SuperMom

Have you ever used the word, gazillion? I caught myself using it twice this past week with my family.. both times it was with my kids... You know the, "not now, I've got a gazillion things to do" statement? The second time I said it, it literally stopped me in my tracks. We all use exaggeration now-a-days to make a point. (I can clearly picture Spock, when confronted about being caught in a possible lie, saying, "not a lie, an exaggeration.") We all do it. But, seriously, a gazillion? :-) One thing I remember learning painfully about 6 months into my first time motherhood was that I could not be, and did not NEED to be 'supermom'. There would always be more laundry to do, more dishes to wash and the dust.. well, the dust would be back before the sun came up. Sometimes, through the years, I've forgotten that bit of wisdom shared with me by other moms and even a popular parenting magazine. And, I get caught up in the hustle and pressure I impose on myself to 'get it all done'.

One of my newest and dearest teammates shared something in her blog a while back that really struck home (thank you Rhonda) and is definitely worth sharing again: "If I had my child to raise all over again, I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less. I'd do less correcting and more connecting. I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less, and know to care more. I'd take more hikes and fly more kites. I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars. I'd do more hugging and less tugging. I would be firm less often, and affirm much more. I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later. I'd teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love." ~ Diane Loomans, from 'Full Esteem Ahead'.

So, remember to slow down.. even stop. "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."~Robert Brault The little things to us many times turn out to be the big things to our kids. Take advantage of the quiet moments with your kids and family. Be spontaneous! Just yesterday, after a break in the rain, I took a left turn instead of going straight.. and with the blessing of a Fun Pass at Busch Gardens, spent three carefree, uncrowded hours enjoying the animals and rides with my two kids. The same ones who tell me on a regular basis, with all sincerity and honestly that, "Your the best mom ever". They deserved it. And I will treasure it.

Laundry? What laundry?

Ginny