Hail the Conquering Hero!

For all the working moms

I got to work Thursday, sat down at my desk, closed my eyes and wondered-- "Why am I doing this? Am I just a glutton for punishment?" And when I say 'doing this' I am referring to being a working mother.

So, some background and then I will share what my heart told me.

Raliegh threw two of her BIGGEST and probably only (maybe I'm blocking one or two out but this is not a regular occurrence at our house) temper tantrums this week. Mark is away hunting. Normally when I tell her, "Ok, let's go to school. Or let's go to the Y" etc she is gun-ho. Here's a piece of a family email I wrote this week....

So, this morning Raleigh wanted a kid's tums (she likes the taste) and I told her no-- we don't take medicine everyday just to take it. She threw a fit on the floor and I told her she needed to go to her room to throw the fit. WEll, I had to carry her into her room and I heard her making a ruckus. I peeked in on her and she was punching her bed saying, "I'm not happy. I'm punching the bed!" Later she came out to me and was hitting her leg in exasperation saying "I want a little boy medicine and you won't give it to me." I said, "I'm not talking about the medicine until you apologize to me for being grumpy." She said, "I'm not grumpy I'm sad!!!" I kind of laughed inside because she had me-- I was thinking, 'well I can't tell her she's not allowed to be sad'. So I said her behavior was inappropriate even though she was sad and she said she was sorry. Then she said, "You need to say you're sorry to me because you won't give me medicine." I said, "I AM sorry I can't give you any medicine today. I"m soooo sorry it has made you so upset but that's no way to treat mommy, etc."

Then yesterday I won't even get into because it was a BRUTAL tantrum and I really think she was just tired. But, I had to get to a conference and get them over to the neighbors and of course was late. My mood was good however because Wednesday at bible study we read Acts 16. This is the passage where the apostles were redirected from their mission many times and eventually thrown in jail and beaten. All the while they had a great attitude. Well, I've heard this story since I was a little kid. But this time I was convicted as my life is not a FRACTION of how difficult it was for them and yet I cry in frustration (like Raleigh) saying, "I'm angry. I'm hitting the bed."

One year, shortly after Mark and I got married, Amy sent me these pajama pants that said, "It's all about me." I used to believe that WHOLEheartedly. At least those who loved me and surrounded me made me feel special and loved. This year, however, I have become a bit more tempered. I put the pants on and laugh. If I can think like the apostles, "This is not about us. This is about God's plan and his purpose for me." Then I can be a mom, do my job, be a wife, etc etc with less frustration.

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that Mark shot a beautiful bull and is on his way home with a truck full of meat and won't be needing to hunt for the rest of the season!! :)

Godparents

Last weekend we hung out with Mark's Godparents-- Knute and Annie Lee from Albuquerque, New Mexico. They were in Coeur d' Alene, close enough drive, and we wanted to spend some time with them. Although I never doubted all the HYPE Mark portrayed about these people I had never experienced it for myself as we were busy getting married the first interaction I had with them. Well, the hype is true. I had two VERY unruly/obnoxious children to interfere with the relational aspect but when I had the opportunity I just soaked it in. They are sooooo RELATIONAL! I was so happy to just listen to stories about their lives and about their knowledge/experience with "Mark Marvelous" (that's what they called him). Knute is EXACTLY how Mark will be when he gets a little older. He's just a brute of a man but oh-- such a softy! And what struck me the most is that he loved his wife and KNEW her-- strengths and weaknesses. I loved this family. Mom is strong and squared-away and Dad is.... Well, he's the perfect man because he is so much like my husband so why wouldn't I call him the perfect father/husband.

Ok, I can't rave about this family any longer as Gracyn is huffing a helium balloon so I need to go take it away from her.

We had a happy reunion with Daddy. Raleigh kicked and beat him until she was sweaty. I really think she needs to wrestle daily!!




When did someone decide 3 1/2 was old enough for school?? And who was that person?? I'd like to personally thank them.

Raleigh started school today. She fought and argued me into the car and I was pretty nervous that she would be resistant and the whole process would be more stress than it was worth. But when we got there, she sat down, and didn't even acknowledge my departure. Since I picked her up four hours ago she hasn't said more than 10 words. She's exhausted! It makes me wonder what she was like at school as I haven't seen her this worn out in a LONG time. Not since swim lessons last winter.

God bless pre school.

A Rose by Any Other Name Is A... Wildflower?

I hate the label "crazy". I've had that label all my life and it annoys me when people say someone is crazy. These last few days, however, I've been struggling to find another appropriate name for Raleigh.

Last night, 10 pm, I told her it was time to go to bed. She started jumping on the mini-trampoline in our living room and said, "Mom I want some juice." I said, "No juice Raleigh." She said, "How about some candy?" I said, "No Raleigh, no more sugar you've had enough today." She said, "How about a cookie?" And we carry on like this for a few minutes all the while she's boing, boing, boinging on the trampoline until she starts chanting, "I want sugar. I want sugar." Jump, jump, jump. I just started laughing at the insanity.

Tonight we got done from dinner and I said, "Raleigh please go in the bathroom and wash your hands." She starts whispering and bowing herself out of the kitchen saying, "yesss massser, yessss masser mommy (yes master mommy)." What made it even funnier was that she was wearing little mermaid underwear, plastic high-heel shoes and a t-shirt that said 'cuter than most'.

Ahhh, are three year olds supposed to be this funny? She is such a sassifrass. So much personality. I wonder where she gets it from. Her crazy mother????

Rolling into the fall

Sadness that summer is coming to a close! We did SO much this summer. Mark and I went to Whitefish last weekend and rafted The North Fork (river in Glacier). We saw 5 black bear along the river and one of the cubs was an albino -- she looked JUST like a polar bear.

Raleigh starts preschool Monday and Wednesdays next week. She's excited, we went to an open house last week.

The weather is settling in for fall and I'm not going to lie, I experienced some grief last weekend when I knew summer was coming to a close. Here are some fun pics of the girls.

I think we're going to start our house next weekend. I will post pictures of the progress as we make it. I'm pretty stinkin' excited to finally have one of Mark's houses!