Wonder Woman

My disclosure; I came across this book and thought it would be a great way to start my days. Though I love to read I have to be honest, I'm not a big non-fiction reader and I'm bad at devotions! I would like to be better. (In reading it I have figured out that it's not a Christian book but that doesn't mean it doesn't have good info.)

As moms we are still woman. Whether we work outside the home or inside the home, we are also wives, friends, daughters and more. Being a woman affects all the areas of our life. At home, work, even when we go to the store. Things can be stressful, we have time crunches, chores to get done, kids to pick up, dinner to get ready. The list goes on and on.

I thought this book fit great for me at this time. I would love to share some thoughts with you as well. I will revise and add my stories to some of the short chapters that Kristine Carlson writes.

WONDER WOMAN!

"I am Woman, I am invincible, I am tired!"

Does that fit you? I know it does me! I learned a while back that I had to cut things out of my schedule for my own sanity. I think all of us have overbooked ourselves at one time or another.

There are time when it can get busy for a season, say for t-ball. When t-ball season starts I know that for 6 weeks we will have a "season" of business. But when it's over we take a break to regroup, we don't schedule anything and enjoy doing nothing. I have learned those are okay, in moderation. They can even good time of busyness. I have great memories of the boys playing t-ball and my daughter playing soccer.

Yet, I have had long stretches of busyness as well. I worked in the nursery on Sundays at our church for 5 years. I have also served on Wens. nights for longer than that. On top of that I went MOMS group and now Bible study. Over a 5 year period of always serving (with good intentions) I felt run down! Yes, my list of involvement was impressive but inside, I was empty. I had to take a step back and realize what was important to do for me and my family. This is not my schedule any longer, I needed to change for me!

We all try to be Wonder Woman in some way. We serve everywhere we can, we never say no (unless we are already booked), or the kids are involved in everything possible so your always running, never enjoying. You have great intentions but there are a few steps Kristin Carlson mentions to help say good-bye to Wonder Woman.

1. Let go of the notion that you can do it all.

2. When you can't accomplish everything on you list, it doesn't mean your inadequate.

3. Be willing to ask for help when you need it.

Like I said yesterday I have finally realized that it's okay that I'm not a morning person, don't get up before the kids and that my house is not "perfect". I will always have things on my do-to list, no matter how much I finish but the kids will not always be here. This is only a season and then the season is gone.

Most of all #3 has been something to this day I have a hard time doing. I have the best in-laws, willing to take my kids and help out at any time but I never ask! Sometimes to my disadvantage. I need a break or help. This week I wanted to go school to help sign my daughter up for High School. It took everything in me to ask my mother-in-law to help. I feel bad asking someone else to help me so I can do something, even if it's something important! But as I get older I get better at asking and say good-bye to another piece of Wonder Woman !

Take a look today and see if there are there is a piece of Wonder Woman to say good-bye to. If you have found a balance for you and your family, that's awesome! I am still working on it everyday, sometimes I repeat my mistakes but that's okay! We are all growing and thank God that he is patient with us! Love you guys!

The Image of a Mother!

These past few days have been filled with preparation for High School for my oldest, Aryianna, who will be starting in the fall! (Talk about stressing out!) It hit me last night that she only has 4 years before she could potentially be moving on in life, out of our house and into her future! 4 years! My youngest isn't quite 4 years old yet! The comparison is just crazy. It makes me sad to realize how fast it has gone! Yes, there are others that will still be at home but that doesn't make having one go any easier! Yes it can be exciting but...well you know. I have heard for years to enjoy the early years because it goes so fast but it's amazing how you don't think about it till you see them growing...and when I look at her now I realize, time really went by fast!

I have struggled with the image of what a "House Mom, House Wife" should look like. But I think, and I say I think, I have learned that not having a clean house is not an atrocity. I have kids, things get busy. I don't have to work my fingers to the bone just to prove to myself that I can. Cause be real, who cares but me. At least in our house we don't have a constant stream of company (though if we do I like to be ready for them!) But our house is definitely "lived in".

Now I have to say that we still pick up daily, do what we need, we have our Saturday clean days but I have learned to be more flexible. Some days we have plans, so it gets moved around or skipped all together. But now I don't feel so bad for it. Right now in this season of life I will never be "on top" of everything. There will always be loose end, more to finish, another project to start. There is always laundry, dishes, dusting to be done. But there will not always be a kid to kiss, cuddle and hug. Cause even when I ask them if they will always let me hold them tight and kiss them all over; you and me know they won't. It's just how it goes.

With that I can't say that I don't dream of a clean house, everything done and I'm ahead of the game but that day may never come. Who knows. All I know is that it's not for now. So, when I can't wake up 2 hours before the kids, have devotions in, a work out in and be this cherry mother who wakes the kids up to the smell of bacon and eggs! I realize that it's okay.

Motherhood is more than I ever would have thought. Along with all the love and enjoyment of life and seeing this little person that looks like you or has your personality. Motherhood is also the hardest things physically and mentally than I could have ever dreamed. All the things you thought you'd never do to your children, you fell like you've done worse! All the things you thought you'd let your children do, you don't. You child not views you the way you did when you were a kid! They think you were never their age and had endless money on your plastic card! They tell your business to others and throw fits in the middle of the store like your on a t.v. show waiting to be Pranked!

BUT...In it all. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I would rather add more kids to my mix before I took any of it away!