No two children are ever alike.
No two mothers are alike. Amen.
No two stories will ever be alike.
When they are still, which will be rare, take a picture.
There is grace to start over again. At 8:30. 8:40. 8:42. Well, you get that picture too.
When kids clean their room all clothes immediately become dirty clothes. Trust me, you’ll find them in the laundry and then at that point those clean clothes are truly dirty clothes.
It’s normal for the back of your vehicle to look like this during October.
Laundry becomes a source of discussion between you and your friends. It will be called Mount Washmore, the enemy, and the bane of one’s existence. By the way, what is your strategy?
The days when you need coffee the most will be the day you have no way to get coffee.
What works for one child won’t work for the next. Think you got potty training down? Think again.
Sleep will just be a distant, and lovely, memory.
Hold those sleeping in your arms babies just a minute longer before you attack the to-do list. You’ll remember that, not that the to-do list was completed.
Tshirts from Target make acceptable and appropriate Target shopping attire. Important note: While shopping at Target don’t wear a red tshirt. With khaki pants. Ever.
Construction sites by your home become an unbelievable gift. And break.
Juice, milk, food, or anything of comparing value can equally be poured into separate containers with children watching who need to make sure that absolutely everything is fair and equal.
Instagram becomes your family scrapbook. (I love instagram. like love. Find me -> finding_joy
Shoes become a nemesis. When one is late there will always be, and I repeat always, one shoe mysteriously missing and you will spend precious minutes searching – under couches, in the closet, in rooms, in the car, by the back door, downstairs, in the kitchen, anywhere for that shoe.
Instead of counting to ten you skip count to one hundred. Twice.
When people ask you what do you do you’ve learned to just smile.
What you do – stay at home, work, work at home, work part time, etc… — that stuff doesn’t define mothers.
Always keep an emergency stash of chocolate in two places. Make the second place the emergency supply for when the emergency chocolate is gone.
The plastic cups from Ikea are your go-to beverage holder choice.
Your phone will have preschool apps on it.
Sometimes you just need to laugh.
Teaching them to ride a bike requires training for yourself – in running, not tripping, catching, and letting go.
Actually, most of motherhood is a journey in letting go.
It’s really really letting go when you let them drive the teeny cart.
That’s so not fair are words you hear in your home everyday.
You multitask like you were on steroids.
Tag removing from clothing becomes normal.
You have pinterest boards specifically designed for cleaning difficult things. Like permanent marker on laminate flooring. Don’t ask me how I know about that one – like perhaps coming home and seeing the entire floor covered in permanent marker drawings.
Saying I love you is a daily, and most important, thing.
Saying I love you is so easy when they’re in bed sleeping looking perfect.
Remember that motherhood is really a brave thing. Don’t question that. Celebrate it.
You can get coffee with your bff with children that are unruly and still look perfectly calm.
The words I’m hungry, I’m starving, I’m actually really hungry, can I have a snack will also be frequently heard.
Even though there is a great deal of apparent hunger what you made for dinner will not be the solution.
You will spend many many many hours discussing snacks.
Did I mention that the words no fair will frequently be heard?
A break often consists of a trip to Target or the grocery store by yourself.
You know that motherhood is a gift. Most days.
Little things matter. Always.
~Rachel
20 comments
I would say having your preschooler pick the same book for the seven-hundredth time will be a relief as you are so tired you can barely keep your eyes open, but know all the words by heart. And your heart will melt when they ‘read’ it to you instead 🙂
Another great post! You inspire my own writing…and mothering! As for my addition, it would be something along the lines of:
As a mom, you will find yourself saying things like “get the guns off the table so we can eat” or “pickles are food, not toys.” As absurd as such phrases may sound, they will make perfect sense.
Love this 🙂
Love this! My secret to laundry is to do darks on Monday, lights on Wednesday, and reds and towels on Friday. I only have one kid, so it’s easier for me, but this system works pretty well to make sure we don’t run out of clothes. I hear “that’s not fair” so many times lately that I have started fining a quarter everytime I hear it! 🙂
I would say to take pictures even when they’re moving, those are some of the best candid shots.
Also, skip over the parenting books. Most of those experts don’t even have children!
Oh, and don’t read those ‘I’m missing my children’s childhood because of technology’ Seriously? I love modern technology! Being able to connect with moms from around the globe in an instant is pure brilliance. Thanks to this wonderful technology I have a digital scrapbook of my children’s childhood AND a record that I really am a good mom.
