Tag Team

 

Minimally-dressed, physically-built men act enraged and pounce a team looking like a mirror image. That’s wrestling. Tag Team Wrestling, though could teach us a thing or two about parenting.

When 1 player becomes tired or has taken a pounding, they can tag out and their teammate, will jump in to defend the team. Parenting can work much the same way. A tired mom can tag dad, a worn out dad can tag mom. Regardless the reason, there are times we need to rely on our parenting partner.

While our partner takes care of things on the mat, we can get the rest we need. We can prepare to take the next match. Parenting can be physically and emotionally draining. It helps to have a partner.

There is ONE thing to remember: While your partner is on the mat, your partner calls the plays. Dads and Moms don’t parent the same way. I have been guilty numerous times of tagging my husband and then supervising his turn on the mat. I found there was no quicker way to break up our teamwork than to undermine his importance on the team.

 

 

Waddle Like a Toddler

My brightly colored Toddler Classroom is full of all kinds of toys. There are riding toys, climbing foam blocks, a small pool full of balls, books and tiny pretzels. The pretzels are actually in a container, just so you don’t get the wrong idea. In amidst all of the color waddle toddlers of all shapes and sizes.

Toddlers aren’t toys, they are children. These tiny versions of mom and dad try with all their might to steady themselves and walk. With the color and activity of the room, the attention of each toddler is diverted. Toddlers walk with legs wider than they will at full size. They waddle. They waddle like mommas very pregnant, like penguins on a mission. They waddle to balance their weight as to help them from falling.

Might it be time for you and I to waddle like a toddler?

When your load becomes too much to bear, when you are caught off-balance, when life seems to divert your attention, when your goals seem too far away – waddle.

Waddle. Stay close to the ground. In prayer. In fact, drop to your knees. This life is not about who can stand the tallest and walk the proudest. Waddle. Stop and concentrate on just walking one step at a time in a forward direction. There are days when forward is all you can hope for. And, should you fall, like a toddler – Get back up and try again.

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

 

After 14 Years…I’ve Graduated!

My cap and gown are larger than I once knew. My hair appears a different shade then when I first enrolled. My mood has gone from anxiety to assertive to peaceful. I began thinking I must make every moment and I graduate knowing I must treasure every moment. I longed to graduate more than anything and now I stand ready to return to the beginning. I thought I would never finish and now I wonder why you would want to.

I’m ready to turn my tassel. My graduation day arrives today. My mascara will be waterproof. My camera will be charged. I will likely tear up, choke up and, well who am I kidding, I’m going to cry like a baby. It has been 14 years after all. This comprises nearly a third of my life.

For 14 years I have been a MOP, a Mother of a Preschooler. My introduction to MOPS came in 1998 after I gave birth to my son. I fell in love with MOPS after Sarah was born in 1999 with major health issues. My fellow MOPS moms called, delivered meals, prayed and encouraged me through some incredibly dark times. I grew in MOPS when I was invited to serve as the Moppets Coordinator (that’s what they call the Mom that arranges the Children’s Program). I thought I graduated as Sarah approached the magic age to enter Kindergarten.

Then we began to foster and one after another, more and more preschoolers entered our home. 28 preschoolers in all. With each one, I renewed my love of MOPS.

Now, here I stand 14 years later. My last preschooler is ready to graduate and so must I.

A new stage awaits for me, but in appreciation for MOPS, including every steering committee leader, group leader, Moppets Leader, and MOPS mom, I will take a moment to share what I’ve learned from you:

1. I accept the MOM I am today.
2. I accept that I am a MOM that makes mistakes.
3. I know that I must keep learning to be a better MOM.
4. I know that each of my children are different, but they all need me as their MOM.
5. I must do my part as a MOM to encourage other MOMs.

Thank you again MOPS. These last 14 years have been an absolute joy and I will miss them dearly, but I look forward to what’s next!!

 

Road Trip

Clothes are packed, car is loaded. One more trip to the bathroom. Yes, you must try to go. Ready to go. Car ignition to the “on” position. Gently reverse out of the driveway. Stop the car. Open the doors. We forgot something. And so begins our road trip.

Joey, Sarah and I ventured to the Florida Parent Educator Association Homeschool Convention. Lovingly referred to as the FPEA Homeschool Convention. Our destination lies three hours from our home. We head out in the late evening, so we arrive in time for some rest before the start of the convention. We start out excited to hear from some of our favorite speakers at the workshops. We know we will find something new and exciting at the Exhibit Hall.

Besides the encouragement I received from the conference, I appreciate the time I spent with Joey and Sarah.

Joey enjoyed lunch at the Sports Cafe with the 2 story TVs all showing ESPN. The food was great, too.

Sarah enjoyed taking notes at the Workshops. If you didn’t get the digital recording, she has a written copy.

Joey enjoyed meeting a few of his favorite authors and receiving autographed books. I hope to give him one of mine autographed someday.

Sarah enjoyed keeping us on schedule, making sure we didn’t miss a thing. I love to watch her organize.

I enjoyed best the concert in the car, with my iPhone plugged into the stereo, volume cranked as high as it would go. We sang everything from Mandisa to Maroone 5 with a little Journey and Heather Williams mixed in.

