Not Enough Hands

Some days I feel as though I will never catch up. If I could clone myself, I would. At the very least, I'd grow a few extra arms.
As you know, raising a family is not easy.  And while I don't feel my family is large, it is more challenging than it was when it was smaller. There are many days I wonder what I am doing. Am I doing a good job? Do my kids get all the attention they need? And then, the wake up call comes and I realize why I am so grateful I don't have enough arms to do it all.
My kids always step into take care of each other and fill the gaps I can’t. They give more to each other than I could ever give even one child.

When I see my kids helping each other and even doing ‘my job’, I can’t help but think it is making them better people. Selfless and caring.

And to me, there is nothing more priceless than the bonds my children are forming with each other.
 
Sure, there are plenty of fights at my house.  And I lose my patience far too often. There are days I’m not sure I can do it all (and many I don’t) but then, one of my kids will turn my day around and remind me it is all good.

'”Mom,

Tomorrow I need you to take a break. Go somewhere fun and relaxing. Go as long as you’d like. I’m going to set everyone straight. When you get home it will be sparkling clean! Thanks for all you do! I love you so much!

Love,

Hailey” 

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

*Just in case someone is thinking it’s all roses here, just stop by unannounced sometime and you will be set straight!

Never Cry Wolf

“OWIE! OWIE! OWIE!”

This sound has become too familiar at my house lately. Nathan plays outside, gets ‘hurt’, and comes in screaming as if an appendage has been severed from his body. 10 out of 10 times nothing is really wrong with him, so I have learned to ignore it. As you can imagine, I was slightly annoyed today when his cries woke me from my nap.

I heard Randy talking calmly with him, but the crying continued, so I got up to investigate. When I saw Nathan laying on the couch, there was no visible blood, and I questioned what had happened. Then I saw this:

“WHAT IS THAT?” I asked

“A stick.” was Tyler’s calm response.

A stick, sticking into Nathan’s head.

The kids love to pile the leaves on the tramp and play in them. It’s better than jumping into a pile on the hard ground, and we do it year after year. They had been playing the the leaves, and Nathan fell, being impaled by a hidden stick. Tyler, being quick-minded rushed him into the house to his dad (who isn’t desensitized by the wolf-crying.)

I held him still (which is a strong indication of my muscliness…) and Randy performed the operation. Check out the size of this thing!

I can’t help but think: If he had been wearing his helmet, this never would have happened.