Growing Pains

Image via stux of Pixabay

It's Friday, and we are adjusting to being back to school. I am early to the pick up line and my little kid is snoozing in the car-seat after a busy day playing with his cousin. My big kid has had a good few weeks back it seems, and the “How was your day?” asked each afternoon, has been met with smiles and stories about new games made up at recess.

Fourth grade is a big year. We are at the age where he is not my little boy anymore, but also not quite mature enough to do all the big-kid stuff he requests. He wants more independence, but still a bedtime story at night. Big enough to want to ride his bike around town with his friends, but little enough momma's heart strings can't quite let go yet. I’m trying to back off a little and give him some room to grow. 

But it is hard. 

This sweet little baby I just held in my arms and rocked to sleep is becoming a young man faster than I can process.

This was the first year there were no tears at first day drop off... me, not him. I don't remember him ever having tears. Any nerves or anxiousness my smart, social butterfly has ever had about school has been overshadowed with excitement for a new year, and friends, both old and new, to share summer stories with. 

I usually hold it together in front of him, but once he is out of the car, my eyes leak a little on the drive back home. 

We have the same goodbye each morning as he gets out of the car. Every year, every day, it is the same.

“I love you! Have a great day and I will see you this afternoon! We each blow a kiss and “catch” it.

Yesterday was different.

Today was different.

Yesterday, as I blew the kiss he looked back over his shoulder. Did a double take to the entrance doors before blowing a quick one back.

Today, he hopped out of the car, said “See ya later!” and speed walked into school to meet up with friends. 

Is it that time already? Gone are the days of mushy mommy goodbyes. Hello, I love you but don't let my friends see.

It is a battle I think all mommas face. We want our kids to grow. We want to see them become the incredible young men and women the Lord created them to be. 

But we want them to do it slower. 

It is amazing watching kids grow. It’s fun to teach them new things and watch them light up as they get it. What was once an exciting, new milestone, becomes the norm as they move on to the next one. Then one day, they correctly say a word that they had their own cute mispronunciation of and it breaks your heart a little.  

Always growing and always changing, but still always falling in love with the new version of them.

I hope all your school kiddos are off to a good start. What are some of your favorite stages your kiddos have gone through so far? 

Daily help

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

ShoutOuts

• My Dad: Celebrating the life of Dural Glen Sizemore via After the Miracle
• Turin's Impossible Shroud: What's your take on it? via By the Way

His truth, our journey...

What's your favorite milestone, or your favorite stage?

I'd love to read all about it in the comments section below.

Thank you for your visit and your interest and hope to have you back soon!

Momma Writes

Blessing & Burnout

Image via MoteOo of Pixabay

Daily Grind

Dishes are done; it’s time to fix dinner.

Laundry is caught up; it’s time for baths, and clothes go into the hamper.

The living room is clean, but it looks like a bomb went off in the playroom.

There is always something to do. Some days, it can feel defeating. 

Albert Einstein is credited with the saying, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” I don’t know what different result I expect. I guess that maybe after I do all the things, the things will stay like I did them for a bit.

I was told once that burnout is a mindset that can be treated with gratitude. 

Instead of I have to do dishes, think, “I get to do dishes because my family had food to eat.”

Instead of I have to clean up a mess, think “I get to have playtime with my kiddos.” 

I understand it. I really do. I’m grateful for the reason I have messes and laundry and dishes, but it can still be tiring to do them all the time. Two things can be true at the same time. 

Image via flutie8211 of Pixabay

Daily Help
Psalm 73:26 says it best. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” 

There have been nights that I have tucked in the kiddos for bed then sat in a pity-party-for-one, rehashing the moments throughout the day when burnout got the best of me. My heart and flesh failed me.

Maybe I was snippy and short tempered or just kind of checked out and going through the motions. Not my proudest “Mom of the Year” days if you know what I mean. Yet, the Lord is good to forgive us and our littles will too.

Being needed 112% of the time is just a season, and it goes so fast. The Lord renews us and gives us much needed strength when we are weary.

His Truth, Our Journey

Sometimes motherhood feels like a superpower and some days it feels like exhaustion deep in our bones. The kind of tired that a nap won’t fix, like when when you’ve heard “MOMMA!” for the gazillionth time. In reality, though, it’s still my favorite thing to be called. 

I have such a blessed life, and I refuse to have a mentality that turns the things I prayed for into a burden.

 

Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to hear from you!

When you have been burning at both ends, what are some ways you like to get in some self-care?

Momma Writes 

The Hustle and Bustle of Summer

Summer is in full swing!

Our days are filled with sleeping-in, hot, fresh coffee on slow mornings, followed by afternoons filled with adventures and activities that I have strategically planned to stretch both our brains and muscles.

Every evening we sit down together and have a home-cooked family dinner before baths and bedtime stories. I watch my sweet kiddos drift off to dreamland as I tuck them in and smooch their sun-kissed cheeks. Then, I head back downstairs to clean up the messes of the day and have a little peaceful me-time. 

IN MY DREAMS!!!

True, that summer is here, but with school out, all resemblance of structure and schedules have gone out the door. 

It seems that the 7 A.M. that I had to drag my big kid out of bed (for school) is not the same 7 A.M. that he bounces out of bed for at 100% now. As well as…

*My first sip of coffee is usually hot and fresh. The second and thereafter are usually cold or microwaved. 

