thoughts on being a M-O-M. and a resolution.
my mom spells everything- did you know that? She is great. Now I tell lucy all the time, "Let's get your B-U-T in the T-U-B!". Classic Mom.
Anywho. I haven't been able to fall asleep lately, so as it turns out I have just been staying up really late, and putting on a movie for Lucy every morning, giving Clara a bottle, and pray that Clara will fall back asleep while I snooze next to Lucy for an extra hour! Haha. Good Parenting 101. I should write a book, right!?
Well, do this thinking time up late, and mainly because my hubby is gone, so my adult interaction is at an all time low, I have been doing lots of thinking. I like to think that I have 'grown up' a little in the last year or so. I will admit, I can be a pretty worldly person, but I find myself more and more, wishing I could homeschool my little girlies and save them from all the scary things out there. I used to want them to be the best dancer/soccer player/gymnast/cutest/funnest/ girls ever-- all of which are good things, but now I mainly just want them to be kind. I want them to be good. Oh please be good! And as I think more about that, I know a huge responsibility falls on me. Their lowly mama. =)
I was totally feeling nostalgic tonight and was watching videos of the girls I have coached cheer for the last 3+ years. I am always doubting myself, but tonight I was feeling so proud of myself. "I made up that routine!", I thought to myself... "and it looks SO good!" I laugh to myself now thinking about it, but I am so proud! I did what I love, and I taught, and coached, and cleaned, and worked so so hard, I put so much time into them, and they looked awesome! They got better and better over the years, and I was so proud of them. They looked great, and they were darling girls. (For the most part... Haha. Kidding.) I was so proud of what I had done. I hoped I had taught them something for the time that I coached them, and the most rewarding part of my job was that night of the 'end of year banquet' when some of them thanked me for making an impact on their lives. I had been a good example- or at least somewhat of one! I had tried anyway. And it was so rewarding-- now, I have a bigger and even better job.
That of being a MOM! If only it were as simple as being a cheer coach, right? =) Lucy is growing up before my eyes, and I think I underestimate her ability to learn. In fact, I know I do. She is so smart, and absorbs everything I do! (Even if it's repeating, "Freak!" when I forget something or something...) I have been having some SUPER-PROUD mommy moments. Lucy has always being a 'singer', but has really stepped it up lately. I heard her quietly singing 'I am a Child of God' a couple weeks ago in the car on the way home in the back seat. I talked her into singing it for me, and even caught it on camera! Tyler sings that song to her over and over again when she is sad. She now can sing what she calls, 'The bird song' too! ('My Heavenly Father Loves Me'). Thats the song I have been singing to her since she was a little tiny newborn, and she loves it too. She now sings every word to both songs, and the best part? When Clara is crying or sad, Lucy can sing her a song to cheer her up! She is the sweetest big sister, and while I was ordering cafe rio for lunch today (so what if I went there last Thursday too!?!?), I had sat Clara on a table while I was in line, and Lucy was running like mad back and forth between us! Clara started to cry, and Lucy ran over to her. She gave Clara her binky, then got her some toys out of the diaper bag, and when all else failed- sang her a song. Oh she is so sweet!
Moving on- Lucy is learning so much, and I feel like it is so important to teach her about the scriptures, and to not be afraid of sharing her testimony. I never-ever bear my testimony in church, but for some reason Tyler and I did a couple weeks ago. Lucy insisted on going up with me, after daddy had already bore his, and immediately grabbed the microphone and yelled something into it. It was awesome-- Later when Tyler asked her what she said, she said "Jesus!". She loves to sit on my lap during the sacrament (about 80% of the time, the other time she is asking for her animals) But I love to sit and tell her that during the sacrament we are always reverent and thinking about Jesus. She loves Jesus, and loves to point him out in any picture. She also gets so excited when she sees the temple on the hill! She looks for it the second we get into the car, and talks about it all the time.
