Though I have always felt this way, I will admit that after the divorce parenting seemed like sooooo much more work than it did before. I felt I didn't have the time to be the kind of mom I had been; and that, in my new role as sole disciplinarian, I was forever disciplining them. Those things haven't changed, but I think I've come to terms with it and so have the boys.
My time might be limited now, but we seize every moment we can to laugh and play together. I may have to wear the "mean mom" hat a lot more than I did before, but I feel I'm fair-- and my kids can trust in the safety and security of a mom who does what she says and says what she means. Life is not just as we would like it, but it is good.
Here are some of the simple joys that have brought a smile to my face this week:
The leprechauns visited our house again on St. Patrick's Day. They like to re-arrange the room all crazy, turn our milk green, and leave leprechaun-y treasures behind. We ate the Lucky Charms for dinner. It was the first meal in a long time James didn't complain about :) ......
My friend Meridee paid us our monthly visit. How **fabulous** is it that I have someone who comes to ME to cut every one's hair--including mine--for $50?! (and that's WITH a generous tip!)-----
This was only 2 kids worth.... my boys apparently inherited my crazy fast-growing hair--
This picture captures curious little Liam perfectly....
and this one shows tenacious little James---
One of my happy, contemplative Zane---
And sweet, funny Ethan....
They're all getting so big so fast. *sigh*.Finally,
Nothing says "we're at the beach" like a Taco Bell picnic :)......
ha ha ha ha!!!!
If you've got kids---go hug 'em :) and....
~Happy Weekending~
27 comments:
I love the work the leprechaun did at your house...how fun!
Wow! Great pictures!! I can't believe you have someone cut 5 heads for $50 w/tip!! That's awesome!!
Great pictures! Children grow too quickly don't they. You are a great momma and don't you forget it.
Have a great weekend!
Lisa Q
I want someone to come to my house and chop everyone's mops!!! *jealous*
I feel your pain at having to be the disciplinarian. It's hard to wear both that hat and the loving mom hat and not lose perspective sometimes.
I love your fun St. Patty's day ideas!
I was raised my first 10 years by my mother (my parents divorced)... Today I rise up and call her blessed ... Without a doubt these boys are so very lucky and will do the same for you. Loves goin' your way.
It looks like you've been having tons of fun. I think you are an amazing mother! Have a great weekend!
Wow! Fifty bucks for 5 heads? Does she come to Middleton?
Looks like a fun week was had by all. I love cereal for dinner! Glad to have you back.
Great words for all of us mothers!
Oh, and can your fabulous "hair" lady come pay a visit to our house?
Sounds like your trip went well. I have also heard Meridee's praises from Kim Banks. I myself am the barber in my home, if only I could take my head off to do my own. *sigh*
I love all the pictures of your boys. Each one looks so different-- in a realted way-- they all have very distinct personalities. :o)
Enjoy the sunshine tomorrow!
Haha! Love the haircuts! I cut Lucas's hair... it is quite simple. But women's hair is a completely different thing. How cool to have someone come to your house and take care of everyone!
Warning!! Official Lurker in da house!! Actually, Curl Girl, rarely a post goes by that I don't read. I don't always comment, but I read. And do you wanna know why?? YOU WANNA KNOW WHY?? YOU!! CAN'T!! HANDLE!! THE!! "WHY"!!
Well, okay. If you can handle travelling with four boys (let alone living with them) then you most certainly can handle the "why". Why?? Because I am impressed. You write well, you post great pics of your kids. You have really interesting and/or pertinent topics that you blog about and you do this the whole time while being a single mother of "The Boy Squad". That guy in Cali just may be holding a winning lottery ticket. It would be a shame to see him throw it away.
And the discipline thing, yeah, it is harder if there is just one parent. And it is hard having to wear both hats at any given time. But it is also good that they get to see you wear both hats. This will help prepare them for their future and help ground them better for a life that we know is not all childhood. It gets harder period! And that which does not kill us makes us stronger. Embrace the adversity and roll with it, because God doesn't give us more than we can handle (I just wish He would let me know how much I can handle instead of throwing it at me in randomness sometimes). Keep your chin up, Jennifer. You are and will be blessed.
Stewey
Yay for the boy cuteness!
Yay for people coming to your house for haircuts at a lovely price, I use to have a hair girl that did home visits (funny)...but we moved to a diff. town.
Yay for discipline! Well, it's not FUN, but they need it and WE need need it.
Have a GREAT weekend friend!! You rock girl.
Question: You stopped by yesterday, will you come back and tell me if you think my hallway is too dark? I would appreciate your thought. Keep in mind that my den will be this color with a creamy white fireplace and I'm painting the chair rail (under the toile wallpaper) a creamy white as well. Come tell come tell. Thanks.
I hear ya sister! It was a hard adjustment going from SAHM to working full time mom and shoving all my day long mommy stuff into the hours between 6 and 9 and still doing all the housewife stuff ( I wish I could have scored one of those housewives in the dividing of the property, but alas, no such luck!)
It does somehow all come together though with every laugh around the dinner table or cuddle with the nightly tuck in. I am always happy to know I made it through another day.
You forgot to add "...a Taco Bell picnic and HOODED SWEATSHIRTS!"
Look at all the fun that you have been up to. I am so jealous of the Cali trip, but great memories you are making!!!
I wish I had a hair dresser that would come to my house and only charge $50! That's what I pay for the guy I have to go to the salon for!
What a great, positive post! And I loved all the photos!
Have a fun and smooth weekend...
...A.
Such cutie pies!!! I think you are wearing the single mom hat extremely well!!! Hey! I do have kids...I better go hug 'em!! Happy Weekending TO YOU!
One of my best friends is a single mom with 4 kids and I know it's not easy. I know it's hard to wear so many hats!
I love the pictures and your boys are adorable!
Being a single parent is a ROUGH gig. But So rewarding sometimes...
The girls and I had a blast tonight with... orange slices... you know when you play with them and make orange smiles... who knew you could have that much fun...
We were all soooooo sick that the didn't make it to our house this year and we didn't even notice. My poor babies!!
I'm coming to visit next month when she shows up.
Cute idea for St. patties day. My husband is Irish so I always wondered what to do to kind of celebrate this holiday. I hope all is well.
I love the design of your blog. Your family is beautiful!
It's so nice and comforting to hear the honest, honest, honest truth about things from you....especially your parenting. You put it very very well....and it made me pause, and think of all of the times my mother said, "I wished I" this or that...
Maybe one of her wishes (being a single mom of three for a while) was that she didn't have to wear the "meany disciplinary mom" hat so much.
It was nice to hear it from a friend; comforting in a way. I know, weird, I don't know why...
Thank you for being so honest. It just helps...it really helps.
What great pictures! I love your attitude - you are a wonderful mom! And it's so great that you found a traveling hair dresser - genius!
XOXO
Jen
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