I’ve officially become the mom that the entire grocery store is staring at.
You know, the one with the screaming child, throwing a fit, whom everybody either:
a) looks at sympathetically (because they’re a parent themselves and they understand my pain)
b) pretends not to see (bless their hearts, they’re trying to pretend like it’s not as ear piercing as it really is) or
c) shakes their head at and mumbles under their breath "what a terrible mother, she can’t even control her own child" (because they’re either not a parent or were miraculously gifted with sinless children, perfect in every way and incapable of throwing a temper tantrum)
We’ve had a couple of other escapades before today that were somewhat similar, but this truly took the cake. Quite honestly, I couldn’t do much but lovingly pick her up (with the baby practically falling out of my other arm- I had no coin for a cart), insist that Mommy was going to get was she came for and she was coming with me (like it or not), and a couple of times, I just had to laugh. I couldn’t help it. Is that horrible?
She’s not the only one who’s been screaming a lot today (oh yes, the morning had it’s share of fun too- I’m thinking she must be overtired or something?). Caden also is apparently either in a lot of teething pain, or just really enjoying giving his vocal cords and my ear drums a good workout, because the noise level in this house today has been a bit, umm, incessant, shall we say.
Needless to say, I am struggling to accomplish much (except for one gorgeous hour in the late morning when my cherubs both slept/stayed in their rooms quietly for one. whole. hour. at the same time. thank you, Jesus.)
Please don’t get me wrong. I adore my children, absolutely, positively. They are immeasurable blessings and gifts from God. I consider my role as a stay-at-home-mom to be one of the highest callings imaginable, and one that I find great joy in every day.
There are just some days when the recognition of how incredibly weak I truly am, and how desperately I need God and His sustaining grace every second of the day washes over me like a flood. Today is one of them. I’m so thankful that He does not leave us to flounder in the sea of motherhood, practically drowning each time a wave threatens to engulf us. No, He is right there, in the storm, standing with me in the midst of the waves and the water, whispering gently, "peace, be still".
There is a contemporary Christian song by Scott Krippayne that came to mind today and I’ll leave you with the chorus:
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
Side note: Unfortunately, I will not be announcing the winner of the naming contest today. I wish I was, but it’s been a harder decision than I thought that it would be, and my day has not lent itself to the time that I needed to be contemplative and make a final decision. I hope to post it by Tuesday or Wednesday, and I really apologize for the delay! Thanks for not throwing rotten tomatoes!
I just wanted to say I can totally relate to the noisy house and God’s sustaining grace! I am a stay at home mom to 18 month old triplets and one 3 year old. Needless to say, it gets noisy around here too! I found your blog through BlogHer ads. Oh, and thanks for the recommendation on squarefootgardening. I think you may have actually recommended the book, and I found it at our library today. My dh and I are excited to have our first garden this year… with lots of little helping hands and not tons of extra time I think this will be a great way for us to get started!
just wanted to leave you a little note to encourage you! you’re a great source of inspiration to me as a mom, even on “off” days…in fact, it’s a little comforting to know that you have “off” days, too!
Oh, yes, I have lots of days like that too. Thank you for sharing.
I sit here and smile as I read this post. Oh how I can relate my 2 year old has been terrible for the past 2 weeks whine, whine, whine, about everything. I try to be sensitive to the fact that she’s tired, allergies bothering her or whatever else but sometimes it’s just like ENOUGH! Oh how I fail at being a mother sometimes but I just try to pick it back up the next day. Amen about God’s amazing grace!! We are so unworthy.
hi, new here
you are not the only one who has to go through this. i go through the same thing. i just continue with a smile on my face and act as if their looks do not bother me. i know they either don’t have kids or they have “perfect” kids…. in my mind i know one of those is not true!!!
Thank you for sharing. It’s encouraging to read someone else voice the thoughts of so many moms…that though we adore our children and treasure being mothers, some days it’s all we can do to stand under the weight of it all. Praise God for His strength, which is stronger than the strongest will of a child!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I was “the mom in the store” last week – two different times! (each time with a different child!). It is so easy to present one’s self as perfect on-line. Thanks for not doing that! We all have struggles!
My husband does not understand that SAHM moms have ‘bad’ days. He always says, “But you’ve always wanted to stay at home with the children all day long. Why are you having a bad/hard day?”
I think it is God trying to sharpen me and mold me to want He wants. And some days are tough!
🙂
-Lauren in NC
I’m a single college student, but what you wrote is just as true for me. I feel unprepared and inadequate to do so many things, but when I am weak, He is strong. I needed that reminder – thank you.
thank you for this post. It is always great to know that we are not alone in having children who have bad days (and our own bad days).
I have found reading a bible verse in the morning and then carrying it around all day helpful. When a moment (and it is sometimes only a moment) to think I remember it and turn back to God who sustains me. I have realised that at this time in my life I don’t have hours to read the bible but I do have a lot of tiny moments to remember God and his words. Those moments get me through the next chuck of what ever life (and toddlers) throws at me!
forgot the post…..it’s late, what can I say. Nothing that anyone would believe anyway.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=5e887e9e72bfe5dabca1&ref=sv
yes thank you for the post, I am so so grateful for it and this website.
As a new christian and mother of three (ages 3, 2, and 3mos) I was feeling so alone and overwhelmed as I try to make healthy food choices and God glorifying decisions I have been truly blessed and encouraged by the information provided here. Thank you