That’s been me lately.
Monotonous mom.
At least feeling that way. I think it has part to do with the set of the schedule now – we’re moving, doing, and not catching a breath to breathe. And you, so many of you commented about the everyday motherhood and how sometimes it’s really hard to find the joy in the moment. It’s there, but it’s not really this glamorous event.
I still think I should start a real amazing mom pinterest board. It’s kind of like the pinterest perfect real mom that I wrote about in August. But, this time, I think maybe I’ll actually start the board.
That board would show the mom wiping down the table for the third time, the curtains askew that looked perfect at 9am in the family room, toys piled on a table, the stack of dishes left in the sink, the folded clothes that are sitting in the basket in the laundry room for a week, the crumbs in the back seat of the car, the books piled in the corner, the fridge with notes scattered about, the instagram pics of little ones showing off their lost tooth grin, the legos scattered about, the leapfrog dvds all mixed up, the iphones with an overabundance of kid’s apps, the couch that used to have pillows but are now on the floor, the mom with the head in her hands counting to ten for the seventh time in an hour — real life mother stuff.
That sometimes we look at all of that as simply monotonous. Because, really, it kind of is.
But, if you slow down a bit and look at all those things, those a bit monotonous things, they’re actually the simplest of beauty. They are uniquely you – your family – your moments – your glimpses of joy.
Don’t let busy, culture, media, agendas, to-do lists, the past, worries, mistakes, the messes, and the everyday feeling of monotony rob you of these sweet mom moments. They’re tucked in there – little jewels of beautiful waiting to be found.
Today, today after you read these words that I typed to you, I want you to go through your day aware of all the absolutely amazing things that you do. That’s right -amazing. Maybe you don’t hear that often, because I don’t, but I want you to know that those monotonous feeling everyday things are absolutely amazing life giving things. Keep doing them. One after another after another. Just keep going.
Look around.
Ignore the toys that fell down the stairs and cover the floor but instead celebrate the hands that play with them.
Embrace this moment, this gift of a November day, and let the monotony become beautiful.
A sweet blessing just for you as you mother your children.
***
to read other posts similar click true real life motherhood and the rushing mom embraces today
18 comments
Love the picture of the stairs except in my house toys did not fall down the stairs. No, my 2 year old is in a destructive mood lately and will deliberately take apart all his puzzles and throw the pieces down the stairs. While he was napping yesterday I finally put all the puzzles back together and away up in a closet where he will not be able to find them!
OH yes!! Those moments are filled with such angst and constant “doing”… Thank you for reminding us of our true passion and mission. May our every day of motherhood be filled with tidbits of treasures to embrace and honor. All the mess of motherhood, is what we are called to do. And although it drives me crazy oftentimes, I realize that it is a privelege, and I will not take it for granted. Thanking God for this cherished calling!!
God gave us our children. Motherhood is a divine calling wherein God entrusts us to teach and love His children. I try to remember that every nose I wipe, every pair of pants I fold, every meal I prepare is service to God. How blessed we are.
thank you for posting these absolutely uplifting posts! i swear every time i open my email or seea post of yours on facebbok, i get so excited, only to find that after reading them, YOU ARE SPEAKING TO ME! and i burst into tears, not from being upset, but from knowing that I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE, not the only mom that doesn’t feel like doing the dishes at the end of the night, or picking up the bajillion toys at the end of the night, or putting away the laundry, or even folding it for that matter. and also because, IT DOESN’T MATTER! as long as the kids are happy, and i know that i did everything in my power to make them that way! i always say, i may have sticky floors, fingerprints on the walls, dirty dishes, but my kids are HAPPY! thank you for making sure that i know that i am not the only mom out there that feels like i can’t do everything all of the time!
This morning, I actually thought of your many posts concerning ’embracing the moment’ with my children. I had stayed up until 2am folding a mountain of laundry, so this morning when the baby girls woke up early, I was very weary when I pulled myself out of bed to go change their diapers. I wanted to just set them up with a princess movie & their bucket of toys and go back across the hall to get a little more sleep. But then Gracie crawled up with her blanket and said, “Wanna sit in you lap, Mommy.” Physically, my body just wanted to collapse in bed. But of course I would be heartless to refuse my baby girl wanting to sit in my lap. 🙂 So I decided to just crawl up in her bed with her. She flopped her whole little self up over my tummy with the biggest, squeeziest hug, snuggled her little head up in my neck, and exclaimed, “I love you too, Mommy!”–before I even had a chance to say ‘I love you’ first. 🙂 It was definitely worth embracing the moment for that memory. Thank you for your posts encouraging us to keep doing what we do best-being Mommy. 🙂
I love this post. I love these pictures. Honesty is so, so beautiful.
You all have blessed me dearly with your words. What I love about these sweet comments is the sense of community and togetherness that is formed. We’re all in this journey together – our paths may look different – and yet, when we embrace each other where they are and offer encouragement we are in fact, providing energy to become better, and more intentional mothers.
Bless you all.
Rachel
Thanks again for a wonderful and truthful post! This idea of monotony has been on my mind alot recently and I am trying to figure out what to do with while I have the privilege of being able to stay home with my beautiful and energetic children two of whom are three year old boys!!
Thanks you so much for this post. It’s so helpful to know that I am not doing anything wrong…and I’m not alone.
Your blog posts breathe life into my weary mama soul!!
You are so awesome! Thank you for sharing your heart! This mom needs it A LOT!
This is, almost to the word, the place I am learning to find beauty in and wrote/processed through the other day. Thank you, always, for your words and the spirit you approach them with.
little jewels waiting to be found, indeed! i kissed sage extra today and loved it so much!! motherhood is such a gift. love to one of the best moms around!! xoxo.
such good reminders…in the rush of things it is SO easy to lose perspective and just want “something in order!” But yes, good reminders to keep my head. 😉
ALOHA!
such good reminders…in the rush of things it is SO easy to lose perspective and just want “something in order!” But yes, good reminders to keep my head. 😉
ALOHA!
I declare when I read your posts its as if you just had a conversation with me about how things as a new mom were going and then decided to write a message to motivate me. Your posts always give me a new / needed perspective. Thanks for doing what you do!!!
Take care 🙂
You always speak straight to my heart. Thank you!
upcf [url=http://stylomontblancsoldes.fr]mont blanc stylo[/url] skgydj http://stylomontblancsoldes.fr jgmh [url=http://montblancstylopascher.fr]stylo mont blanc[/url] qyhpir http://montblancstylopascher.fr owfl [url=http://montblancpenscheap.co.uk]mont blanc pens[/url] kwnrho http://montblancpenscheap.co.uk ibgz [url=http://montblancukstores.co.uk]mont blanc[/url] esbowj http://montblancukstores.co.uk ccbr [url=http://montblancpensuksale.co.uk]mont blanc[/url] amwjwi http://montblancpensuksale.co.uk fvbr [url=http://montblancpensuksale.co.uk]mont blanc[/url] xaihhw http://montblancpensuksale.co.uk fanb