*Our afternoons are anywhere from going to the park or the pool to naps and screentime.

*Dinner is something edible and my best effort at getting them a balance of protein and veggies. Most nights this month we have something going on, be it tennis camp, soccer camp, or Vacation Bible Schools, so supper is at 4:00 or 8:00 - there is no in between.

*My little kid co-sleeps and is still nursing so several nights I fall asleep putting him to bed and don’t even make it in to read to and tuck in my big kid. The next morning rolls around and I come downstairs to yesterday's messes.

  
It’s easy to see the first scenario plastered all over social media and wonder why your days don’t look like that. I did. I felt like I was shorting my kids because I did not have daily Montessori style activities and sometimes made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or frozen chicken nuggets for dinner.

They're for sure going to need therapy because I sometimes have to make them entertain themselves while I do dishes and laundry. I promise, Momma is trying her best.

 
I love summertime, and we’ll find our new routine and have all the fun with plenty of take-it-easy days. None of this is a complaint, but rather, an encouragement.

 
Daily grind
In scripture, we see over and over, women encountering the Lord right in the middle of their every-day stuff. 

They’re not traveling across cities or on the mountain tops. They’re at the well gathering water. 

At home, in the midst of doing the mom, wife, caretaking, child-rearing, homemaking, what have you, the Lord meets them there, and he will meet you too. 

Right there, while you hide in your laundry room, feeling overwhelmed and fighting back tears or while chasing kids through the yard. 

He is there.

When I became a mom, the verse, pray without ceasing, took on a whole new meaning. Since, I’ve been squeezing in prayer throughout my day, like a text convo with my bestie.
It’s great to go to Jesus in a designated, peaceful, private prayer time, but when the kids wake up and run all day at full speed ahead, that’s when the Lord will come to you.

Motherhood is a divine purpose and the Lord will not forsake you in your efforts.

"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; forsake not the works of thing own hands: Psalm 138:8 (KJV)

His truth, our journey...

Thanks for stopping by! What fun stuff do you have planned for your kiddos this summer? It'd be great if you'd share in the comments!

I'm new to blogging and thankful for your patience as I learn to navigate this new venture in business and creativity.

Will be publishing every other week and hoping you'll subscribe to receive email notices of new editions. Subscriptions are free and looking forward to having you back soon!

Momma Writes

A Lesson in Boldness

 “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.” - Ephesians 6:19 KJV

In the adult class at church Sunday we talked about boldness. Specifically, Peter's boldness. His willingness to step out and be bold sowed the way for his miraculous walking on water, preaching the message on the day of Pentecost, and led him to the many people that were healed and saved by God through him. But before he was a disciple and preacher, he was a fisherman. Just a fisherman, out on the boat, minding his own business. I’m sure he had never dreamed of the turn his life was going to take the day he met Jesus. Jesus saw his heart, his potential, and still called him, knowing full well of his hard headedness and impulsive tendencies.

    The idea of being used by the Lord is great! Sometimes the actual being used is hard. The Lord tells us to be bold in proclaiming Him. He gives us an authority that can only come through him and we shouldn't hide it or be shy about it. I would consider myself a (mostly) outgoing person, an extrovert even, but I struggle with true boldness. I was reminded during the lesson Sunday of an opportunity that I had and missed. I often replay the moment in my head and imagine how things could have been different if I had had some boldness. 

My friend, my boys and I had gone into town to spend the day and shop at the places we make a special trip for. One of those stops happened to be a Barnes & Noble. We wandered around a while and all picked out a new book. We were in the car and loaded back up when I remembered a birthday coming up and decided to get her gift there. My friend volunteered to stay in the car with the boys and let me run back in really quick. There I was, browsing the wall of journals and devotionals when a lady I’d never met came and stood next to me. Other than 1 employee a little ways down and another at the checkout, we seemed to be the only people there. We silently thumbed through a few devotional books and read a few excerpts before she mentioned wanting to buckle down and start doing Bible reading and study. I smiled and agreed that it was a great habit to get into. She then continues to tell me about the rough year she has had and some new health issues she has been dealing with. I politely chit chat some, but in my mind I know that I have people waiting for me in the car. I make my selection and head to the checkout. NO SOONER than I start to walk away, that small voice in my mind says “you should ask to pray with her.” And so starts the internal battle. I have every excuse. “ We are in the middle of a store, you don’t know her, I’m not that type (insert my lack of boldness here) I am in a hurry….” I continue through the checkout and pay for my items. I was almost in tears by the time I got back to the car and my friend asked what was wrong. I told her I was supposed to pray with a lady in there and could not bring myself to do it. WHY? I have the Holy Ghost and have prayed to be used. I want to be a light in a dark world, I try to look set apart, and yet, given the opportunity to, I failed. That day lingers in my mind as a reminder to look for those moments. The Lord put her in my path and I let my own lack of confidence keep me from being able to bless her. Peter would have prayed for her.

For now, I will work on my confidence and prepare myself to be bold the next time I get a chance. I challenge you to do the same. Look for a moment to step out. There are plenty of people who could use some prayer, and so many more lost in this world needing to hear about Jesus. 

“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.”

Acts 4:29 KJV