The pumpkin at my house doesn’t look so well. Poor thing has now made an early exit thanks, in part, to one of my grands.
Always here praying!
Psalms 28:1-2 Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
My mother (and I, but mom had 10 children and I don’t) loved doing laundry. Hate us if you must, but this is our secret: We do all of the dirty laundry every day. As soon as a batch was full enough, it stood in line to be washed. (all day long-as soon as we hear the beep we’d drop what we were doing and change loads).
We had a hall, so everyone threw their laundry out their door, and mom’s first task of the day was sorting. At my house, everyone uses the same bathroom (i also keep all clean clothes in/near the bathroom) and I have 3 barrels, which are clearly labeled, that we drop our clothes in, sorting as we take them off. It takes about 3 months for your family to get on board with sorting their own laundry, and then some; don’t ask me how I know. 🙂
Oh, and my mother usually changed the washer twice in the middle of the night. I have no idea how she did that!
My mother (and I, but mom had 10 children and I don’t) loved doing laundry. Hate us if you must, but this is our secret: We do all of the dirty laundry every day. As soon as a batch was full enough, it stood in line to be washed. (all day long-as soon as we hear the beep we’d drop what we were doing and change loads).
We had a hall, so everyone threw their laundry out their door, and mom’s first task of the day was sorting. At my house, everyone uses the same bathroom (i also keep all clean clothes in/near the bathroom) and I have 3 barrels, which are clearly labeled, that we drop our clothes in, sorting as we take them off. It takes about 3 months for your family to get on board with sorting their own laundry, and then some; don’t ask me how I know. 🙂
Oh, and my mother usually changed the washer twice in the middle of the night. I have no idea how she did that!
LOVE LOVE LOVE your posts. Makes me feel like a better person! As for what I would add these absurd phrases:
1.) why are you in the bathtub with your clothes on?
2.) why is your daddy’s bible in the bathtub with you?
3.) DON’T DRINK THE BATH WATER!!
The one time you forget to put a diaper in your purse will be the time your toddler poops at the store.
Praying for safe travels!
Psalms 28:6-7 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
My email address
“No, your zebra really doesnt want to swim in your cereal”
“So you’re telling me that the Tiger in your dream ate you because it wanted to be your best friend and now that you Are In his tummy, you’ll be friends forever. ?”
“No, your zebra really doesnt want to swim in your cereal”
“So you’re telling me that the Tiger in your dream ate you because it wanted to be your best friend and now that you Are In his tummy, you’ll be friends forever. ?”
Wearing the same clothes 2-3 days in a row is perefctly acceptable 🙂
Love this and my most popular post to-date is the one in which I detail how to get permanent marker out of everything. Because my son decided to turn himself into a tiger and draw a line from the bathroom all. the. way. to the kitchen. The only way to make it is to be able to laugh at those days, and sometimes cry too :).
You write such beautiful posts. Somehow you’ve made the frustrations of life with small people into something beautiful and fun. I shall try to remember this the next time I find buttery handprints on the walls!
I frequently say, “Just count to ten. Count to ten…” and I hear an awful lot of, “Do I have to?” I often feel like I should apologise to our neighbours when it’s time for a haircut. Cats fighting make less of a fuss than my little guy…
You will be a teacher without a lesson plan, but many things will be taught at anytime, at anyplace.
Sharing will be a repetitive lesson.
Hugs are mandatory for all children who fall, fight, or fright. Hugs will be mandatory for all moms who feel frustrated, still haven’t brushed their hair, or missed her mommy-alone-time.
You will save all those ratty towels for the floor during bathtime and the endless spills that allow your floor to have a clean spot for a day.
Love this list! And just love your down to earth heart for moms.
To add from my week:
You may drive 30 minutes in the car after forgetting to strap your toddler in his car seat. Chances are he’ll be ok. (Jesus help us!)
Thanks for your wonderful posts!
Thank you Jessica. I appreciate your words – – and I have done those car rides.
Rachel
Always remember you are the mom. While that means you are responsible for the cooking, cleaning & enforcement of rules and manners, it also gives you the authority to call a recess, reset the day with a fun outing, mom-pile or surprise pillow fight.
Let yourself be the mom that can find the fun when needed.