It starts in the morning, right after the morning light seeps over the frozen country horizon. For a brief moment it’s quiet here in the house. Strangely quiet. I sit on the couch watching the earth wake up while savoring the last moment of complete and utter silence.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
It starts. The endless breath of mom’s leaving my children’s mouths. Breakfast needs, clothing helps, whose turn it is to unload the dishwasher questions, where’s my sock, it’s not fairs, I don’t get this math problem, and on and on and on and on.
Before long I can’t even sit down. I move around, like a clock, from child to child answering the unending barrage of questions. The cry for me keeps coming. Loud, irritated, questioning, needing help, a story and more. I find myself beginning to crave that strange silence found in the morning. It’s only 10:18 and I’ve answered to my name more times than I could count. Throughout the morning, and through lunch, the mom cry remains.
Mom.
I try to just ignore this one little mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
This time it’s Caleb.
What now, Caleb?
It comes out crosser than I like. Sharp, irritated. After all, I had just helped him find a Star Wars shirt, and make a pbj for snack, and read a story. What could it be now?
Turning from the sink where I was finishing our second load of dishes I glance to the island with a sigh. Then I see his face. Beaming. And behind him? This amazing, large, intricate structure that he had made with some Cuisenaire Rods that I pulled from the garage in the morning. There it was towering, barely balanced, reaching high above the island.
So many rods, resting on each other, balancing each other out.
Oh, Caleb, it’s magnificent.
My heart, my prideful heart is humbled. I had simply let my own needs, my own agenda, out-balance the real needs of my home. I threw my piece right on the day’s structure and almost sent the day crashing down to the ground in a mess of beautiful moments potentially lost.
Caleb, I’m really proud of you. I can see how hard you worked on that tower.
Little sentences, adding support. Reinforcing the good.
Balance, balance, balance.
Why, oh why, do I let the irritations of the day determine my mood? What if I switched my perspective? After all, the dishes have to be done no matter what. They’re blessings instead of a chore. Or those endless questions about how to spell words? Grateful for the opportunity to teach my children. Laundry? We are clothed. Books to read the millionth time? Thankful for little ones to sit in my lap. Spills to wipe up? They create a clean floor. Markers all over the table? Creativity. Bedrooms to clean? Thankful for the blessings. Those mom cries? Oh my. Gifts. Simple, beautiful lovely priceless gifts.
Balance.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
They’re all sleeping. It’s quiet again. I sit here resting, reflecting on the day. There are still remnants of learning scattered about — a book, letter tiles on the door, pictures pasted on the fridge.
I love those little voices who cry mom.
All day long.
19 comments
So beautiful Rachel…. I too have to humble myself to the beautiful cries of “mommy” … I only have one doing it… and I am making a God-filled EFFORT to stop and take some time to answer him in the most uplifting manor … I can muster up .. even when We are doing ten million other things… Thank You for the reminder today! HUGS !!!!!
I miss those voices. *sigh*’
Caleb: That tower is truly amazing! So happy your mom has a photo of it! 🙂
This is so beautiful, Rachel.
WOW. I am in good company. There are times in my day when I just LONG for silence or time to myself…but you are so right, even the girls coming to me when they should be sleeping (ahem!) to show me a story they are working on and so proud of! Is a blessing! They can write! They LOVE to write!
Thank you for this. It put my day in the perfect perspective!
My eyes are tingling. Thanks Rachel. We do need to stop to listen to the Moms and try to understand what they are really asking us to look at them for. They really only ask for us, don’t they?
I love this post! I only have one child, but I still feel like I’m constantly answering questions and putting out fires (not literal ones…usually. lol). Be thankful for your busy household. There are many people (myself included) who so desire a houseful of children but can’t do so.
So perfect! Really puts things back in perspective after a rough morning. Thank you!
What a beautiful post. Someday when the kids are grown we’ll all have silence. And I admit I dream of that day :D. But we might as well embrace them and love them every minute while we can. Although I have told my husband I’d like to tally how many times I hear “Mommy!” in a day 🙂
I, too, savor those sweet moments of early morning silence until that cry begins. And recently, I, like you, have been trying to see these neverending chores of dishes and laundry and homework as blessings instead of burdens.
How do you always write something to change my perspective for the better? I love it. Thanks for sharing your world with us 🙂
i have “do not grow weary of doing what is good” on repeat in my mind all day! especially as my kids threw their messy lunch on my floor for the 3rd time today. : )
Your words are perfect. Sometimes though it is very hard to see those magnificant moments through the ‘mooooooms’ of the day.But this moment you described is incredible, it’s exactly how our days go, but it sounds so beautiful they way you wrote it!
This brought me back to reality today. Thank you!
Oh what a great reminder! Thanks, Rachel! My little goes around all day saying in a whinny voice “mama hold you,” and however tired I am of hearing it I think about how he won’t want me to hold him in a few years and how he’ll be too big for me to in a few more!
Oh, thank you for this…
Hi Rachel,
I had the sme kind of day today. 🙂
And I blogged about it too. I don’t know if this is okay but I’ll put a link here. God bless you sweet sister!
That’s amazing! Fantastic job, Caleb!
Stopping by to let you know I’m still here praying!
Psalms 59:16-17 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Prayer Bears
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Perfect! Thank you for this today. I don’t HAVE to do the laundry, I GET to make sure all of our wonderful clothes are clean for my family. I dont HAVE to do the dishes, I GET to give thanks for a good meal and enough food to eat. Oh, how often I forget all this. Thank you for the reminder.
I’m only a mom of one, and sometimes I can been overwhelmed with the day to day chores around the house and the constant calls of Mom. You reminded me that it’s important to take a step back and realize what’s truly important and how blessed we really are. Thank you!
I am your newest follower and linked your Blog to my blog post about being parent. Your post really helped to remind me the importance of slowing down and putting things into perspective. Kids grow up so fast and we should embrace those little moments.