I Love My Job

She was sophisticated, beautiful, and exquisite. She floated into the room with a perfectly manicured child clutching her hand. Both were all smiles. Designer heels and bag accented her tailored plum colored dress perfectly. She wore a floppy staw hat with a plum colored sash. Who wears a hat to breakfast in a hotel? I was a stark comparison in my GAP jeans, T-shirt, Mary Janes and bed hair. Honestly, I was just happy to make it down to breakfast with three kids who were at the very least dressed before the the doors closed.

As luck would have it, the stylish woman in purple and her adorable daughter sat at the table next to us. The kids hit it right off and chatted about everything from losing teeth to what books they were currently reading. There amid juice boxes and Fruit Loops, we learned that their family lived in Ukraine and were just passing through on their way to Florida for a vacation. I'm not quite sure why formal introductions were never exchanged, perhaps it had something to do with my squirmy toddler who wouldn't stay in her seat and kept bolting out the door or the bowl of oatmeal that was spilled all over the carpeted floor.

As she was about to leave the breakfast room, she clutched my arm urgently and said, "You really should consider a live-in nanny." She gushed about how much more time I would have to travel, spend with my husband, sleep, and take care of myself.

I replied, "I think I would miss my kids too much".

"Of course you still see your children", she continued, "but you see them when you're at your best".

I thought a lot about our conversation today. Would my children be better off just seeing me at "my best"? Even at my worst, am I setting a good enough example for my children as they gain an understanding of the importance of Motherhood? Sure, Motherhood isn't always glamorous; especially when it includes bodily functions or temper tantrums.

I don't even know her name, but she had a tremendous impact on me. The answer is no, I don't think I would want a full-time live-in nanny. I would miss chubby arms wrapped around my neck whispering secrets into my ear, wonderful sticky kisses, and the 3 a.m. wake-up calls and sweet snuggle time when the rest of the house was quiet and sleeping. I would miss Kaden's contagious laugh when he finds something hilarious in a book that he is reading. I would miss Ava reaching up to me with arms outstreached and saying, "Hold you". I would miss snuggling with Lauren and scratching her back as she drifts off to dreamland. I would miss being a full-time Mommy. So thank you beautiful, elegant, lady. Thank you for bringing me perspective at a stressful time in my life and reminding me of all the reasons why I love being a Mother.

How blessed I am that our Heavenly Father trusts me (ME with all of my imperfections and many faults) to raise three of his sweet Spirits.

Click here and here for spiritual enlightenment and perspective on the sacred calling called Motherhood.

A Favorite Quote.....

President Gordon B. Hinckley said,"You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out. It will not be the money you have made. It will not be the cars you have owned. It will not be the large house in which you live. The searing question that will cross your mind again and again will be, How well have my children done?.....And so I plead with you tonight, my dear sisters. Sit down and quietly count the debits and credits in your role as a mother. It is not too late. When all else fails, there is prayer and the promised help of the Lord to assist you in your trials. But do not delay. Start now, whether you child be six or sixteen."

The One-Handed House Keeper...

How many of you can vacuum 3,000 sq. feet with one hand while holding a crying toddler with the other? I'm betting that most of you with the title "Mom" also have this talent.

Happy Thursday!

Is It Gonna Be One of Those Days?

Is it gonna be one of those days? Poor, little Ava has had a rough morning so far. First of all, Lauren asked to hold her, which she has done a million times over the course of the year. I am ALWAYS close by and have trained Lauren to tell me "I'm done" when she wants me to take the baby. I turned away to help a little girl that I was watching this morning for two seconds and turned back again just in time to see Ava flying through the air and landing on her face on the floor. Apparently Lauren was finished holding the baby. I frantically checked for blood and bumps and after a few mins. of hard crying she seemed to be ok except for the large goose egg on her forehead. Thank goodness we have carpet in our living room instead of wood floors.

A few mins. later upon returning to the kitchen after running something into the other room, I found Ava covered in sticky ant poison from head to toe. I know this sounds like I am seriously neglecting my children, and those of you who know me well know this couldn't be further from the truth. If anything, I probably "hover" too much. She found the ant trap that I had hidden behind the garbage can and proceeded to dump the sticky contents all over herself, as well as the floor.

So after getting Ava bathed and the floor cleaned up, I set her on the floor in the living room with a pile of toys. She promptly tottered over to the fireplace and before I could grab her opened the glass hinged door and closed it back up on her hand. She had been getting dangerously close to figuring out how to open the doors for a few days now and just happened to finally figure it out right that min. Poor baby. I scrutinized her hand carefully. No real damage; she didn't close the door all the way....just a small red mark and I think it scared her more than anything.

After the hand incident, I turned my attention back to the dinner that I was desperately trying to finish for a friend. I have child proof locks on several of my cupboards (all of the important ones anyway) when Ava pinched her fingers in one of the kitchen cabinets that wasn't child proofed. I mean seriously! What else could happen to this sweet, little baby this morning? All of this and it wasn't even 10 a.m. yet. Is it gonna be one of those days? Is it nap time yet?