“Is today Thursday already? I can’t believe it! Where did yesterday go?” ~Ethan, just a little while ago.
Oh yes, yesterday….was a tiring day for sure. By the end of the day I was yelling. It was a typical busy day but then at about 5:30 my patience was gone. The house was a disaster and I started telling the children some specific chores to do. Grace started complaining because she had to clear the table AND sweep the floor. I was nursing Seth and started yelling….Seth was disturbed and let out his own yell (BAAAAAH!) which shocked us all. He sounded just like me.
Then, Jacob needed help with his typing. I put Seth down and went in my room to help him. I was already frustrated because the website was giving us a problem and then in came Caleb to tell me, “DAVID’s CRYING!”
I heard David starting to cry hard so I ran out to the livingroom. I didn’t see him at first so I thought he was stuck someplace, broken. Then I saw him on the floor holding his head and crying. I started yelling again, I was afraid, “WHAT’S WRONG? WHAT HAPPENED?” He answered, as he sobbed, “STOP YELLING!” It was pitiful. I had to say sorry to him later, after things settled down. It turned out that he was running (YOU WERE RUNNING! YOU KNOW DADDY DOESN’T WANT YOU RUNNING IN THE HOUSE!)to get to his chair before Caleb could get to it and he pitched into the end table cheek first. I thought for sure his jaw was damaged. It had instantly swelled up. I ran to get him an ice pack and motrin and put him on the couch with a blanket.
Seth was still waiting to finish eating so I scooped him up and sat on the other couch, shaking with relief that David was okay. Caleb was still running around so I started yelling again, “CALEB STOP RUNNING GET OVER HERE AND SIT BY ME!” He came. “AND STOP WIGGLING SO MUCH! SIT STILL!” He sat still for 10 seconds before he said, “I’m thirsty, I need a drink, can I have a drink please?” I started laughing and crying at the same time. He stared at me. “MOM! You need to say YES!” I was having a meltdown. “DOES IT LOOK LIKE I CAN GET YOU A DRINK RIGHT NOW? I’M FEEDING SETH!” “GO TO THE BATHROOM AND GET A DRINK OF WATER!” So off he went.
Then, David was cold from his ice pack and wanted a bath. He had hurt himself so I felt like I had to say yes to whatever he wanted. So I said, “Can you do it yourself?” He said he could and so I stayed on the couch to nurse the baby and David went off to take his own bath.
After a while, I realized Caleb hadn’t come back and so I sent Jacob to find him. Jacob came out with Caleb, who was soaking wet, with his clothes on, from head to toe. Also, there was water running on the floor and dripping through the floor into the basement.
“OH FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE! CALEB YOU TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF!! YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF!”
“I can’t! I can’t take my clothes off!” He came near to me and got my leg wet.
Then, he accidently stepped right on my foot. It hurt like the dickens.
“CALEB!!!! YOU JUST STEPPED ON MY FOOT AND IT HURT! GET THOSE CLOTHES OFF RIGHT NOW!” I got up to get “something” (let’s call it a wooden spoon) from the kitchen.
It was amazing. He got those clothes off in 10 seconds. Then I had a naked little boy on my hands.
“RUN! RUN UPSTAIRS AND I’LL BE RIGHT UP TO GET YOU DRESSED”
(in the meantime, Jacob took care of the water downstairs)
It was at that point when I was at the end of my rope. I got Caleb dressed (he dared to ask me if he could have a bath! I said, “You already had one, standing up with all your clothes ON!”)
Then, I called my Mom. I shut the door on the children in the house and sat on the porch and told her all about it. How could she laugh like that, I don’t know.
Actually, I’m laughing about it this morning, too.
I did get dinner made. The potatoes were done 1/2 an hour before the fish but it still tasted fine.
Rich got home at 6:30 and when we were done eating I went to bed with Seth, who FINALLY got to eat in peace and quiet, and we napped together until 8:30. By that time the other children were in bed and the house was quiet.
All evening long, and this morning, I have this hymn in my head:
“IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL
WHEN WE SEE JESUS!”
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This morning we are getting ready to go out. Jacob has an ORTHODONTIST appointment. He will soon have braces. Where is the time going? “Just yesterday” I was chasing him around like I chase Caleb today. Jacob loved to run at that age and was running constantly. Now he is starting to get acne and will soon have braces. I was crying about it last night, but this morning I’m wishing he had his driver’s license so he could drive himself to his appointment.
