Tomorrow is another day
I got an email from my sweet friend Elisa today just checking on me and asking if it was difficult to now be a mom to three boys. I decided to share my answer with all my faithful readers for your entertainment. Allow me first to preface my answer by descring just two of the many adventures we had together today.
Adventure #1: This morning I tried to be a fun mom and set up our new sprinkler in the front yard. This equals fun plus it waters our yard which is in bad shape and we've already gotten one letter from our home owners association! I had everythig timed perfectly I had just nursed Seth and he was sleeping soundly so let the fun begin. All was well for about 30 minutes until Levi transformed into Oscar the grouch for no apparent reason at all. After much threatening that he needed to change his attitude or he would be going back to bed- I ran inside for two seconds to get popsicles to lighten the mood and told Levi to stay outside with Titus. He followed me inside whining about something AGAIN and I flew off the handle yelling at him like I never have before about how I told him to stay outside with his brother and what if a car had driven by and Titus had wandered into the street and how dangerous that was and all the horrible things that could have happened...you know just typical stuff that every good mom should burden her 4 year old with. I then of course live with the guilt the rest of the afternoon for they way I reacted after trying to teach him all morning to change his attitude, but then flying off the handle myself. Then there was also the guilt of giving him responsibilities that are too big for him like being ready to save his brother's life in the off chance that a car had driven by our rarely traveled cul-de-sac street. In my heart I know I'm just tired and hormonal and not a yeller, but still the damage has been done and I feel guilty.
Adventure #2: Titus has been showing signs that he may be ready to potty train although I'm trying to make sure because I don't want a long drawn out process if he's not ready. He came in from outside having stripped his diaper AGAIN and ran to the bathroom to throw it away. I decided I'd try sitting him on the toilet to see what he would do....nothing of course. We head upstairs to put on a new diaper and get ready for nap. I stop for just a second to switch out the laundry before the towels in the washer mildew and in the mean time Titus grabs a book and sits in his mini-popason (sp?) chair that is deemed our "reading chair" and yes.... floods it with pee. Unfortunately the makers of said chair did not make the cover removable as most kids items are so I have to cut the seams of the cushion to get it off the metal frame and into the wash. On the bright side I had just switched the laundry so the washing machine is empty and ready to go...on the not so bright side now that I've opened the seams on the cushion I now have to sew 4 zippers onto it during my "free time" so that it can be put back on the frame and serve yet again as our reading chair. What's worse is while I'm cutting the seams Levi asks me, "Momma are you mad at Titus?" and I reply "No, I'm just frustrated." I'm hoping he doesn't know what that means but of course he does and responds, "But you're not mad at me are you?" Again with the guilt.
Alas, as I'm typing now it's 4:00 and way to late to start a nap which is frustrating because I had both boys in bed by 2:30 which was kinda pushing it for a nap start time to begin with. It would have worked had they not laid in bed awake for an hour and a half. Technically, Titus fell asleep twice but Levi woke him up both times- plus there was that time they "fell off the bed together accidentally." I know, I know it sounded legitimate to me too.
So in conclusion Elisa, I tell you all this to answer your question: Is it difficult to handle three boys? Well today it is. But what's that line Scarlet O'hara says at the end of Gone With the Wind...something about "Tomorrow is another day." For now I shall hold onto that truth, I'm just not sure if it is supposed to fill me with hope or just plain scare me. :)
Adventure #1: This morning I tried to be a fun mom and set up our new sprinkler in the front yard. This equals fun plus it waters our yard which is in bad shape and we've already gotten one letter from our home owners association! I had everythig timed perfectly I had just nursed Seth and he was sleeping soundly so let the fun begin. All was well for about 30 minutes until Levi transformed into Oscar the grouch for no apparent reason at all. After much threatening that he needed to change his attitude or he would be going back to bed- I ran inside for two seconds to get popsicles to lighten the mood and told Levi to stay outside with Titus. He followed me inside whining about something AGAIN and I flew off the handle yelling at him like I never have before about how I told him to stay outside with his brother and what if a car had driven by and Titus had wandered into the street and how dangerous that was and all the horrible things that could have happened...you know just typical stuff that every good mom should burden her 4 year old with. I then of course live with the guilt the rest of the afternoon for they way I reacted after trying to teach him all morning to change his attitude, but then flying off the handle myself. Then there was also the guilt of giving him responsibilities that are too big for him like being ready to save his brother's life in the off chance that a car had driven by our rarely traveled cul-de-sac street. In my heart I know I'm just tired and hormonal and not a yeller, but still the damage has been done and I feel guilty.
