Have you ever read the book by Dr. Seuss called "Oh, The Places You'll Go." That has got to be one of my all time favorite books. It's the only one I know of that he wrote for adults instead of children. One of the parts of the book talks about 'The Waiting Place' as a place you don't want to find yourself, a place for people who aren't going anywhere but instead waiting for things, anything. It's a place he encourages people to stay clear of. Well, I guess I didn't listen well enough because it seems I have found myself in that very place.
I am waiting for my youngest (3 years old) to finally be fully potty trained. Waiting for my oldest to be old enough to babysit instead of having to pay others to do it when I want to have a date with my husband. Waiting for the laundry to ever be finished or for the day my children learn to clean up after themselves, without complaining. I'm waiting for a break in the financial area, i.e. waiting for the car to be paid off, waiting for that big promotion I'm hoping my husband gets, waiting for the month we can actually save something for a rainy day instead having rainy days we have to spend it on. Each day I find myself waiting for another this or that.
My advice to you? Don't fall into the waiting place. Life is much more fun when you can just roll along carefree and not worry about the things that haven't come your way yet but be content with what you do have.
Can anyone send me a rope and pull me out of here?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Laundry
I don't know about laundry at your house but laundry at our house for a week equals:
-at least 84 socks (ha, as if they only go through one pair each day)
-at least 42 pairs of under garments (same as above)
-at least 28 shirts, pants, pajama tops and bottoms, etc (see previous note)
-multiple towels, rags, wash clothes, sheets, etc
-and all the other stuff that makes its way into the laundry room.
First we begin by collecting, then sorting, washing, and drying. After that there is the endless folding, putting away, and any ironing. By the time this is all finished I'm back at square one. "Mom! I don't have anything to wear!"
grumble, grumble
Phyllis Diller was once quoted as saying (paraphrased) "Trying to clean your house before the kids are grown is like shoveling the walk before the snow stops." That goes for laundry as well!
-at least 84 socks (ha, as if they only go through one pair each day)
-at least 42 pairs of under garments (same as above)
-at least 28 shirts, pants, pajama tops and bottoms, etc (see previous note)
-multiple towels, rags, wash clothes, sheets, etc
-and all the other stuff that makes its way into the laundry room.
First we begin by collecting, then sorting, washing, and drying. After that there is the endless folding, putting away, and any ironing. By the time this is all finished I'm back at square one. "Mom! I don't have anything to wear!"
grumble, grumble
Phyllis Diller was once quoted as saying (paraphrased) "Trying to clean your house before the kids are grown is like shoveling the walk before the snow stops." That goes for laundry as well!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Choose Your Battles
One of the first pieces of advice I heard when I became a mother, and the advice I still hear most often, especially from my own mother and sisters, is "Choose Your Battles." What does that mean?
Does it mean it's all right if my 3 year accompanies me to the grocery store in green/blue plaid pajama pants, a bright orange t-shirt, his sister's purple striped socks, and flipflops because I didn't want that battle this morning? Hey, at least he got himself dressed.
Is it all right if the kids have peanut butter sandwiches for dinner because homework, bath time, my sanity, and actually getting something into their bellies were more important battles than trying to get them to eat the Chicken Taco Casserole I made for dinner and knew they wouldn't want anyway?
One would argue it's plain laziness but I am beginning to believe choosing your battles is nothing more than claiming control over the chaotic lifestyle of motherhood. In a way I am saying: "Yes, I know your room looks like a pig sty but I am in control because I'm not going to say anything about it as long as the door stays closed. But when it comes to keeping yourself clean, or disrespecting person or property, then I will step in and stand ready for the battle because that is the battle I would rather choose to fight and win."
It took a long time for me to figure out the answer (and I'm still perfecting the skill). I take a deep breath and decide if it's worth a battle or not and if I'm not ready or willing to follow through then I must leave it alone. Am I alone in this thinking? I don't think so. I'm sure there are many mothers out there who feel the same, but there are also many who haven't received this great bit of advice. So I say to everyone, some things matter and some things don't. Choose your battles and decide which battles are most important for you to enter and win.
Does it mean it's all right if my 3 year accompanies me to the grocery store in green/blue plaid pajama pants, a bright orange t-shirt, his sister's purple striped socks, and flipflops because I didn't want that battle this morning? Hey, at least he got himself dressed.
Is it all right if the kids have peanut butter sandwiches for dinner because homework, bath time, my sanity, and actually getting something into their bellies were more important battles than trying to get them to eat the Chicken Taco Casserole I made for dinner and knew they wouldn't want anyway?
One would argue it's plain laziness but I am beginning to believe choosing your battles is nothing more than claiming control over the chaotic lifestyle of motherhood. In a way I am saying: "Yes, I know your room looks like a pig sty but I am in control because I'm not going to say anything about it as long as the door stays closed. But when it comes to keeping yourself clean, or disrespecting person or property, then I will step in and stand ready for the battle because that is the battle I would rather choose to fight and win."
