I'm Not a Perfect Mom

I had a moment this morning (more like a half hour) where I was vividly reminded that I'm not a perfect mom.

It's all a sham, I feel like I need to tell my husband to send back my mother's day presents he already gave me.  (2 very pretty flexi-clips by the way)

I'm not as patient as I should be, I'm not as slow to anger as I should be, and I certainly don't cherish those moments like I should.

But I can't expect that I will be perfect.  As much as I want to give my children perfection, as much as I wish they were always parented properly, I simply can't be that mother.

I have a choice, I can:

A) Drive myself crazy trying to be perfect and drown my sorrows in the potty training M&M's when I fail.
B) Hide on facebook while my children watch 10 hours of TV per day
or
C) Depend on the strength and wisdom of Christ.

Being a mother is hard.  Really hard.  I read an old yahoo news story yesterday about a mother who snapped and violently abused her baby, and I've known women in real life to be guilty of similar (and worse) crimes against their children.

A story like the one I read yesterday enrages me, but it also stirs up deep compassion within my heart.

I know the feeling of desperation, but I also know the author of ultimate hope.

I wish I could tell every mother in that moment of absolute desperation that they don't have to do it alone, that there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and that it's okay if they're not perfect because NO ONE is.

I wish sometimes there was someone there to remind me of the same thing.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and heart on this.

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

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Why I Love Being a Mom and True Christian Motherhood Review and Giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

I truly love being a mother, I consider holding a sleeping baby, comforting a hurting toddler, and playing with a rambunctious preschooler to be high privileges.

Getting to watch my three year old this week "walk" my parents' chocolate lab and scream "Yeee Ha!!!" as the dog drug her at break-neck speed down a hallway makes my heart ignite with joy.

Seeing my 18 month old do hand signs for the 23rd Psalm and say some of the words makes my heart melt.

And just looking at my 2 month old's little smiles, well let's just say it makes all the diapers and spit-up worth it.

In a world that says children cost too much, that children will ruin your career or marriage, and that children are too much work and a bother things can get very discouraging.  No matter how many little smiles and moments of joy our children bring us, Christian mother's need encouragement.


I was so excited to buy True Christian Motherhood  when it first came out. I love June Fuentes' blog A Wise Woman Builds Her Home and I knew her book would be a blessing, I wasn't wrong.  I loved it so much I bought more copies and gave them as gifts to other moms as well.  And now I have an opportunity to give a copy to one of my readers.

The book has 26 Devotion Style Chapters of ENCOURAGEMENT.  It's like buying a little cheerleader for your e-reader or computer.  It's a book of Biblical instruction for moms of children at any age.

You can buy it by clicking the link below for only $7.00, I assure you it is worth every penny, or you can enter the giveaway below.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Be sure to Buy this book if you didn't win though : ) 

It's Fabulous.

Why I Love Being a Mom: Week 3 (With Linky)

I haven't forgotten about this series, Christmas and New Years just got a little busy, but full of so many wonderful memories I don't think I could write them all down.

I love the joy that children bring to our home.

I love the baby smiles, and unrestrained giggles of little girls.

I love their cuteness even when I should be scolding them.
Joy fills our home, we are truly a blessed family.

(Felicity Starts Speaking her own Language Round :50)

Why I Love Being a Mom: Week 2

So are you writing down your mommy moments? 

 I encourage you write something right now, a facebook note, a blog post, or even something in your own personal journal.  

But write something, capture and savor the memory.

(And if you do it online, be sure to come back and link here) 

Today as I was feeding the baby my 18 month old was sitting in her high chair eating her breakfast.  She had just finished her chex, which is normally my cue to get the bowl away from her as quickly as possible.  Unfortunately I had a drifting to sleep infant in my arms and his sleep was much more important than spilled milk.  My daughter must have sensed this because she gave me one of her trade marked sideways glances, and smiled as if to say "Whatcha gonna do about it mom?" and proceeded to splash milk to her hearts content.  I chose to laugh rather than to discipline, because I wasn't in a position to actually stop her.  Oh well, I'll clean my patio doors eventually, in the mean time their streaked with soy milk.

Anyone who has breast fed an infant knows that when they are in your arms the only thing they want to do is nurse, which after a certain point becomes very taxing.  Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who after our babies are done eating has rocked them to sleep and written countless lullabies while dancing across the floor.  " I hope that you are, as asleep as my arm, because all I can do is sing."

