I had a rough morning this morning. Philip had to go to work early which means I had to get all the kids ready by myself. Of course, it takes me longer, so I always feel like I'm a little behind.
I have been having trouble cooking lately, can't hardly stand the smell of anything cooking for too long at all, so I bought some convenience foods in the freezer section (which I hardly ever do) to have on hand. I went to warm them up in the microwave and it wouldn't go. It kept stopping, not blowing the circuit or anything, just stopping after 3-4 seconds.
Then, the kids wouldn't eat them. I don't know, they were bagels filled with cream cheese and strawberries, seems like things the kids would like . . . So I'm fighting them about eating something for breakfast.
Then, Nolan keeps throwing everything I give him on the floor. Oy! I can feel my temperature rising. I put him down on the floor and he proceeds to scream like someone is pinching him for the remainder of the morning.
Callie is supposed to be working on her Valentine's Day treats and she keeps playing instead. I probably reminded her at least 10 times in the 30 minutes we were downstairs what she should be doing.
"Gabe, eat your food."
"Callie, you're supposed to be working on your Valentine's since your done eating."
"Nolan, no, no. We don't throw our food (milk, etc.)."
That was my script for 30 minutes.
So then, it's time to get in the car.
"Coats on, let's get out the door."
Callie - "Mom, where's my lunch?"
Me - "You said you wanted hot lunch today."
Callie - "I wanted hot lunch on Friday."
Me - "There is no hot lunch on Friday, it's a half day tomorrow. Today's the last lunch of the week and it's what you said you wanted."
Callie - "Are you sure?"
Me - "Yes. Please just get ready to go!"
I look over at Gabriel. He's got his hood slung over his head and his gloves on.
"Gabe, you know that's not the way to put your coat on."
Gabriel - "Oh, sorry." as he chases his coat arms around like a dog chasing its tail.
"Boots on Gabriel, Callie put your shoes in your book bag."
10 minutes of getting ready to go outside and we're finally out the door.
** Side note to this: It has been nearly four months of having to put on every single winter gear item for three children any time I have to set foot outside, not to mention my own gear. I am SICK of winter. I rarely (if ever) complain about the weather because I figure it is what it is, but seriously, I have had ENOUGH! **
So I take the kids out to the car. I'm getting Nolan buckled in first. Our garage door hasn't been working so I have to fight it to get it to go up finally. I walk around the car to buckle to find Gabriel hasn't put his arms through his straps.
"Gabe, you're supposed to put your arms through the straps for me to buckle you in."
"But, I can't find them."
"You're not really trying to find them."
Then, apparently, it's Callie's turn to be helpless.
Callie - "I can't get my seat belt."
Me- "You've been doing this for over a year, what are you talking about?"
Callie - "I can't find the buckle."
I look back at her "Callie, you're not even trying."
Callie - "Oh, right. (she acts like she's doing something) Can't you just do it for me?"
Me (at my wit's end for the morning) - launch into a lecture about how she is the oldest and especially when the other two aren't behaving correctly, it's her job to do what she knows to do and make things easier instead of harder while grouchily buckling in her seat belt and driving to school.
We get to school and I just am thinking what an awful morning it's been. I get Callie out of the car and walk her across the road while giving her the normal pre-school pep talk. "Do your work carefully and neatly, listen to your teacher, be a good friend, use the potty when you need to, and eat a good lunch." We stop as we get to the other side of the road and I tell her what I tell her every morning. "I love you very much and I know you will be a good girl and make me proud today."
I got back to the car and my eyes welled up with tears. Am I too harsh? All my talk about how much I love her and I criticized all the way to school. Obviously, at some point, I have to discipline and be firm on what she should and shouldn't be doing because I do love her. But I had lost my temper this morning. I was over being cool, calm, and collected about 10 minutes into breakfast/morning work.
The morning continued this way with Gabriel misbehaving and Nolan screaming on and off. (Sometimes, Nolan doesn't do well in his first couple hours of the morning and gets a reset with his morning nap. Usually, Thursday morning is the worst because of Wednesday night church and him not getting to bed until late.) It's been rough. It's been a tough, tough way to start the day.
I write this post, not because I need advice or because I am in serious need of intervention, but as a reminder to myself and others that not every morning will be perfect, nor will my children always behave just right, nor will I always say the right thing or keep my cool. The fact is, we're all trying to do the best we can and sometimes we just have to push through the bad times and remember, we're all growing and learning and trying -- even though I feel like my effort is greater than the kids a lot of the time . . . especially on the trying part!
A special blessing for mothers (and fathers) today. A prayer for patience and endurance. Not for times to be patient, but actual patience . . . we all have enough examples of times to be patient every day, I'm sure!
