.. It makes me want to go sneak into their rooms and take pictures of their 3 year old and 4 month old feet
Mindy