I need to be better about reading, and telling to her the stories of the scriptures because I know she will remember them. My cute sister-in-law Carrie has been telling her kids the stories in the scriptures each night, and I love that idea. The only problem is, that will require some freshening up from me! But that will be great.
After reading the book, 'The Happiness Project', pondering on my mother-in-law's blog, and pondering just a lot in general, I had this brilliant, super-original idea.
I told Tyler, "Babe, I know what our family motto can be! You know like how all those people say you need a short family motto, I thought of a great one, well really I stole it from your mom, but she won't mind, we can do, "Be Prepared". You know, I originally thought of our super-awesome-survive-a-zombie-apocolypse-72-hour-kits we got for Christmas, but not only be prepared physically, we need to be prepared emotionally, mentally, and most importantly spiritually! This can apply to everything from waking up and getting me and the girls ready for the day so that we can be prepared if some awesome invitation comes along, to reading the B.O.M as a family, etc...!"
Tyler responds, "Oh so, like the SCOUT MOTTO??"
Oh ya. So it wasn't my own super-duper brilliant idea? Lame.
Anyway- my idea or not, and I really did steal this from not only the scouts, but a lot of ideas from Tyler's mom, i think this year I'm going to strive to be prepared!
I stole this fabulous quote from her blog.
Anywho. I haven't been able to fall asleep lately, so as it turns out I have just been staying up really late, and putting on a movie for Lucy every morning, giving Clara a bottle, and pray that Clara will fall back asleep while I snooze next to Lucy for an extra hour! Haha. Good Parenting 101. I should write a book, right!?
Well, do this thinking time up late, and mainly because my hubby is gone, so my adult interaction is at an all time low, I have been doing lots of thinking. I like to think that I have 'grown up' a little in the last year or so. I will admit, I can be a pretty worldly person, but I find myself more and more, wishing I could homeschool my little girlies and save them from all the scary things out there. I used to want them to be the best dancer/soccer player/gymnast/cutest/funnest/ girls ever-- all of which are good things, but now I mainly just want them to be kind. I want them to be good. Oh please be good! And as I think more about that, I know a huge responsibility falls on me. Their lowly mama. =)
I was totally feeling nostalgic tonight and was watching videos of the girls I have coached cheer for the last 3+ years. I am always doubting myself, but tonight I was feeling so proud of myself. "I made up that routine!", I thought to myself... "and it looks SO good!" I laugh to myself now thinking about it, but I am so proud! I did what I love, and I taught, and coached, and cleaned, and worked so so hard, I put so much time into them, and they looked awesome! They got better and better over the years, and I was so proud of them. They looked great, and they were darling girls. (For the most part... Haha. Kidding.) I was so proud of what I had done. I hoped I had taught them something for the time that I coached them, and the most rewarding part of my job was that night of the 'end of year banquet' when some of them thanked me for making an impact on their lives. I had been a good example- or at least somewhat of one! I had tried anyway. And it was so rewarding-- now, I have a bigger and even better job.
That of being a MOM! If only it were as simple as being a cheer coach, right? =) Lucy is growing up before my eyes, and I think I underestimate her ability to learn. In fact, I know I do. She is so smart, and absorbs everything I do! (Even if it's repeating, "Freak!" when I forget something or something...) I have been having some SUPER-PROUD mommy moments. Lucy has always being a 'singer', but has really stepped it up lately. I heard her quietly singing 'I am a Child of God' a couple weeks ago in the car on the way home in the back seat. I talked her into singing it for me, and even caught it on camera! Tyler sings that song to her over and over again when she is sad. She now can sing what she calls, 'The bird song' too! ('My Heavenly Father Loves Me'). Thats the song I have been singing to her since she was a little tiny newborn, and she loves it too. She now sings every word to both songs, and the best part? When Clara is crying or sad, Lucy can sing her a song to cheer her up! She is the sweetest big sister, and while I was ordering cafe rio for lunch today (so what if I went there last Thursday too!?!?), I had sat Clara on a table while I was in line, and Lucy was running like mad back and forth between us! Clara started to cry, and Lucy ran over to her. She gave Clara her binky, then got her some toys out of the diaper bag, and when all else failed- sang her a song. Oh she is so sweet!