It took a long time for me to figure out the answer (and I'm still perfecting the skill). I take a deep breath and decide if it's worth a battle or not and if I'm not ready or willing to follow through then I must leave it alone. Am I alone in this thinking? I don't think so. I'm sure there are many mothers out there who feel the same, but there are also many who haven't received this great bit of advice. So I say to everyone, some things matter and some things don't. Choose your battles and decide which battles are most important for you to enter and win.
Monday, September 20, 2010
More Questions
I am finding that the older my children get the less I know. Before I had children I believed they were all the same, like robots. They talked the same way, they dressed the same way, they all liked the same things, especially those from the same family. They couldn't be that different if they came from the same set of parents, right? Wrong! Like I said, I am finding that the older my children get the more I realize I don't know very much.
There's Rebekah, my curious one. She reads, and reads, and then reads more because she wants to know everything. She is constantly asking questions and learning. She has stunned me many times with her knowledge and understanding. Any new concept you give her will be eaten up until she can't find anything else on the subject, and she doesn't forget a fact once she has read it. I learn something new about the world around us in every conversation we have together.
Then there is Sarinah, my born leader, she couldn't care less about the facts Rebekah spits out. Books and facts don't affect her as much as the relationships she has with those around her. She is a natural at making friends and caring for others. She has a strong sense of right and wrong and knows how things are supposed to be and what to do to get there. She still has to master the "bossy" part of leading and knowing when to follow but I find myself amazed at the love she shows everyone and the confidence she shows when she makes a decision and follows through with it.
Wesley's strength isn't in curiosity or relationships, instead he is my problem solver. He loves puzzles and board games. How many 5 year olds can sit down with a 100 piece puzzle and whip it out with no problem or beat you every time at Battleship? Is he ready for chess? I don't know, but when the day comes that he takes those problem solving skills and tackles life issues head on he is going to be unstoppable.
Briton is no less amazing than the rest of his sibling. He is my independent little man that doesn't let anything stand in his way. He has the confidence to do things himself, and if he doesn't know how to do it he will just keep trying and not let anything get him down. His independence gets to the point of annoyance at times. He is my baby, isn't he supposed to always need and want mom around? That too, I must admit, would not be the right way to go, but maybe for a little while longer he can be my baby and come around for snuggles again.
So how do I take someone who loves to learn and help them learn to teach? And how do I teach a leader to learn to follow and help her know that it's okay to let someone else be in charge sometimes? And how do I help a problem solver learn to move his skills from games and puzzles to every day life challenges? And how do I teach that independence is great when used within the given limits but not when disobeying rules to get what you want?
The older they get the more questions I have, and some people wonder why mothers don't sleep well...
There's Rebekah, my curious one. She reads, and reads, and then reads more because she wants to know everything. She is constantly asking questions and learning. She has stunned me many times with her knowledge and understanding. Any new concept you give her will be eaten up until she can't find anything else on the subject, and she doesn't forget a fact once she has read it. I learn something new about the world around us in every conversation we have together.
Then there is Sarinah, my born leader, she couldn't care less about the facts Rebekah spits out. Books and facts don't affect her as much as the relationships she has with those around her. She is a natural at making friends and caring for others. She has a strong sense of right and wrong and knows how things are supposed to be and what to do to get there. She still has to master the "bossy" part of leading and knowing when to follow but I find myself amazed at the love she shows everyone and the confidence she shows when she makes a decision and follows through with it.
Wesley's strength isn't in curiosity or relationships, instead he is my problem solver. He loves puzzles and board games. How many 5 year olds can sit down with a 100 piece puzzle and whip it out with no problem or beat you every time at Battleship? Is he ready for chess? I don't know, but when the day comes that he takes those problem solving skills and tackles life issues head on he is going to be unstoppable.
Briton is no less amazing than the rest of his sibling. He is my independent little man that doesn't let anything stand in his way. He has the confidence to do things himself, and if he doesn't know how to do it he will just keep trying and not let anything get him down. His independence gets to the point of annoyance at times. He is my baby, isn't he supposed to always need and want mom around? That too, I must admit, would not be the right way to go, but maybe for a little while longer he can be my baby and come around for snuggles again.
So how do I take someone who loves to learn and help them learn to teach? And how do I teach a leader to learn to follow and help her know that it's okay to let someone else be in charge sometimes? And how do I help a problem solver learn to move his skills from games and puzzles to every day life challenges? And how do I teach that independence is great when used within the given limits but not when disobeying rules to get what you want?
The older they get the more questions I have, and some people wonder why mothers don't sleep well...
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Why Doll's House?
I was inspired today while I was fixing the setup of my blog. I have been posting family moments and fun quotes in a side column and realized they were being hidden. So I added them to the main blog and had a great time reliving the memories there. It made me think of memories from my own childhood life. One of those memories was the inspiration for the Blog Title, Doll's House.
While my given name is Hollie I had a nickname growing up that derived from an innocent conversation with my mother when I was just three years old, much like the little quotes I post from my own children. I was concerned that everyone in the whole world had a middle name, except for me. My mother eased my mind by giving me a middle name on the spot, Hollie Dolly, and that is what she has called me ever since. It was shortened in later years to Hollie Doll, and just Doll by the rest of my family, as I had outgrown the girlishness of the name. Later, when I met my sweetheart and got married, my name was fully solidified as he began using it as well.