Adventure #2: Titus has been showing signs that he may be ready to potty train although I'm trying to make sure because I don't want a long drawn out process if he's not ready. He came in from outside having stripped his diaper AGAIN and ran to the bathroom to throw it away. I decided I'd try sitting him on the toilet to see what he would do....nothing of course. We head upstairs to put on a new diaper and get ready for nap. I stop for just a second to switch out the laundry before the towels in the washer mildew and in the mean time Titus grabs a book and sits in his mini-popason (sp?) chair that is deemed our "reading chair" and yes.... floods it with pee. Unfortunately the makers of said chair did not make the cover removable as most kids items are so I have to cut the seams of the cushion to get it off the metal frame and into the wash. On the bright side I had just switched the laundry so the washing machine is empty and ready to go...on the not so bright side now that I've opened the seams on the cushion I now have to sew 4 zippers onto it during my "free time" so that it can be put back on the frame and serve yet again as our reading chair. What's worse is while I'm cutting the seams Levi asks me, "Momma are you mad at Titus?" and I reply "No, I'm just frustrated." I'm hoping he doesn't know what that means but of course he does and responds, "But you're not mad at me are you?" Again with the guilt.
Alas, as I'm typing now it's 4:00 and way to late to start a nap which is frustrating because I had both boys in bed by 2:30 which was kinda pushing it for a nap start time to begin with. It would have worked had they not laid in bed awake for an hour and a half. Technically, Titus fell asleep twice but Levi woke him up both times- plus there was that time they "fell off the bed together accidentally." I know, I know it sounded legitimate to me too.
So in conclusion Elisa, I tell you all this to answer your question: Is it difficult to handle three boys? Well today it is. But what's that line Scarlet O'hara says at the end of Gone With the Wind...something about "Tomorrow is another day." For now I shall hold onto that truth, I'm just not sure if it is supposed to fill me with hope or just plain scare me. :)
posted by Christina at
5:18 PM
8 Comments:
Chris- you are a GREAT mom...consider the fact that you feel GUILTY for getting upset with your boys. I've seen many parents who constantly talk to thier children in a yell.
Don't compare yourself to PERFECTION you will always fall short.
I am thinking about letting Elisa know that she may be an only child! (this is our daughter Elisa, not our friend Elisa)
I like hearing about the reality of your life. I bet that someday you'll laugh at these stories, though maybe not any day too soon. :) Of course April is right. And it's good for your kids to learn that mommy is human and gets frustrated and angry, too. I'm impressed that at this point you have the energy to even take them outside to play, etc. Don't be too hard on yourself, my friend. I love you.
I relate SO much to this post. (Especially the overreacting to unfulfilled grown up tasks I assign to my 4 year old!) But I don't have the hormones, sleep deprevation, and post birthing exhaustion that you do. I am sure that you are a wonderful mom, and I doubt your kids will even remember anything about yesterday other than it was another day they were loved and their needs were met. I hope today was another day!
oh friend, you are indeed an amazing mom! if for no other reason (and there are lots), you are just so REAL. You are "human" with your boys, you don't pretend with the rest of us that you've got it all together (though I think you are pretty close), and as a result we ALL learn from you. Side note: I hope RRL does not read this post before we decide whether to have more kids!!
Thank you for your honesty, Chris... it is refreshing and all of us mommies can relate! I will be honest and say that this day will not be the last day like this... but they will not all be like this... it will get better... and there will be days where everything just works and it all falls into place. You do have to cut yourself some slack. You are a wonderful momma and your boys know that... it does cut to the heart when we realize that we have done something wrong. I have apologized many times to my boys for yelling at them or losing my temper. It helps them to see that I am not perfect and that even mommies need to say they are sorry.
Remember that those moms who seem to have it all together snap sometimes too... and nobody is perfect (no matter how perfect she seems as you read her blog!!)
Hang in there, and continue to be the wonderful momma that you are...
love you, friend....
Your kids are so cute! I love the stories. It is a relief to know that no one is perfect (though for some reason we try to let on that we are...). I cannot imagine chasing 3 kids around all day. I'm exhausted just thinking about it and I work 80 hours a week! I keep stopping throughout the blog...ok which one is the oldest? which is the baby? :) You need a girl next! ;)
Hello,
I read your comment on Angie's blog. I found her blog last week and just couldn't believe all that they are going through. I agree with you, she has amazing faith and a wonderful testimony of her love for Jesus.
I love your blog. The pictures of your boys are precious! You are a busy little lady.
I just wanted to stop by and say hello.
Have a great day!
Valerie
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