"I guess it's your job"

This week I went grocery shopping with my 3 kids, for explanation of how that usually goes down read here

I'm in the soup isle, trying to find just the right "Chicken Noodle" my daughter is laughing hysterically, my 5 y/o is making a cape out of his coat and my 7 y/o is making fart sounds with his mouth.

In my - I've said this a thousand times today, I'm tired and I'm trying to read this label - voice I said to my 7 y/o.

"Please stop making nasty sounds"

The man to my left, who is also reading soup labels, erupts in a belly laugh.

Because I'm sure NOTHING on that soup can could be that funny I assume he's laughing at me.

So I said:

"I know he's a boy, but SOMEONE has to teach him manners"

He keeps laughing and says:

"I guess that's your job"

Hmmmm, guess so.

You tell you're kids to chew with their mouths shut - even though it will only last 5 seconds

to keep their hands to themselves - again 5 seconds

use their inside voices - until something funny happens . . . in 5 seconds

wipe their muddy shoes before walking onto the clean floor - this never happens

put the dirty clothes INTO the basket - my kids average 50%

don't giggle when someone farts - will this EVER happen!?

Don't wipe their mouths on their sleeves - again with the 5 seconds

I say these things because I'm their mom and SOMEONE has to teach them manners!

Please tell me someday it will sink in and MAYBE they will finish a meal with a clean shirt.

The good thing today: quoted from my 7 y/o "did you know if you clean really fast you get done quicker?!"

I literally head smacked myself

Teresa

Be a happy mother!

One of my favorite movies of all time is "The Trouble With Angels."

One part in particular struck me the last time I watched . . .

it's about being a mother.

While I DO want to die wealthy I don't want to die young ;)

My favorite line is when Mother Superior is hugging the crying elderly woman and she says:

"Be happy. That's the greatest gift a mother can give her children"

I think it's easy to be hard on ourselves, and heaven knows many of us are plagued with body image issues and low self esteem.

You must remember children are sponges and you are the role model they will emulate.

Be happy for them.

Be confident.

Love yourself.

Smile.

No mother wants to pass along her insecurities to her children, but you will.

When you have a minute read "A Mother Heart" by Julie Beck

The good thing today: my son said he likes my soft tummy.

(In my head I said "well that makes one of us!" but I thanked him anyway)

Teresa

Sacrifice

In October LDS General Conference 2010 Elder Holland gave a beautiful talk titled

"Because of your faith"

Here is an excerpt that I found to speak directly to me.

"When I was called to serve a mission back before the dawn of time, there was no equalization of missionary costs. Each had to bear the full expense of the mission to which he or she was sent. Some missions were very expensive, and as it turned out, mine was one of those.

As we encourage missionaries to do, I had saved money and sold personal belongings to pay my own way as best I could. I thought I had enough money, but I wasn’t sure how it would be in the final months of my mission. With that question on my mind, I nevertheless blissfully left my family for the greatest experience anyone could hope to have. I loved my mission as I am sure no young man has ever loved one before or since.

Then I returned home just as my parents were called to serve a mission of their own. What would I do now? How in the world could I pay for a college education? How could I possibly pay for board and room? And how could I realize the great dream of my heart, to marry the breathtakingly perfect Patricia Terry? I don’t mind admitting that I was discouraged and frightened.

Hesitantly I went to the local bank and asked the manager, a family friend, how much was in my account. He looked surprised and said, “Why, Jeff, it’s all in your account. Didn’t they tell you? Your parents wanted to do what little they could to help you get started when you got home. They didn’t withdraw a cent during your mission. I supposed that you knew.”

Well, I didn’t know. What I do know is that my dad, a self-educated accountant, a “bookkeeper” as they were called in our little town, with very few clients, probably never wore a new suit or a new shirt or a new pair of shoes for two years so his son could have all of those for his mission. Furthermore, what I did not know but then came to know was that my mother, who had never worked out of the home in her married life, took a job at a local department store so that my mission expenses could be met. And not one word of that was ever conveyed to me on my mission. Not a single word was said regarding any of it. How many fathers in this Church have done exactly what my father did? And how many mothers, in these difficult economic times, are still doing what my mother did?

To you, Mom and Dad, and to all the moms and dads and families and faithful people everywhere, I thank you for sacrificing for your children (and for other people’s children!), for wanting so much to give them advantages you never had, for wanting so much to give them the happiest life you could provide."

I am a working mother, I love my job and am grateful for the opportunity I had to get an education. I have 3 beautiful children who are the center of my world and because they need a roof over their heads and clothes on their backs I work.

Some mothers can stay at home full time, but that is a luxury I don't yet have. I want my children to know how to work, that sacrifices MUST be made and that I will do anything for their happiness and wellbeing.

The good thing today: I had less guilt clocking in for work this week.

Teresa