sometimes I play hopscotch with the littles on the living room rug. well, mainly with Phoebe, because Rowan just jumps around without any rhyme or reason. cracks me up. nonetheless, he loves it.
second, this:
I realize that my posts can come across as a little (a lot?) crazy sounding at times, especially when it comes to the naughty things Rowan has done, or if I've had a particularly challenging week with the kids. BUT. in writing this blog, I feel I want to be honest, not only with you, but more importantly with myself. if I were to blog day after day about how wonderful life is, and that raising children is nothing but rainbows, unicorn burps and stars colliding in the heavens, I'd be lying and only fooling myself. not to mention that you'd probably be all, "gag me with a spoon, this is so sugar-coated. next blog, please."
truth is, as parents we're faced with many challenges, difficulties, and frustrations on a daily basis. relentless whining, babies who won't sleep, busy toddlers, never-ending laundry and housework, among other things, all serve to make us weary and sometimes agitated. personally, I think it's important to vent about these things, hard as it may be-- like who wants to admit they're going nuts? ME! (okay, you already knew that.) anyway, I'm pretty sure we'd all agree that after blowing off some steam, it feels good, especially knowing that we're not alone in our struggles.
on the other hand, there have been countless good days, where I want to shout from the rooftops and spin cartwheels because I couldn't be more happy just "being a mom." becoming a mother was hands-down the most joyous moment I've ever experienced, one I wouldn't trade for anything, except maybe a solid eight hours of shut-eye. kids are funny, precious, sweet, adorable, loving, quick to forgive. they are truly gifts from God. we have been blessed with nine beautiful, healthy children, whom I love more than anything in the world.
anyway, the whole goal here is to find a healthy balance between the good and the bad. as much as I want to share the good days-- the joys, the celebrations, the happy moments, I also want to relate the not so good days-- like the kind where Advil replaces your hubby as your best friend-- because it helps me get through them. life is full of joys, sorrows, laughter, tears and I want to cover it all. but in doing so, I would hope that you wouldn't pass me off as a raving lunatic, or even worse, offensive or negative sounding. humor aside, I want to keep it as real and down-to-earth as possible. because that's how I roll.
did any of this make sense? in case it didn't, can you believe I actually ate a PB & J sandwich yesterday? on WHITE bread nonetheless, how dare I be so unhealthy? oh well, every now and then, it tastes kinda good, especially with a tall glass of milk.
mmm. sorta reminds me of being a kid again. you know, back when the livin' was easy.
too bad we didn't know to appreciate it, eh?
-jessica
11 comments:
Most of us can relate, Jessica! Also, your 365 photos are fun! Love looking at them!
I really enjoy your blog, whether you're sharing the fun stuff or the not so fun stuff of parenthood and life. Sharing both makes you real...and I can experience motherhood without having to actually give birth!
So true, and reading about someone else feeling like a raving lunatic occasionally makes me remember that I'm not the only one flying by the seat of my pants most of the time. It's important to share our frustrations; when you just see people with their "company manners" on you think 'wow, she's got it all together' and imagine you're the only mom who doesn't. Thanks for the posts; only us moms know how a crazy day can be so hilarious to read about but also identify with the headachey tear-y hopeless angry feeling that comes with it. Like you, I wouldn't trade my kids for anything... most of the time!
So true! And we don't need the help and support to get through the good days! So there is not such a need to vent about them! LOL I love reading your blogs when I have the chance because then I don't feel like you are so far away!!
at the doc the other day the receptionist asked me, don't you have, like 10 kids? I said, no, 11. Of coarse you know how it went from there...how do you do it? I said, how does anyone live their life? You just do what you have to do. She paused and said, I guess so.
I think you hit the nail right on the head. You know to really appreciate your kids especially when you hear stories like that poor family in PA who lost 7 of their kids in a house fire the other night. For some reason that hit home since they lost 6 girls and a boy and that alone has given me extra patience in the last couple days. You just never know when one or all your kids could be taken from you.
Jessica, This blog is so wonderful! We all have days exactly like you describe with our kids. Yesterday at an appointment, another person in the waiting room was like "Wow, you have six kids! Do you ever get time to yourself?" And I told her, I do occasionally get time to myself, but the way I figure it, the time will be here quick enough where they are all moved out of the house, and then I will be wishing there was more activity and mischief going on. She thought about it for a little bit, and then had to agree with me that the years to go by way to fast. I love your blog, and like Rita said, it makes it feel like we get to see you more often when really I rarely get to see you! You are a wonderful mom to those 9 lucky children, and it really shows!
ditto on all the comments above!!! i enjoy your posts to the max, and think its great that you write what you feel!! makes me laugh, cry, and can relate most of the time!! dosn't get much better than that! keep em' coming!! your pictures are always soo fun to look at! i enjoy it all!
I love your posts about your struggles, because I feel the exact same way, so it's nice to know there are people out there with the same frustrations and trials! We all know you love your kids to the moon and back, don't worry! :) The best support us mom's have are each other!
I also agree with all the above comments! I like how Rita put it, that we need to vent about our bad days because that is where we need the support! Us Moms would not be able to do this without each other! I really enjoy the blog Jessica and can relate to so much! We all love our kids so much but like you said it would be very sugar coated to act like its all fun and games because we all know it isn't!
Thanks, Jessica...I love this blog! I generate a response to each one, then never pluck it out, sorry. I'm inspired by your endless documentation, your one-on-one time with the kids, your decor, your ability to make a pbj on white look pretty glam, and how you can get motherhood down to a science. I had the pleasure recently of telling my Type A manager (2 kids, widely enough spaced so they aren't hampered by 'sibling')that our #5 is rapidly approaching...his response? "You know I think that's 3 too many!" My response: "and you know I think you have 6 too few!" (worth the expression on his face.) All the best! Leanne O
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