High Expectations

Have you ever felt overwhelmed as a Mom? I know I have. I have beaten myself up over and over for all the things that I haven't been able to find time to do. You know like have a clean house (all the time), be completely caught up in my scrapbooking, why haven't I hung those pictures yet? and lots of other things!

I have decided that I am going to cut myself some slack! I mean I am not a perfect person and I never ever thought I was. So why did I think I could be the perfect MOM?! Don't get me wrong, I'm not throwing away all my responsibility and expectations for parenthood. I'm just not going to flagellate my self for not having superhuman powers. I can not do 10 loads of laundry (fold and putaway), teach Josh the ABC's, organize the hallway closet, play with playdough, make a homemade lunch and dinner, workout, etc, etc, etc... all in one day! I am going to prioritize and some things that I had on my to-do list are just not going to be there any longer. With a 4 and 3 year old and a 9 month old, I have more important things to do then stress over my house being "dirty", or that I still haven't watched the last 2 episodes of 24 this past season!

My children need me to play with them and teach them about the important things. They need to know that I love them unconditionally and that loving others is the most important thing. I have been praying about where God would want me to go with my children to teach them about service and helping others. I know that God can bring opportunities into my life, but I feel like I should be looking for some also. If anyone has any ideas for things that would be age appropriate for my gang then please share.

I have a saying that has hung on the wall of each of my babies rooms (Thanks Aunt Audra!) that I repeat to myself from time to time. It goes like this:
"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow. For babies grow up, we learn to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."

I found another one online that I really love too.
"Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."