This was one road trip I won’t soon forget. Summer is here and families are making plans to travel. I pray you will enjoy the road trip as much as the destination.

 

Rain, Rain, Go Away?

Grey skies cast shadows within our home. Lack of sunshine seems to penetrate our outlook. Rain taps on the glass to the tune of a lullaby. The rain strengthens and with it, our desire to be productive wanes.  Neither my children nor myself look poised to make any progress on our to-do list. We appear to be stuck in a dreary dreamland, half asleep and half awake.

We need the rain. The canal behind our house often looks so low; I often wonder when the fish will come asking for water. The vibrant green normally possessed by our grass has grown dull. I know we need the rain. However, my family doesn’t accomplish much on a rainy day. It is frustrating to see the to-do list grow without any check marks. I long to do something, accomplish something, but my eyelids seem heavy and my body tired.

I hope your days are sunny, but should the rain approach (figuratively or literally), here are some ideas:

1. Take a Nap. It sounds counterintuitive, but most moms I know could use a nap. Most moms run at 100 miles a minute. Think of a rainy day like a pit stop in your Nascar race. Take a break, pull over, rest, relax. You might wake recharged and ready to complete that to-do list.
2. Watch a Family Movie. The to-do list can wait. Put on a favorite family movie, pop some popcorn and enjoy. Take time to snuggle with your kids no matter their age or their size. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow and our children are only growing older quicker.
3. Declare a Snow Day. I know I said it is raining, but I live in South Florida. We don’t get snow. So, let’s pretend. Make some hot cocoa with extra marshmallows. Build a snowman out of marshmallows or ice cubes. Lay on the floor and pretend to make angels in the snow (this works better if your floor is dusty).
4. Read a Book. Find a favorite or something brand new and share the story with the family. Let your imagination carry you away.
5. Walk Outside. If it poses no safety issues, put on rain boots and run outside. Splash in a puddle. Laugh out loud. You’re kids might start by thinking you are crazy, but they will never forget it.

Maybe we don’t need the rain to go away. In fact, we may need to change our thinking to see the blessing the rain can be. So, what about you? What does your family do on a rainy day? Or, what idea will you try the next time it rains?

 

Tired Mom

Some nights I grow weary. I fall into bed physically unable to move and mentally unable to rest. My mind wanders constantly to the lengthy list of tasks yet to be completed. I ache to find purpose and wonder if my life resembles that of a hamster caught on an exercise wheel. Rest finally comes.

Renewed with a new day before me, I read Ephesians 4:1:
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.”

I admit I claim imprisonment at times. I long for all of our clothes to be clean and in their rightful place. I want dishes that clean themselves and put themselves neatly away. I could find freedom from dirty floors, dirty bathrooms and dust all together. It would also be helpful if my kids would never spill anything, say anything offensive and obey my every word.

No matter how hard my day, I am no prisoner. I am free. I am free in Christ. I am called to be a mom. The mom of 3 incredible children, God’s children. While those children come with a ton of work, I’ve been called. I must lead a life worthy of my calling. So, I will wash clothes, dishes, counters and floors. I will clean up spills while reminding myself and my children not to cry over spilled milk. I will correct speech and behavior. I will encourage, teach, love, bandage wounds, chauffeur, cook, and pray over my children. I will do this because I must lead a life worthy of my calling, for I have been called by God.

 

I’m Sorry

Confession: I’m a yeller by nature. Only on my game am I the mom I want to be. I envision quietly speaking to my child’s heart by looking them in the eyes. At the end of our cordial conversation, my words would be met with instant obedience, a child’s repentant heart and a big hug.

But, I’m not always on my game. Searching a disorganized counter, I search for the car key. A glance at the giant clock within my view heightens my anxiety. Late. Again. Out of the corner of my eye, I see it. A child wistfully playing unaware of the dilemma we find ourselves in. She begins whistling. I don’t like whistling. I especially don’t like whistling while I’m searching for the object that frees us from this capture.

STOP WHISTLING, PLEASE. As if yelling “please”, excuses me from yelling at this little one.

CAN’T YOU SEE I’M LOOKING FOR MY KEY? Knowing that “please” didn’t work, I try to reason with a preschooler.

Moments later, that little precious girl of mine, says, “Here’s the key, Mommy. I was holding it special for you.”

I never asked my preschooler if she had seen the key. I went on thinking finding the key was Mom Work and yet, I yelled at her when she went about doing Preschooler Work. There was only one thing to do.

I asked my little one to sit on my lap and I apologized. I told her I was wrong. I shouldn’t have yelled. I should have asked nicely. I asked for her forgiveness. She forgave my repentant heart and we shared that hug. Sometimes the moms provide the discipline and sometimes my kids provide me the discipline I need.

So, I encourage you, Momma, apologize when you need to. Matthew 12:25 tells us, “Every kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed. Every city or family that is divided against itself will not stand.” (emphasis mine)

Then, when you receive forgiveness, Rock On, Momma, Rock On!

 

Saving Money on Vacation

Waking up late, long naps, flip-flops, and no chores. That’s my idea of a great vacation. Of course, I’d also love 3 meals a day out at a restaurant. Not fast food, mind you. I want to be waited on. There is only one problem: money.