God bless you and yours this week!
I have been having trouble cooking lately, can't hardly stand the smell of anything cooking for too long at all, so I bought some convenience foods in the freezer section (which I hardly ever do) to have on hand. I went to warm them up in the microwave and it wouldn't go. It kept stopping, not blowing the circuit or anything, just stopping after 3-4 seconds.
Then, the kids wouldn't eat them. I don't know, they were bagels filled with cream cheese and strawberries, seems like things the kids would like . . . So I'm fighting them about eating something for breakfast.
Then, Nolan keeps throwing everything I give him on the floor. Oy! I can feel my temperature rising. I put him down on the floor and he proceeds to scream like someone is pinching him for the remainder of the morning.
Callie is supposed to be working on her Valentine's Day treats and she keeps playing instead. I probably reminded her at least 10 times in the 30 minutes we were downstairs what she should be doing.
"Gabe, eat your food."
"Callie, you're supposed to be working on your Valentine's since your done eating."
"Nolan, no, no. We don't throw our food (milk, etc.)."
That was my script for 30 minutes.
So then, it's time to get in the car.
"Coats on, let's get out the door."
Callie - "Mom, where's my lunch?"
Me - "You said you wanted hot lunch today."
Callie - "I wanted hot lunch on Friday."
Me - "There is no hot lunch on Friday, it's a half day tomorrow. Today's the last lunch of the week and it's what you said you wanted."
Callie - "Are you sure?"
Me - "Yes. Please just get ready to go!"
I look over at Gabriel. He's got his hood slung over his head and his gloves on.
"Gabe, you know that's not the way to put your coat on."
Gabriel - "Oh, sorry." as he chases his coat arms around like a dog chasing its tail.
"Boots on Gabriel, Callie put your shoes in your book bag."
10 minutes of getting ready to go outside and we're finally out the door.
** Side note to this: It has been nearly four months of having to put on every single winter gear item for three children any time I have to set foot outside, not to mention my own gear. I am SICK of winter. I rarely (if ever) complain about the weather because I figure it is what it is, but seriously, I have had ENOUGH! **
So I take the kids out to the car. I'm getting Nolan buckled in first. Our garage door hasn't been working so I have to fight it to get it to go up finally. I walk around the car to buckle to find Gabriel hasn't put his arms through his straps.
"Gabe, you're supposed to put your arms through the straps for me to buckle you in."
"But, I can't find them."
"You're not really trying to find them."
Then, apparently, it's Callie's turn to be helpless.
Callie - "I can't get my seat belt."
Me- "You've been doing this for over a year, what are you talking about?"
Callie - "I can't find the buckle."
I look back at her "Callie, you're not even trying."
Callie - "Oh, right. (she acts like she's doing something) Can't you just do it for me?"
Me (at my wit's end for the morning) - launch into a lecture about how she is the oldest and especially when the other two aren't behaving correctly, it's her job to do what she knows to do and make things easier instead of harder while grouchily buckling in her seat belt and driving to school.
We get to school and I just am thinking what an awful morning it's been. I get Callie out of the car and walk her across the road while giving her the normal pre-school pep talk. "Do your work carefully and neatly, listen to your teacher, be a good friend, use the potty when you need to, and eat a good lunch." We stop as we get to the other side of the road and I tell her what I tell her every morning. "I love you very much and I know you will be a good girl and make me proud today."
I got back to the car and my eyes welled up with tears. Am I too harsh? All my talk about how much I love her and I criticized all the way to school. Obviously, at some point, I have to discipline and be firm on what she should and shouldn't be doing because I do love her. But I had lost my temper this morning. I was over being cool, calm, and collected about 10 minutes into breakfast/morning work.
The morning continued this way with Gabriel misbehaving and Nolan screaming on and off. (Sometimes, Nolan doesn't do well in his first couple hours of the morning and gets a reset with his morning nap. Usually, Thursday morning is the worst because of Wednesday night church and him not getting to bed until late.) It's been rough. It's been a tough, tough way to start the day.
I write this post, not because I need advice or because I am in serious need of intervention, but as a reminder to myself and others that not every morning will be perfect, nor will my children always behave just right, nor will I always say the right thing or keep my cool. The fact is, we're all trying to do the best we can and sometimes we just have to push through the bad times and remember, we're all growing and learning and trying -- even though I feel like my effort is greater than the kids a lot of the time . . . especially on the trying part!
A special blessing for mothers (and fathers) today. A prayer for patience and endurance. Not for times to be patient, but actual patience . . . we all have enough examples of times to be patient every day, I'm sure!
God bless you and yours this week!
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