As another step in my self-directed “reclaiming” project, this week (a week with 7 kids and one ME), I’m reclaiming my perspective.
This week, I am choosing to just be so thankful for my husband and all that he does in our home.
And not dwell on the fact that I make a terrible “Daddy” when he is away. I failed to take the trash out on trash day, can’t even go there on my efforts to unclog a toilet and in just one single week trying to parent without my him, there were moments of near mutiny from the 7 kids in my care. Lets don’t even talk about how one decided he actually is only potty trained when Daddy is home.
I’m loving that he even managed to make sure I had special deliveries of chocolate magically appear on occasion throughout the week. Isn’t he amazing?
No need to focus on the fact that I may or may not have mentioned on the phone that the way he could help me most while he was gone would be to have chocolate delivered. One of the few marriage tips I’ll share on this blog: If you need something, ask for it. It makes it none-the-less sincere when you receive it.
The kids and I had an awesome 2nd annual GREAT GIFTCARD (and coupon) WEEK. This year was mainly just food places, but we enjoyed trying new places, visiting familiar ones on a tighter budget, and doing significantly fewer dishes. We even had the awesome blessing of these friends bringing their coupon-purchased-food to share!
I won’t be consumed with frustration that coupons at restaurants are often a rip-off, forcing you to buy more than you would have just to get the free something. Thank you CFA for having REAL coupons that save me REAL money.
I took 7 kids out to eat BY MYSELF multiple times. We were a spectacle, but broke nothing (that I know of).
We can ignore that one unfortunate incident involving standing in a parking lot, at the door to the van with a certain un-potty-trained child’s leg stretched up in the air. In running shorts and messy hair, I was wiping poop off, throwing away underwear and trying (unsuccessfully) to corral 6 other hooligans at the very moment when three other moms, sans children and dressed as such, walked up. What could I do, but nod and smile and pretend this is normal? Laugh. And proceed with icecream.
We ate our fruits and vegetables.
No need to note that one time the fruit was in a cup on the way to the donut store and another time (maybe even on the same day) the vegetables were cold leftover green beans in a cup that the kids ate for a snack between our Sonic lunch and McDonalds dinner. (I should win some sort of academy award for my starring role in the never ending film entitled “How to convince kids that something terrible is really fantastic)
After bonus kids arriving with a near truckload of stuff, unloading it in the garage and then Ricky leaving town, I’m proud to report that everyone now has clean clothes that fit put away in drawers and closets in their rooms and toys they love accessible in the playroom. And my house is clean.
To maintain my perspective that I’m amazing for this feat- I stay out of my overflowing closet as much as possible. And ignore the fact that I had paid-for-help with cleaning.
My God is so good. So faithful. So evident. So present. This week I’ve seen Him multiply energy, grant patience, cover inadequacies, pour buckets of grace and provide for even more than our needs- from money to food to clothing to sweet company.
I’ll choose not to beat myself up about the moment I was literally why-me-ing to the King of the Universe over poop inunderwear.
Perspective. It is a choice. I choose laughter.
And chocolate.
ABL
