You know what I did today?
Today I did something that many people only dream of.
Something that you have to experience to believe it.
Something that gives me a larger view of God.
Something that takes all my energy, but pays me back in indescribable, intangible ways.
Something that required every moment of this day, from the time I woke up.
Something that I couldn't quit and is harder than a lot of people realize.
Something that I never knew how much I would love
Today I got to be a mom.
Same thing I do every day really, I just often forget the privilege, challenge, fulfillment, benefit, extent, cost, and reward of it.
What did it involve? Funny you should ask. Here’s a slice of my day:
- Woke up all 17 kids (okay, I just like saying that. Only 5 are mine, the others I just get to be mom to 5 days a week.)
- Supervised chores
- Made banana bread muffins for breakfast with some little fingers to help along the way
- Discussed the Iditarod winners and some of their tales of strategy and battling wits on the trail
- Read Acts 25, because my daughter really wants to hear the story of Paul’s missionary journey one more time (we’ll finish tomorrow)
- Supervised standardized testing for my older two
- Went on a tour of a nut and chocolate factory (my four year old wanted to know where the squirrels were . . . )
- Played catch with my 10 year old – spring training has already begun!
- Fished an empty bottle of hand soap out of the toilet from around the toilet paper
- Served a yummy spaghetti lunch
- Cleaned up vomit off the carpeting (that had to happen AFTER the spaghetti was consumed, eh?)
- Scraped chewing gum off a t-shirt
- Read silently on the couch with my daughter for a few minutes
- Talked about honesty and integrity as yet another politician falls pray to immorality
- Played at the park with all the kids
- Helped kids hide God’s Word in their hearts at AWANA
- Made a paper cut ‘all better’
- Discussed the contributions of Sacagawea to the Louis and Clark expedition
- More vomit, this batch I caught in my hands (does anyone else do this? I know it’s gross, but I can’t run fast enough and it keeps the mess contained. Gross, I know, but I didn’t have to change anyone’s clothes, just a thorough hand washing of all parties involved.)
- Lots of hugs and kisses, and bedtime rocking, snuggles and nose rubs.
How much of each day of our adult life do we use our math, science, and social studies knowledge, and how much of our day do we use our social skills, character traits, and God’s strength?
Today my kids learned some academic information, gained some book-knowledge. However, they also learned, how to care for their siblings when they don’t feel well, the importance of moral standards, selflessness, diligence, patience, how to love, and how to work hard and contribute to the home and family.
They need everything that I have to teach them, and it goes far beyond our school topics. Today I got to be a mom. A 24/7, never get a break, unearthly rewarded, teach till I drop mom. And I loved every minute of it, well, okay, a couple of them I could have done without. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Comments
awesome! You are a fantastic writer.I am so glad i found your blog.I found it through Tammy`s Times.I will definatly be adding you to blogs i read so I can come back and read more!