Motherhood

Have I ever mentioned how much I love being a mother? I love mommyhood. So I thought I would list just a few things that I love the most about being a mom.

1. I get a good laugh in at least once a day (usually more).

2. My kids think I can actually dance. ("Whoa! Those are some good moves mom!")

3. I sing off key, and my kiddos don't care.

4. Every night at dinner, it is "the best meal" Colson has ever had.

5. There is always someone to snuggle with.

6. I hear "You're the best mom in the whole world!" at least once a day. (Wow, it's a good thing they don't know any better, or they would be really disappointed!)

7. I haven't had to do the dishes in quite some time.

8. Every day, I get to see my kids learn and grow.

9. I get to answer questions like, "Why do you love daddy so much?"

10. I have the opportunity to search through the whole house for my cell phone several times a week.

11. I get to hear the name "Mom" at leat 1,000 times a day. (That's my name! Don't wear it out!:)

12. While driving in the car, I get to hear a little voice call out "Da bus! Mom! Da bus! Yeah! Da bus!" every time we pass by a bus.

13. Life is never boring with four little beans around.

14. I love reading books with my kiddos before bed every night. There is nothing better than snuggling up together and reading some of our favorite books before the lights go out for the night.

15. I have others to remind me of those times when I'm not doing such a good job. (Mom, I don't think Heavenly Father would be very happy with you right now!)

16. I love hearing my boys play the piano each day and be able to listen to how they have progressed.

17. I love having a little shopping buddy in Vivian. She is my only child who never complains about going into a store. The only thing I hear her whine about is that we haven't done enough shopping.

18. The thing I love the most is being able to teach my children about the gospel. I love being able to share my testimony with them, and watch their testimonies and love for the Savior grow.

I am so grateful to be a mother. Whenever asked when I was younger what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always "A mom". I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for entrusting these sweet spirits to my care. My only prayer is that I will be able to live up to the task of helping His children to make it back to Him.

Which One Am I, The Parent or the Child?

So, it was one of those days. The kind where the kids are telling me everything they want and need constantly. I mean constantly. And not even just one at a time. All four, all at once, every waking moment. This is typical in our house, as I am sure it is in any home where children abound. For whatever reason though, today I just hit my "wanting" and "needing" limit. So we were in the car on our way home from picking Trenton up from Scouts (the four children and I) and they all started in again. "Mom, you need to get our vitamins when we get home." "Mom, when it's my birthday, I want to go to Chucky Cheese." (My favorite place in the world by the way. Not!) "Mom, Vivi won't stop making that noise. Will you make her stop?" "Mom, I'm hungry. I didn't get seconds of dinner. Will you make me seconds when we get home?" Well, you get the idea. Needless to say, I lost it just a little bit. A.Little.Bit. Do you ever have those moments when after losing it, you kind of take a step back and think, "Whoa, which one am I? The parent or the child?" I mean, it's a little sad when I, the mother, am sounding a little (lot?) more like a whiny 2-5 year old than the adult that I am (or should be). We all have our moments, right? (Please tell me it's not just me!) Well, I think my kids were a little shocked because nobody said a word the rest of the way home. Total silence. They didn't even ask me for anything when we got home. They brushed their teeth, got their PJs on, and even said their prayers and read their scriptures without even being asked. It is hard to imagine, after all is quiet and they are all looking so angelic, lying there asleep, that I could ever be upset with them about anything. Until the next morning when I wake up to "Mom, why do I have to pack myself a lunch? I just wish I could have hot lunch every day!"