Moving on- Lucy is learning so much, and I feel like it is so important to teach her about the scriptures, and to not be afraid of sharing her testimony. I never-ever bear my testimony in church, but for some reason Tyler and I did a couple weeks ago. Lucy insisted on going up with me, after daddy had already bore his, and immediately grabbed the microphone and yelled something into it. It was awesome-- Later when Tyler asked her what she said, she said "Jesus!". She loves to sit on my lap during the sacrament (about 80% of the time, the other time she is asking for her animals) But I love to sit and tell her that during the sacrament we are always reverent and thinking about Jesus. She loves Jesus, and loves to point him out in any picture. She also gets so excited when she sees the temple on the hill! She looks for it the second we get into the car, and talks about it all the time.
I need to be better about reading, and telling to her the stories of the scriptures because I know she will remember them. My cute sister-in-law Carrie has been telling her kids the stories in the scriptures each night, and I love that idea. The only problem is, that will require some freshening up from me! But that will be great.
After reading the book, 'The Happiness Project', pondering on my mother-in-law's blog, and pondering just a lot in general, I had this brilliant, super-original idea.
I told Tyler, "Babe, I know what our family motto can be! You know like how all those people say you need a short family motto, I thought of a great one, well really I stole it from your mom, but she won't mind, we can do, "Be Prepared". You know, I originally thought of our super-awesome-survive-a-zombie-apocolypse-72-hour-kits we got for Christmas, but not only be prepared physically, we need to be prepared emotionally, mentally, and most importantly spiritually! This can apply to everything from waking up and getting me and the girls ready for the day so that we can be prepared if some awesome invitation comes along, to reading the B.O.M as a family, etc...!"
Tyler responds, "Oh so, like the SCOUT MOTTO??"
Oh ya. So it wasn't my own super-duper brilliant idea? Lame.
Anyway- my idea or not, and I really did steal this from not only the scouts, but a lot of ideas from Tyler's mom, i think this year I'm going to strive to be prepared!
I stole this fabulous quote from her blog.
"To every man (and woman) there comes a a time in his lifetime when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered that special chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified to do the work which could have been his finest hour."
Winston Churchil
I need to not only be prepared myself, but prepare my girls for the world to come. One of my best friends said something to me the other day very casually, but I took it as the biggest compliment. She mentioned one way or another that I was not a 'worldly person'. I still think I have quite a long ways to go from there, but I truly am trying. I can honestly say, I do not want to be a worldly person. I want to be humble and kind, and to be more like Christ. I truly do.
Here's to hoping I can get there! =)
You are so cute. Your story of unproud mom moments reminded me of Macey saying "freaking dang" over and over the other day. wonderful. Oh and I am 'brushing up' on scripture stories as I go:)
ReplyDeleteBut really you are SUCH a good mom. Hang in there while Tyler's gone!
Carly, What an awesome post. You need to give yourself more credit than you do. You are awesome. We are so glad you are in the family!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I had a TERRIBLE mom week last week and this helped a lot! Thanks a ton!
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you, my beautiful daughter!
ReplyDeletecarly- this post was beautifully written! i loved reading it. what a good reminder and post to help us refresh our goals for our families!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are so open about trying to do your very best in becoming more like Christ. I too struggle with knowing the scriptures (being in the Primary Presidency can REALLY help you with that! haha!), saying my prayers regularly etc. A few months ago I was feeling so down about not being able to get pregnant, and I had a feeling to open my scriptures (something I don't do often) and my eyes fell on a scripture that said something to the effect of "pray always, and your greatest treasures will be given to you". I realized then and there that I need to try even harder to do my part in being more like Christ and it's been amazing the difference it has already made in my life!
ReplyDeleteYou are a GREAT person Carly, and I believe in you 100 percent!