While watching a video the other day, my 18 month old screams the word "Cow!!!"  and my three year old says, inflecting her voice identically to mine repeats what I have said so many times while watching videos or reading books, "You're right that is a cow!"

I was informed by my mother, who is directing our children's pageant, that Ivy keeps on giving herself lines, and solos during practices.

The Christmas pageant was this Sunday, and my little girl was seeming so grown up, until she hurt her hand on her chair and had to come running down to her mommy.  (sigh)  I took her in my arm, and held her, she decided to watch the play until the finale (at which point she wanted to join the rest of the kids again).  In the mean time her brother got his acting debut as baby Jesus, but while "Mary" was holding him he began to fuss in her arms. Ivy looks at me with deep seriousness and says, "Mom, something is wrong, you should go up and get him."

And My Favorite: While sitting at the table we showed Ivy the cookie she would get for dessert if she ate a good lunch, and how big and perfect it was.  Completely unprovoked she exclaimed "Oh My Peas!"  (For you Super Why fans, that makes perfect sense)

What are your Mommy Moments?

Photo Credit 

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Why I Love Being a Mom

I read this post yesterday by the Mom's of Boy's society, and felt a twinge of guilt.  I haven't been treasuring the moments like I should (does any mother?).

When my 3 year old needs a band-aid and a snuggle, I don't always savor the snuggle.

When my 18 month old just needs my lap I don't always make room, even when there is no reason why I couldn't.

And when I nurse my littlest I don't always take a moment to enjoy his peacefulness.

And that journal that I meant to start with my oldest hasn't been started.

So for now, I'm planning on starting a series ( probably on Mondays, probably with a weekly linkup and fancy button) for us to share our memories of why we love being parents.  Those little moments we need to write down so one day we can look back and sigh with contentment at our collection of memories.

Will you join me? ( Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy to stay up to date  )

Why I love Being a Mom Week 1


1) My 18 moth old is in a "no" phase the answer to everything is "no".  I remember when Ivy went through this phase too, and it was just as comical.  A typical conversation goes something like this, "Do you want juice?"  "No" "Are you sure" "No"

2) Both girls love holding their baby brother.  Ivy especially wants to mother and gets the biggest smile on her face when she get's to be my helper.

3) Yesterday while I was feeding Josiah, Ivy was "feeding" her baby doll on the couch next to me.  She was rubbing the dolls back and head while holding it, just like I do with Jo.  When Josiah needed a burp, Ivy took her dolly and gave it a burp as well, it was absolutely precious.

4) Felicity is going through a phase where she won't hug her dad when he asks.  It's her game, she'll run up to him just out of arms reach then run away giggling.  This would probably be discouraging to daddy, but when he lays her down for bed at night he get's the biggest most unreserved hugs, that are just for him.

5) My mother got Josiah's first smile when she was watching him so I could go to the doctors.  We'd been seeing signs of little smiles, but Ga-Ga got the first "real" smile.  I'll admit I'm a little jealous, but as often as she watches my children she deserved it : )  I got my first smile at 3:00 am this morning though when he didn't want to go back to sleep after a diaper change.  His little face was contorted in anger then he opened his eyes, saw me, and smiled.

6) Speaking of first smiles, Ivy's was on our love seat.  I had her sitting up, and I was just talking to her and she smiled for me.  Felicity's first smile was brought on by her sister playing with her.

7) We had triple doctors appointments this week with the kids.  They did very well, I am so grateful for the fish tank in the waiting room. Ivy was showing me the "Mommy iridescent fish, the daddy iridescent fish, and the baby iridescent fish."  I'm not sure if I teach her large words because I want her to have a good vocabulary or I just like hearing the cute way she says them.

8) The girls have made a "fort" between a wall and recliner in our basement.  I generally hear 10-20 minutes of giggling followed by high pitched shrieking when one of them does something to annoy the other.

9) Baby Jo has definitely decided he no longer likes his bassinet, and will only sleep in the pack and play, someones arms/sling or the bed.  I won't lie carrying him around all day isn't the easiest, but there is something wonderful about holding a little one so close.

10) Besides no, Felicity's favorite word is "tuck" (stuck).  Whether it's the tray on her high chair, her foot in her jammies, or the straps on her carseat whenever she get's frustrated the word "Tuck!" is sure to follow.

Now it's your turn.  Do you have any Mommy moments, or pictures?  If you don't have a blog write a facebook note and link up. For heaven's sakes though, take a moment and write something down because one day you'll be glad you did.