The One with the Stressed Mama and the Verse that Reminds Me It's All Okay

Y'all, what a day.  What a week.  I have this amazing job that allows me to be off some during the summer.  This is my first summer to have this luxury.  I'm sold.  It's been so nice. ....but this week has been testing this Mama.  

Like today.... I wanted this happy, summer day spent with Mommy... Yay!!! Let's go to the park, let's bake cookies, let's sing songs and dance, read books, yada yada yada....   Except I feel like I spent the entire day getting onto my kids for fighting or not listening or telling them to put their shoes up again for the millionth time when I know they know where they go........ 

I want my kids to grow up remembering their childhood with me as a fun, loving time.... I don't want them to remember me as a stressed Mama that only cared if their rooms were clean.

It's so hard to find the balance amongst the chaos.  I want a tidy home, I want to teach the kids to be responsible, but honestly I look around sometimes and just throw my hands up because I feel like I can never get ahead and stay there.

I know these days won't last forever.  I know I need to enjoy playing with my kids and not worry about the dishes.... but surely there is a way to do both?  

Maybe I've seen too many Instagram feeds with happy Mamas and their happy babies and their spectacular homes and they always look so darn cute.  Maybe I look around and see these Moms who have grown kids and think, Now they have it all together...... they look great, spend time with their girlfriends and don't seem as frazzled as I feel.

At night when I finally plop down on our sofa....I think when am I going to get this Motherhood thing right? and now I'm about to add one more little one to our nest.  

I'm thankful that tomorrow is a new day and I get a chance to be better, to not get upset about the messes and to be the Mom that I want my kids to remember.  

I'm thankful for the peace that can come over this Mama's heart when I remember who is in control...

I'm thankful for lessons that can be learned through studying God's word and the reminders from Him that we are not to be anxious about anything.  

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

xoxoxoxo.....

The One with All Kinds of Things

Over the past few months I have made some incredible connections and friendships with several other bloggers...

I would like to share each of them with you.

They are so sweet and have blessed my life.

First, I would like to introduce you to 

Elizabeth from All Kinds of Things...

She has a wonderful blog post called Five Things to Take to a New Mom --- It's a must read!

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Welcome! I am an elementary teacher turned mommy of two - Here you'll find "All Kinds of Things" about my day-to-day!

www.allkindsofthingsblog.com

From recipes and DIY projects to organizational tips and thoughts on faith and parenting, my blog includes "all kinds of things" that will encourage readers in their day-to-day journey!

A Little Bit About Me: http://www.allkindsofthingsblog.com/p/about-elizabeth.html

To read this full post click HERE...

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Instagram

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Facebook

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Pinterest

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Bloglovin'

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I hope you guys enjoy Elizabeth's blog!!

She is a sweetheart and posts some really great stuff...

Goodnight, friends!

Good News Friday {#9}

I know school starts on Monday....and most of us are sad to see summer end.

We are sad for our kids to start another year....another summer marked off the 18 summers we get with them.....

but.. maybe every once in a while you feel like this:::???

Happy Weekend!

xoxoxoxoxo.....

The One with 1st Day of School Traditions

Welcome to our Back to School Blog Hop!

I have teamed up with 11 other bloggers and we are sharing some fun ideas with you today!

I am so excited that you stopped by.

Can you believe that school is about to start and the summer is coming to an end? Me either! 

We have had the best time together as a family this summer, but I am ready to start another exciting school year.

Olivia will be in 3rd grade and Jonah Bear will be going into Kindergarten.  

Today I am going to share with you our 1st Day of School Traditions.... 
To me, the 1st Day of School is a holiday and so we treat is as such!!

1) Back to School Breakfast

We will be having pancakes complete with a candle for them to blow out.
and of course balloons! We always celebrate with balloons!

image via www.potterandbutler.com

2) Before School Pictures

This year I am going to add these chalkboard printables to our pictures.  I like how I can print them now and they will be the same each year.  In this same post she also has these printables for the last day of school!

via Yellow Bliss Road


3) Gift for the Teacher

I am going to bake some cookies and put them in a Mason
 jar with a cute tag this year!

Then after school we are going to enjoy some cookies and milk as well!

4) Back to School Interview

I started this tradition last year with Olivia.
 This year I will do it again, but with both of them since 
Jonah will be starting Kindergarten.

via Petite Lemon

I hope you have found some ideas to help you have a 
fun beginning to a new school year.

Check out the other blogs and don't forget about the GIVEAWAY - $60 TARGET GIFT CARD!!!!!

Here are the other bloggers....