I have no energy to take him and 4 other children into that office this morning so I’m going to sit in the vehicle with the children and let him go in himself.
Believe it or not, we did make a nice memory yesterday.
We finally had a picnic with my special Homer Laughlin China that I bought last year for a song at an antique store.
I made a big bowl of pasta. It was noodles, with peas, lots of butter, salt, pepper, and a few big handfuls of parmesan cheese.
And we ate it on the grass by the pond.
With Bob, the turtle
Ethan took this picture of me and my precious Jacob. My sweater is on wrong-side out.
That’s David running behind us. He was trying to catch turtles all afternoon, without success and saying, “I don’t know HOW I did it when I was four!” Ethan was the one who caught Bob.
After lunch, the older children disappeared and I sat on my swing with Seth. I could hear the little boys playing in the garage and I thought I should really go see what they were doing.
That’s what I was thinking when Jacob snuck up on me and took this picture.
It’s small wondrous moments like these that keep me going. Sure I’m busy and sometimes yell but God is gracious, and peppers my days with many many blessings. Blessings like the back of my little baby’s neck, just ready for my nose to sniff and my lips to kiss.
Good to be Home 
Oh, being a Mom is the drivingest crazy, most wonderful blessed occupation.
Have another great great day.
I had to laugh at the wooden spoon part:) I’m glad I’m not the only one that will get that:) You always have the best posts, even if it was a hard day. I hope things go well with the ortho. The pasta salad sounds so good!!
WOW poor David, poor Mommy!
Hope today you just relax and find comfort in knowing you can escape with me in the morning for the whole day because you have the day off remember??? ~Sissy
I had to smile when I read your post,there’s never a dull moment when there are children around…….
Oh sounds like such a real life day. Those happen to me more than I wish…….but like you said it will be worth it…..it is worth it……somedays it is just hard to see. Blessings to you on you and your little ones.
I love that song, “It Will Be Worth It All”. Sometimes I have to remind myself of that. I love reading your posts and remembering when my kids were little and the house was FULL of chaos. Sometimes I long for those days, but most days I’m thankful that they are past and we are on to a new season in our lives.
Every mother’s secret power to motivate children to obedience is a wooden spoon. 🙂 When I was little my mom would bring her wooden spoon TO CHURCH (on Sunday Nights when we didn’t have childrens services) in her purse. When my sister and I started being too noisy, wiggly or destracting my mom would tap her purse with her toe…..and we would sit up straight and good. (lol:)I remember that to this day………….and goodness….if she ever had to take us OUT of the service to “visit the bathroom” she would bring her purse with her. (LOL)
I was CRACKIN’ UP when I read your post!! Too funny! I kept thinking to myself ………”gee other Mama’s have days like this too” I don’t know why that comforts me
I love the pictures of you and your sweet little darlin’. Adorable~
~Cinnamon
Shanda,I love coming to your house. :o) Everything is so real….”loud family announcements” and all. :o) -that one made me laugh. I think that picture of your house with the laundry hanging out is adorable. You should frame it for your laundry room and write on it, “This too shall pass.” ;o) My mom told me that she misses the days of us being little but she never, never, never ever has missed all the laundry. :o) The thing that I love the most about visiting you is your love for the Lord! Thank you for communicating that in a real way! love,Becky
oh mercy. I have meltdowns and i am completely single!!! So its okay 🙂
Oh Shanda. In days like this you either laugh or cry or maybe both at the same time. That’s all you can do.
I’m so glad i’m not the only one who had one of those days yesterday! My kids were so ungrateful and disobedient! But at least baby was doing good 🙂
I try to remember that one day i’ll miss this.
Yea!!! I’m not alone!!! Yea!!!
Is it awful that I am thankful I’m not the only one with those days. They always seem to happen when my husband is away 😉 It’s amazing what “something” (wooden spoon) can accomplish. My oldest just turned 13 and I too, am not the happiest about it. Praise God through His grace she is such a blessing and will be getting braces soon too!
Oh, the real life of us moms:). I needed that post. I have PMS and feel like I have a short fuse right now…I feel like a “good ol yell” is right on the tip of my tongue and it takes all I have not to let it fly at the dumbest things. I think the bathing incident would have sent me to the funny farm….LOL. Thanks for being real. I guess some day we will beg for these days back.