With the increase of gas prices, the cost of a simple family vacation is skyrocketing and many families find themselves unable to get away. My family, feeling the squeeze as well, tried an experiment this week. We wanted to see how much money we could save in one week. Here’s how it went:

1. We rented a condo. We have done this before & recommend www.vacationrentals.com or www.vrbo.com. This week we chose a 3 bedroom/2 bath condo at $100/night + tax. The local hotel is $139/night + tax. Many hotels now require our family of 5 to rent two rooms, making it $278/night + tax. Honestly, with two teens bigger than me, we wouldn’t fit in a standard hotel room anyway. Savings: $178/night X 5 nights = 890 (not including tax, but let’s keep it simple)

2. The hotel came with breakfast, so I purchased breakfast foods from Publix (on sale & with coupons) for the week. Our condo comes with a full kitchen, so we can store and cook food. Savings: -$30 (Includes cinnamon rolls, turkey sausage, eggs, milk, and bananas)

3. Our vacation included a visit to a theme park. We bought the annual passes on sale before the park opened for less than it would have cost our family of five for one week. One of the big-ticket items once you get in the park is FOOD. Afterall, you have to eat, right? The cost of lunch at the park runs $25 – $51 (Using $38 X 3 days = 114). Instead, we purchased a turkey breast and ham the week before Easter and cooked them before vacation. We were able to eat fresh turkey and ham sandwiches all week ($35). Savings: $79

4. Dinner is yet another expensive part of vacation. Just imagine how cheap vacation would be if we didn’t eat!! When we arrived to our destination, I already had my Publix list with the sales and coupons matched up for maximum savings. This was the hardest thing for me, because I love to be waited on, but I enjoyed the dinner conversation and didn’t worry that we might be laughing too loud for another table. Grocery cost at Publix $50 (included 3 meals) VS. average cost at a restaurant $60/meal. Savings: $130

5. Gas. We purchased two gas cards from Publix with our $10 off coupon, so we received $100 worth of gas for $80. Savings: $20

We did break down on our last day and have lunch out at Five Guys ($45) and we used a gift card to treat our family to Outback Steakhouse for the last night ($35, after the gift card).

Total savings: $1,009

That’s a lot of money we don’t have. :0) Happy Saving!!

 

Try Not To Laugh

I feel the laughter welling up inside like a shaken bottle of soda ready to explode. I try to hold it together as my precious little one conveys the most serious condition of a school mate.

“Mommy, we need to pray for Becca. She has a lizard, so she had to go home until her mommy takes care of her. Becca was so sad to miss school, but the teacher told us that her mommy knows how to take care of the lizard.”

Utterly confused, I respond, “Erica, how do you know she has a lizard?”

“Mom, because the teacher found,” Erica begins to whisper with her face contorted, “lizard poopy in Becca’s hair.”

“What?” I gasp.

“Becca has lizard poop in her hair and she can’t come back to school until it is all gone. Don’t worry, Mom, the teacher checked everyone’s hair, even mine. The teacher told me I didn’t have any. I told the teacher we had a dog, not a lizard, but she said she had to check everyone’s hair.”

“Mommy, I tried to tell her that we put the dog poop in a bag and throw it away, but the teacher kept saying she had to check.”

I can’t contain it anymore, I burst out laughing. Lizard poop = Lice. So glad my little one doesn’t have any!

 

Every Mom’s Dream

Every mom has been exhausted. Moms do the work that very few would sign up for. Moms are the ones that answer the cries in the middle of the night, they rock babies when their eyes and arms can barely stay awake. Moms are the first ones there in the middle of the night holding their sick little ones covered in puke. Moms then stay up late to clean up and cake on concealer in the morning.

So, for any mom that’s been up way too late and that today feels way too tired, here’s some commercial ideas we wish were true…

“You Deserve a Break Today” – McDonald’s actually offered organic food that tasted like fast food, so that we could feel great about what sometimes has to be dinner, because we forgot to take something out for dinner, AGAIN.

“We Sea Food Differently” – Red Lobster would become an interior design company, so mom’s would be seen as hip and in style when someone notices the dried baby food plastered to the wall.

“Melt in Your Mouth, Not In Your Hands” – M&Ms would oversee the FDA, ensuring that no likable food would melt in a child’s hands thus eliminating dirty handprints.

“Where Shopping is a Pleasure” – Publix would offer day care while moms shopped and candy would NEVER be at the checkout lane. AND, the bag boy would come home with you and put the groceries away, you are tired after all.

“Because You’re Worth It” – Loreal Cosmetics would deliver on their promise to make us moms look like super models, because we ARE worth it!

“A Diamond is Forever” – DeBears would price a diamond where it could last forever, but we wouldn’t have to pay for it forever. That way, husbands could appreciate our labor of love with some bling.

“15 Minutes Could Save You 15% or More” – GEICO would allow us to choose, 15% savings on everything or we could have 15 minutes of our lives back, probably to sleep!

These are just a few ideas, but I would love for you to add a few more. So, add your comment, it’s our dream!