...the perspective that comes with age.
I took five minutes after a long day to drive down to the river with Abbey and Janey in tow-I could see the sunset peeking through the leaves at my house, and I needed to get some fresh air. Isn't it beautiful?
Today I awoke to a baby throwing up all over my neck, and then the bed, and then herself. A little bug apparently.
I think 19 years ago I would have panicked and worried so much that she had some terrible illness, and 15 years I would have thought, "Oh great, how am I going to get anything done today", and 10 years ago I would have maybe felt like it was a little unfair that I always had the throw up on me, and then at some point in my growing-up-as-a-mother, I just learned to laugh. Yes, a tired laugh. I really thought it was 2 a.m. but it was 6:30 a.m. and there was no going back to bed. I knocked on the bathroom door and told Jeff to hurry up, I definitely needed a shower today as soon as possible, and I crept up to the bathroom upstairs, and snuck in before my teenagers did, and gave poor Janey a warm bath.
And started the day.
There are hard days of parenting and there are easy days of parenting, and I have learned to embrace them all, because you sure can't change them. We will be fine, throw ups, fussies, bad days, pizza for dinner again, getting nothing finished, sheets in the dryer, not a moment to myself. Sick babies, frustrating toddlers, rambunctious kids, moody teenagers...it's called rolling with the punches and I find with age I get better and better at it, not perfect, but better. Of course with age I also get a host of other things, but I am grateful for the perspective, most of all.
A good heaping spoonful of perspective would sure do me some good right about now.
ReplyDeleteLove your perspective and I needed to read something like this. I have an infant and a 3 year old right now. I get one somewhat under control and the other one give me a run for my money.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! you were such an answer to prayer just now. MY baby threw up all over me last night too...at 4am! And hasn't slept through the night in a month because of all the horrid teeth coming in. Toss that in with some 4 year old sass and some 2 1/2 year old tantrums and you've got the recipe for a major pity party, which I was right in the middle of when I saw your post. It's been a really tough month: laundry everywhere, sinkfuls of dirty dishes, no napping, lots of crying (me and the kids). Phew, the list goes on and on. Thank you so much for the perspective. It has really changed mine :)
ReplyDeleteGod bless you for blessing me today !
love this one.
ReplyDeleteNeeded this! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLoved this!
ReplyDeleteI love your perspective...on everything! I wish you were my next door neighbor and I could just run over when I need a little dose of your wisdom!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that so many of us needed these words. Lately I feel like my patience is wearing thin and my frustration building. Just knowing I'm not the only one going through it sure helps!
Thank you for writing this. It's straight from The Lord to me. The last 3 nights I've had at least one of my 5 children throwing up, and I called my husband in ears tonight, ashamed I hadn't been able to make dinner yet again. I love the perspective you have gained over your years if parenting. Thank you for encouraging me to just embrace it, and let go of all the expectations I place on myself. Once again, youhave encouraged my heart. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo true.
ReplyDeleteVery much needed. As always, thank you.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to be 10 heats older then, cause I can sure do with some perspective.
ReplyDeleteNo but seriously. Thank you. Needed this. Not a great day, in my head. Thank you.
You have a great calling from God. You always know what to write at the right time.
ReplyDeleteI hope Janey is feeling better soon and doesn't share the germs with the big kids.
Thank you for posting this today. Our youngest daughter, age 3, has started coming down to our room at least 3 times a night for the last 2 weeks and it's been exhausting. Your "we will be fine" comment helped me refocus my groggy head this morning.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a good mom !
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I'm in the middle of some big house projects, normal crazy life with 3 kids going every which way, trying to organize spaces in my house & rid myself of clutter before the holidays, trying to be proactiv about Christmas gifts and wanting to get them all purchased & wrapped by the first of December (haha! I try this every year, & I always feel rushed). I want to focus on being grateful and slowing down and focusing up. I'm trying to balance the crazy with the calm and I'm not very good at it most days. I'm learning. I'm trying. That's going to have to be good enough for now :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your blog and your perspectives from an experienced mother's point of view. I am still in the early years of motherhood with a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 7-month old. I usually read your posts in the middle of the night while I'm feeding the baby who is STILL getting up for 2 feedings/night (any tips there?!). Haha. I am in the stage where sitting down for dinners every night seems tough and chaotic b/c not everyone will eat what I make and everyone is asking to be excused before I even sit. And when someone wakes up in the middle of the night with a fever or throw-up, I want to co cry because I'm worried it may be something more or worried that it's going to sweep through the whole house. You always give me such great perspective that things will be very different some day and I will probably miss these days. I often think back to your one post about how you used to think the days seemed long and you'd be waiting at the door at 5:00 when your husband got home (that's me!!) and now the days fly by and you can't believe he's already walking in the door. Thank you for all your motherhood wisdom! Your great perspectives give me great perspectives!!
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteI love your perspective - you are truly such a wise and wonderful woman! I am thankful that you are back to posting more regularly! I have missed my daily clover lane fix. :O)
Thanks, Sarah! You always find a way to connect with your readers and make us feel that you understand the hard things, but at the same time lifting us to become better mothers.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this--
ReplyDeleteI always LOVE your perspective - not just today's but in general, regarding all things parenting! That said, I am very curious to hear how the Internet/blogging/Pinterest etc. has changed (if it has) your mothering in regard to how you spend your time/how it has changed mothering in general/the distraction/the comparison/etc. I am particularly interested in finding out if you have found a way to keep yourself disciplined as to how much you use it. I have a love - hate relationship with our "new" ability to access SO MUCH information/ideas & am finding technology to be a mayor help as well as detriment to mothering a young family. I would so appreciate your thoughts (maybe a blog post?), which I respect very much! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCan always rely on you for honesty.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Needed this today. As a mother of 5, I'm so thankful that God's mercies are new every morning.
ReplyDeleteSo true...big families have a way of fostering personal peace in the parents. To think how frustrated and exhausted I was caring for 2 little ones back in the day...that would be a vacation now compared to managing the needs of 8. I'm tired and rapidly graying, but I'll take it since I've also been given a strength of character and nerves of steel now. Thanks be to God!
ReplyDeleteSarah, what a great post. I think of you often in the often mind-boggling days as a mom of six -- the antics and needs of all the age groups, the constant demands and no personal time, the days when even though I'm up at the crack of dawn and up till late I still didn't accomplish half what needed to be done. To me it is such a comfort to know there are other moms who are doing what I am doing and who "get it" - who get what is really important. Thanks for sharing your blog with us!
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