Start of the Year Basket by Garay Treasures’s 

 1st Day of School Traditions by  Mrs. Coach Sims 

 10 of the Best Back to School Teacher Gifts by Tales of Beauty for Ashes 

Back to School Fashion by Words About Waverly 

 Creating a Portable Homework Station by Living In This Season 

 Take Care of the Teacher by bybmg

 5 Easy Fine Motor Skills Activities byOur Life on a Budget

School Room by Abiding in Grace 

 Daily School Readiness Routine by Mila’s Milieu 

 Back to School Party by All Kinds of Things 

 Back to School Organization by Morganize With Me

 Preparing an Anxious Child by Almond Place

The One with Encouraging Our Children

Raising our children is something that we only get one shot at.  At our house I feel like I am at times more of a Drill Sargent than a Mommy.  We are so busy running around I find myself saying Hurry Up or Let's go, let's go, let's go.... Or the limited time we are at home it's do your homework, eat your supper, take your bath, brush your teeth, read a book, go to bed...... Boom, Boom, Boom.  

I try to be conscious of this.  I try to let them linger and let them enjoy their play time in the backyard or doing imaginary play.  They are only little once.

They are so precious.  I look at their sweet faces and I think I can't believe you won't be little forever.  Time passes so fast.

I feel like 85% of the time I'm a pretty good Mama....

I try to teach them to be kind.  I teach them scripture.  I try to let them be kids while also teaching them life lessons that will benefit them later on in life.  I try to teach them manners and responsibility.  I try to teach them how important school and a good education are.  I show them love and tell them that's the Greatest Commandment...

but that 15% -  I let life get things all crazy and I don't react in the best way.  I raise my voice to make a point.  I rush them.  I get distracted by emails and social media.  I criticize instead of encourage.

Oh how I wish I would encourage 100% of the time.  

I think that is so powerful.

A friend of mine on Facebook shared this post from Hands Free Mama and it is so good.  Just a good reminder on how to use encouragement towards our little ones....even our older ones benefit more from encouragement than anything else!!! :)

To Build (or Break) a Child's Spirit

I have seen the book, "Hands Free Mama," floating around....I think it will be my next purchase.  I also want to add her blog to my list on Bloglovin'!!! Such good posts.

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In our small town yesterday there was a horrible accident that involved one of our young boys.  As a mama, I just can't imagine how heartbreaking it must be to learn that your child has been injured or in pain.  Fortunately, he is doing well and resting before he has to have another surgery this week.

I am so proud of his friends and teammates that

 took great care of him.  

Prayers are being said just for you, Austin!  

We hope you feel better real soon!!!

The One with the Missing Key

This morning was quite eventful at our house.  I gathered up all of my things and headed to my car to begin the 30 mile journey to take the kids to school.  Then I discovered that my car key was not in its usual spot.  How is this possible I thought.... I almost always put my key in the same spot.  I am not super organized I have just had this same kind of morning too many times and have (for the most part) learned my lesson.  After 10 minutes of looking I stop and prayed... {God I have no idea why this is happening or what lesson I am supposed to learn from it, but I am in this moment to learn and I have faith I will find this key.  I won't get upset or freak out.  I know we are going to be late and life will go on}.  Shortly after that I remembered that I did in fact put it in its usual spot (high five), but Olivia had grabbed it to get into the trunk....after some baby doll related item I am sure. 

When looking for a lost item...I always try to channel Bill Cosby.  Do you remember this episode? It is what I always think about while hunting down a beloved item.

I had Olivia retrace her steps and we finally found it in the back seat of my car with some of her baby doll stuff. 

So this parenting thing...  it is something.  It turns out this morning the lesson wasn't for me, but for me to teach my daughter. 

I finally got her to school, but before taking her in I had her crawl in the front seat with me so I could begin my talk (she was already late, right?)

I began by telling her that she made a mistake, but that it was ok because everyone makes mistakes.  I told her that no one was perfect except for Jesus.  Then I told her that there were two things about mistakes...

1) You have to learn from your mistakes.

I told her that most importantly she needed to remember this morning and if she found herself in a similar situation to remember to not do the same thing, to do better.  I asked her what she could have done differently and her reply was that she could've put the key back up where she got it. Yes!!! Exactly!!!

2) You have to be accountable for your mistakes.

I told her that she had to be honest about her mistakes in life and be responsible for them.  I told her that when mistakes happen she couldn't blame her brother or anyone else.  I told her that she just had to admit them, try to do better and move on. 

As I sat there talking to my 7 year old daughter I wondered if any of this was sinking in.  I hope so because I really believe that if kids can just learn from their mistakes and take ownership of them it would save themselves and their parents a little bit of heartache later on.

I know that in parenting it is much easier to loosen the reigns later on than it is to tighten them up.  So yes, I am a little strict on my kids and I do try to continuously teach them life lessons in everyday things.  I want them to know how to handle situations before they find themselves in them and don't know what to do. 

This week I also came across this blog post on parenting that I thought was wonderful.  If you have time click on the link and read it.  It made me feel a lot better about not always feeling like the "fun parent."  Someone told me once that if your kids aren't mad at you at least once a week then you aren't doing your job.

Hang in there parents! I know that it's not always easy, but.... as long as we are consistent and we let our kids know that we love them... things will be just fine!