Trying to use my biggest chopping knife to cut carrots while also trying to use the fly swatter on the illusive fly is NOT labeled under "safe and recommended practice".
(For some reason I had visions of a trip to the ER and decided the fly could live a little longer. I like children and my fingers too much to try to use both at the same time.)
You can hide turmeric in anything. See, you can't see it's yellowish-orange glow in our home made chicken and veggie soup:
It wont stain your shirt yellow if you drop it down the front while reaching over to help one eating-resistant child take a bite. Turmeric is amazing (and your body processes it better when taken with black pepper) and goes in everything. It's a natural anti-inflammatory, which makes it doubly awesome.
Sometimes the easiest meals are the best. Cheesies made on left over hot dog buns, put together by my oldest Miss.
There are times when our helpers make the work take twice as long. That's because we need to learn patience as much as they need to learn the task, and because God knows that we need all that extra time together. Plus, she's a pretty good helper and it's a good opportunity for us to talk together and get to know each other better.
Oh, and these two:
They are not helpful. They like to help me type by walking on the key pads, batting at my fingers, sleeping on the keypads, to name a few.
Now, it's just me and a sleep-resistant two year old hanging out on the couch with the littlest animals rolling around on the floor.
Night.
Sigh. Morning.
I have this dream where I get up at 6:30 a.m., drink my coffee and spend quiet time with the Lord, sometimes over his Word and sometimes over the kitchen sink, finishing up last night's dishes. A few moments alone with my thoughts, to plan the day, talk to God, to dream. I swear every day that I'll go to bed early, that I'll wake up with the sun and my chickens.
Our number two child is, let's say, passionate. He has strong feelings about everything from ice in his water cup to his pop tart getting broken while it comes out of the package. Everything. He doesn't want nupping (nothing). He doesn't yike (like) it. We are going along fine and then wham! Full on fit, throwing himself down, mouth open with the going to die noise coming out and he wants "nupping". Seriously.
I always swore I would be the mom who would not put up with that. My kids would not get away with that kind of behavior. Golly Gee. Here I am blogging about it. I'm learning a lot about being quieter, taking my time, taking deep breathes, talking him down, things I didn't think I had time for before. "Can't that lady get her kid to mind?" "Why can't they get that kid to be quiet in church. Sheesh. If he were mine..." Yeah. I was that lady. Now, if I get a chance to go to church alone and some kid is making a heck of a lot of noise, I think: "It's not mine. I don't have to deal with it." and I go about my Mass.
It doesn't mean that I've accepted that this is where we end up, that I just have to get used to it. It means that this is where we are at now and, if I work hard at it, pray a lot, love him daily, and keep on, that we will work on past this point.
I also think that my hubby being more available (he works nights and doesn't sleep well) would help with the behavior issues but Daddy's not more available right now so I'll just have to keep on.
I'll keep praying for a better tomorrow, praying that I can show love to all 4 of them, and direct them to Heaven. I keep praying that they will be holy people, serving Jesus in their daily life, leading others to Christ. I'll keep praying.