When I hear those close to me calling me Doll or Hollie Doll I am reminded that my 3-year old concern mattered to my mother. To this day the name warms me to remember that those close to me cared enough to play along and that I am loved by all of them. Small moments matter.
Do I treat my children's concerns with the same respect?
While my given name is Hollie I had a nickname growing up that derived from an innocent conversation with my mother when I was just three years old, much like the little quotes I post from my own children. I was concerned that everyone in the whole world had a middle name, except for me. My mother eased my mind by giving me a middle name on the spot, Hollie Dolly, and that is what she has called me ever since. It was shortened in later years to Hollie Doll, and just Doll by the rest of my family, as I had outgrown the girlishness of the name. Later, when I met my sweetheart and got married, my name was fully solidified as he began using it as well.
When I hear those close to me calling me Doll or Hollie Doll I am reminded that my 3-year old concern mattered to my mother. To this day the name warms me to remember that those close to me cared enough to play along and that I am loved by all of them. Small moments matter.
Do I treat my children's concerns with the same respect?
Family Moments and Quotes.
I just realized that my side column titled Fun Family Moments and Quotes isn't working the way I had originally hoped. I have been posting on there and each post hides the one at the bottom with no way of readers being able to find them. So...with a desire to keep them within reading view I am going to copy and paste the ones from 2009 here in the main blog. They are all classic and shouldn't be forgotten.
January 25, 2009, Wesley (3) had his first kiss in front of the whole primary during sharing time today...Kelsie Sanders, right on the lips.
March 6, 2009, Wesley (3) "I have dancing feet today." and he danced the day away.
March 16, 2009, Sarinah (6) informed me today that it's the baby time of year so we need to pick up our new baby from the store (no, I'm not expecting)
April 29, 2009, Wesley (3) "I'm only eating treats today."
May 11, 2009, I'm so proud of Rebekah (8). She accompanied the family on the piano for the first time during FHE tonight.
July 2009, Rebekah (8) is going through a Chess phase...and she is pretty good at it.
August 1, 2009, Wesley (4) "Mom, I have two cooties."
Aug 5, 2009, Rebekah (8) poured liquid soap all over the bathroom floor so she could ice skate. Grrr!
Aug 24, 2009, First day of school- Sarinah woke up two hours early because she was so excited to start 2nd grade.
Aug 27, 2009, Briton (2) got the scare of his life at the pet store this afternoon when the foot and a half long "stuffed turtle" by his feet moved. I will never forget his scream of pure terror.
Aug 29, 2009, Wesley (4) "Mom, I'm going to be a dad then we'll have two dads. And everyday when I get home I'm going to have some chocolate."
Sept, 9, 2009, Wesley (4): "Mom, someday can I go into outer space?" Me: "Maybe you will someday, like an astronaut." Wesley: "How about Wednesday?"
Oct 21, 2009, Wesley bumped the table and bruised his ear. He has been going around telling everyone that his ear is broken.
Nov 2, 2009, Wesley (4): "Mom, what are we having for dinner?", Me: "Soup and Pigs in a Blanket", Wesley: "Okay, I'll get my blanket off my bed."
Nov 10, 2009, Rebekah and Sarinah got to do a duet in the school's Veteran's Day Choir Concert tonight. That's all they have talked about for two weeks. I must say they did a great job!!!
Dec 9, 2009 Rebekah made up new words to a familiar song and has been singing them all day long "If he's a jolly good fellow, if he's a jolly good fellow, if he's a jolly good fellow-then my name is John."
Dec 18, 2009 Family Holiday Traditions...We like to wrap some of the kids favorite snacks/drinks/cereal/crackers/etc and put them under the tree. They are just excited about those as the toys. This tradition started when we were poor newlyweds.
Dec 18, 2009 Family
Dec 19, 2009 Family
Dec 29, 2009, New Game: "Are You Smarter Than a Third Grader?" The conversationwent like this...Me: "It's a Picasso". Rebekah: "Do you know who Picasso was, mom?" Me: "He was an artist." Rebekah: "Not just an artist!! He painted cubism." (I had to look it up on Wikipedia)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Books
Today's Facebook posting....
Of course everyone would believe the Math book was Rebekah's, but strangely enough, the math book was Sarinah's choice tonight. I love my job of being a mother to these strange and interesting creatures known as my children and I'm grateful everyday for them.
"When our oldest was little we started a tradition of putting one of the books we read before bed under her pillow so she could dream about it all night (really helps them want to lay down). We still do it, tonight they are dreaming about a hungry caterpillar, a jungle safari, a magic school bus, and Math 101."
Of course everyone would believe the Math book was Rebekah's, but strangely enough, the math book was Sarinah's choice tonight. I love my job of being a mother to these strange and interesting creatures known as my children and I'm grateful everyday for them.
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