A few weeks ago we made a decision.
A decision that is right for our family.
We prayed about it.
We talked about it.
And after much of both these things,
we finally decided….

There will be no more babies for us.

And while I know that it is the right decision for our family,
I am still sad.
So very, very sad.

As parents Chris and I feel it is so important to teach our children responsibility.
They were taught to do things for themselves at a very early age (they all started dressing themselves before age 2.)
We also expect them to help out around the house. They clean up their toys, make their own beds, clean up their dishes and put away their own laundry.

As they get older we are starting to expect even more out of them. One way that we decided to motivate our 7 yr old was by setting up a job chart for him on the fridge. Every night we would go through his day and place a magnet on the fridge corresponding with a job completed.

it’s nap time….
she should be sleeping
BUT
i can still hear her bouncing around up there.
i’ve already been up there a couple of times to tell her to go to sleep.

sadly (oh, so sadly)
she’s growing out of her naps.
most days she just has “quiet time” in her room
where she’ll read books or sing quietly.
but today
TODAY
she needs a nap.
boy, does she need one.

I am that mom.
That mom I swore I’d never be.
And the more I try to fight it, the more I seem to drown in it.

I can be easily frustrated
impatient
lazy
and sometimes I yell.
Sometimes I YELLLLLLLLLLLLLL at my kids.

Ugh.

I tend to start the day out great.
My girls usually get the best of me.
I can get through (most of) the day with a smile on my face and a skip in my step.
I can calmly live through the toddler tantrums.
I can hold my cool through my preschoolers screams when she doesn’t get her way.
I whistle as I do the dishes.
And hum while I do the laundry (well not really, but you get the idea.)

Most days I am the mom I want to be….. most days until about 4pm.