July 27, 2010

No Supermom...


But it's super to be a mom.

So it's only Tuesday, but it's been a bit of a rough week. My baby is sick again (throwing-up and that other bodily function that often accompanies throwing-up... I have a funny, but very gross story about that, but I'll save it for another time), my kids have just been grumpy, and I just haven't been feeling like I deserve a gold star for my parenting lately.

I've been spending some time the past couple of days perusing through other blogs, especially home schoolers' blogs trying to get some inspiration and ideas to use in our home. Well, there are a lot of pretty awesome moms out there, and they are wonderful examples to me. I mean, I've come across moms who write books, paint, sew, craft, bake, garden, speak to their congressmen, run their own businesses, and somehow find the time to update their blogs regularly, all while homeschooling their 3, 4, 5, or 8 children. Some do a few of those things, and some do almost all of them. I can't help but wonder if I missed the memo on the secret to creating more time. I feel like I'm doing pretty good if I just get a healthy dinner on the table for five days in a row.

The thing is, I know that these other moms don't have a magic trick for creating more time, so then I come to the conclusion that my lazy streak must be even worse than I thought. I know that it is pointless to compare ourselves to others, and I really try to not do that, but sometimes it's hard to not do that just a teeny little bit. I guess that is one of things we need to be careful of when it comes to looking to each other for inspiration. If it starts to feel like a competition, then something is wrong.

Anyway, I just saw this video this morning, and it has really realigned my perspective, and I know that today will be a great day. I'm so thankful for my faith, and the words spoken in this video.

4 comments:

  1. Let me tell you a little story...

    I watched you for three days in Boston, never once--not a single time--take a moment for yourself. If you weren't feeding, changing, carrying, playing, dressing, bathing, or catching a child, then that meant they were sleeping and you were thus doing their laundry, picking up their toys, and preparing their meals. I never saw you finish your meals, I never saw you without a child strapped to your back, and I never heard you complain, even just a teensy bit. You were, in every sense of the word, SUPERMOM. Josh and I talk about it all the time actually.

    And here's the thing about that memo on how to create more time. There isn't one. The reality is there are only 24 hours each day, and we have to choose wisely how we spend them. The more things you pack into your life, the less time you have to tend to the really important ones. It's just simple math. I suck at math, but I at least know that much.

    Also, please tell the story about the gross bodily functions. I want to hear it.

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  2. I totally agree with everything Challis said.

    I went through the same thing after looking at other mom blogs, thinking that I was completely worthless as a mom because I wasn't throwing huge birthday parties with handmade everythings, my house wasn't decorated to the nines etc. etc.

    Then I met one of the bloggers who I always thought had everything put together in her life. Yes, she did own her own business. Yes, her meals were tasty. Yes, she was creative. BUT, her house was a disaster (just like the rest of us) and her kids were starved for attention. My eyes were opened at that point and I realized that many of us can put only the good, wonderful things on our blogs making us look like the SUPERMOM, when in reality we all have our struggles with fitting everything into one day!

    I love that video, and it is such a great reminder of why we are here. Thank you for sharing!

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  3. Thanks for your comments, guys! You're the best!

    Challis - just so you know, things were a little bit more crazy while we were in Boston, simply because we were not at home. At home, I tend to take a little bit more time for myself. :)

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  4. Oh, yeah, and you forgot to mention that those women who paint, sew, run businesses, homeschool, and cook from scratch also manage to do it all looking better than they did at 18 because of their daily 5 am workouts!

    Challis & Hil are right! There is only so much time in the day and how you use it is what counts. When you try to "do it all" SOMETHING suffers, and when that "something" is parenting or family life, then the priorities are screwed up!

    I really do believe you CAN do it all, just not all at the same time. There is a right time and season for everything you want to accomplish, and sometimes the timing isn't in your hands, but the right time will come if you are pursuing a worthy goal.

    But ... you already know all this! I just wanted to say it!

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