misadventures

parenting exhaustion

May 6, 2013 By Melissa

Parenting has been so… hard lately.

I can’t even think of one thing in particular. (Well, I can think of SEVERAL THINGS IN PARTICULAR, but they are not fit for the blog. TRUST ME. They are that good. Or that bad. You know what I mean!) So its not just one particular child or one particular issue. Its just… everything.

Maybe its stress that is impacting all of us, right down to little Colin. Maybe its the upheaval of moving and of an increased amount of traveling for both me and my husband at work. Maybe its just the end of the school year craziness. Whatever it is, it seems like things just aren’t quite normal around here. The whining and such is at a high point. The house is a mess, everyone is tired and sniffily and coughing (Thanks, Allergy Season!), and our schedule is so packed it is getting hard to fit anything else in.

Whatever it is, it has been rough over here. I can feel my patience running thin by breakfast and I hate it. I don’t want to be a naggy, frustrated, shouting mom.

I want a lazy Saturday, lounging around in our PJs and watching a movie on impulse while gobbling cereal on the couch. I want to have time where we’re just at home – no one having to rush to a game or rehearsal or practice or work… just hanging around. I want to have a movie night with popcorn and snuggling. I want to go out and do something fun – not because its some kid in preschool’s birthday party, but just because we want to.

Maybe soon.

Filed Under: misadventures

7 weeks

April 29, 2013 By Melissa

Seven weeks from today there will be movers here.

Packing up our house and loading everything up to move us into storage.

Seven weeks, you guys. SEVEN WEEKS.

(breathes into a paper bag)

I just want to cry. How are we going to get everything done that we need to do? Go the places we want to go, see the people we need to see? With the end-of-the-school-year craziness and my husband’s parents arriving from overseas for a visit, I’m just seeing life flash before my eyes.

Half of me wants to stay awake and not miss a moment. The other half wants to wake up in August!

Filed Under: misadventures

finding peace

April 6, 2013 By Melissa

I’m having a lot of anxiety lately.

I’m a planner. Its the Type A in me. I even make spreadsheets for vacations. Multiple spreadsheets. Clothing spreadsheets, activity spreadsheets… everything printed out and organized in a folder. I’m super fun to travel with, really. (Its completely genetic, too. My mom and sis are the same way. You should see it when we go on vacation together. EPIC.)

So the fact that we have a moving van booked for a day in June, yet NO IDEA where that moving van will be going to is really getting to me.

I’m trying my best to believe what we keep telling our kids.

That this move is a great adventure. That everything will work out. That there is a home for us. That God is taking care of us.

But some days, its hard to believe the words coming out of my mouth.

Especially when we call to make a bid on a house and find out it sold hours before. Especially when we find a house that fits exactly what is on our ‘Dream House” list and have to watch it slipping out of our grasp. Especially when I have to tell the moving company, “Actually, we don’t know where you’ll be moving us to.” Especially when my daughters are disappointed about a house and ask questions like “Why wouldn’t they want to sell us their house? We would love it and take care of it!” and we have to explain that its about money, not who wants it most. That one is a hard lesson to learn, even as an adult.

I’m just praying for peace. For a house that we can love, where we can raise our family, where we can be part of a community and share with people around us. Praying that I can believe the things I’m telling the kids.

Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:14

Filed Under: faith, misadventures

more ways in which i am totally on the ball

March 19, 2013 By Melissa

I called the dentist yesterday to make an appointment before we moved. Luckily, they had an opening for the very next week. Yay! I asked the receptionist, “Can you just check when I last came in? If its less than 6 months, my insurance won’t pay for it.” She checks… “Um, you were last here [...]

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how colin is singlehandedly supporting the clothing industry

February 12, 2013 By Melissa

Colin’s brand new pants I just bought him last week: Me: “Colin, what did you do?” Colin: “What?” Me: “To your pants? How did you rip them?” Colin: “I was running!” Me: “Were you being chased by wolverines??? How did you rip them running?” Colin: [thinking] “I’m not sure!” Although, while I complain about him [...]

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rememory impaired

January 8, 2013 By Melissa

Gracie left to go to school. I came back inside and went to make myself another coffee (cause that bus stop was cold!) and what is sitting on the table? Gracie’s lunch. Gracie’s homework. Gracie’s class folder. Gracie’s library books. Basically, everything. She want to school with an EMPTY backpack. I asked her, “Didn’t you [...]

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well, they shut me up

November 7, 2012 By Melissa

“Kids! I told you to clean up! Why didn’t you? *insert rant* I mean, WHY is there a huge pile of toys over here on the floor?” “Mom, those are the toys we want to donate to kids who lost their houses in the storm.” “Oh.” silence. “Nevermind.” Way to go, Mom. Tweet

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she’s got me pegged

September 18, 2012 By Melissa

Overheard in IKEA: “Look, Mom! This kitchen is perfect for you! It already has WINE!” … as everyone within hearing cracks up laughing. Tweet

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consider the moment ruined

August 14, 2012 By Melissa

This morning, my baby boy came up to me. “Mommy, I need a huggy.” I reached down and lifted him up into my arms. His little arms wrapped tight around my neck as he hugged me so very tight. I thought of one of my favorite quotes… My heart was full to bursting with love [...]

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Filed Under: misadventures, motherhood