Thanks for the picture of your day with all its stories and ups and downs! All part of the fabric of family life. I so enjoy you all. Little boy necks are sweet for sure Love the eating on the grass pictures!
We had the same kind of day yesterday!! By the end of the day I was praying that the Lord would give me strength!! It’s wonderful to call out to our Lord who hears our prayers.
Have a great day, today!! By the way, the pasta looks so yummy!
Tales from your everyday life just as (or more) entertaining as any fiction by Lucy Maud Montgomery! I LOVED the pictures – the one of you with Seth on the swing was so precious, I could just feel the quiet sweetness of that moment between you two. And eating supper on the grass – now, isn’t that an example of timely wisdom from the Lord that you would never find in a parenting book! I guess Grace was spared from clearing a table AND sweeping the floor last night! LOL Thanks for sharing. I hope you slept long and well last night! Oh, and I saw your sister’s comment above – hope you two have a wonderful time together this weekend. ❤ ❤ ❤
I came to read your post from someone else who had recommended it on Xanga and I was very encouraged by your down to earth style of writing and kind of not trying to sound like everything is always so wonderful at your house. Cuz it isn’t always wonderful at any of our houses. Let’s just say your post made me glad that I decided to stop with 3 kids! My 4 year old is very much in the stage of “I can’t do it, you have to help me!” Just reading through your day I could about feel my blood pressure rising and the stress getting to the point where you just want to yell at everyone in sight! Anyway, just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading about your day and I’m glad you can laugh about it today!
We all have “Jonah” days, don’t we? :)I sure have had my share! I can relate and want you to know you’re not alone ~ 🙂
Thanks so much for your honesty! I had to smile at your day 🙂 being mom is no piece of cake! keep hanging in there!
Oh Shanda…what a busy mamma you are!
I am so glad your mother laughed, because I was feeling a bit guilty about laughing out loud by that point. I feel better to know that she laughed too.
Ask Rich for his take on things. As for me, I think it good that boys who get bonked up will actually heal without the Motrin and all the mothering. I think moms need to allow them to be responsible for some modicum of consequence. It’s great that you have such compassion on them. but some big lessons in life revolve around dealing with consequences. Dads are different. I’m much more protective of Jenny than of our boys. Every now and then, I’d warn (threaten) them that they’d gone too far in bothering, arguing, or being inconsiderate to Mom.Just think, God get’s to hear all of our prayers, like an enormous family of kids in some state of need.
Yep, that’s real. I was just on the phone with my mom today, and she was laughing at me too. I had asked Sarah if she needed a diaper (I know, I know, she should be potty trained), and in response, she stuck her hand down in her diaper and pulled it back out. Sure enough, her fingers were brown. My mother seemed to get great glee from listening in on that little tidbit!! I was just thinking about those dishes the other day and wondering if you had ever had a picnic with them. So glad you were able to do that! Looks like someone didn’t care for peas. Can’t say that I blame them. I don’t like cooked peas either!
okay, now I know I’m not totally crazy! I’ve had so many days when my life sounds exactly like yours! It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who has days when I end up using a tone of voice that I wish I hadn’t, and all sorts of mayhem reigneth! Truly life as a mom is taxing beyond words! Love the pics of you and the children enjoying the picnic, and you on the swing with baby… Hope today is more peaceful for you, dear lady!!
These are the kind of days I look at my children and say, “What’s wrong with you???? You mak-a me kerrrr-azy!” They laugh. I don’t! It’s usually better the next day.
Your swing is the cutest! as is the pic of mommy and baby -precious
Laughing about your mom laughing…I remember when I was newly married and I had dented my huband’s beloved car. Frantic I called my dad…and he started laguthing! And just like your story, it all worked out OKToday Jenny was telling me her own tale of frustration with lack of communication and one of her sons…she stopped, laughed and said ” I sound just like Mom!”Each generation goes through these things…good thing God has blessed us with good friendships to help us along
I’m sorry but I do also find it very very funny. Lack of sleep catching up with you? That picture of you and Jacob is so great Shan! Jyllian and Erika (and mom, Michael, and victor) are coming over soon. Love you, Lish