blogger mom

Two posts in one day...

I've been thinking so much lately about my role as a mother, so in honor of Mother's Day this weekend I'll post some of my recent thoughts here. A lot of these thoughts are in response to things that have been said to me over the last few months. I'm posting my thoughts as an explanation of who I am as a mother of three (soon to be five) children. The comments I've heard have helped to solidify my values as a mother, which has been very good for me. So, enough explanation...

Here's the deal...I stay home, a lot. Sometimes I hear a bit of sarcasm as people mention that I don't seem to leave 197 Dakota Ave. very often. As a family, we love being home. We love cooking meals together. We love playing in our own back yard. We love eating at our table together. We love our bedtime routine. But, it's more than just simply enjoying being in one another's company and enjoying our home together. It's so much more than that. It's about laying down roots. I never want our home to simply be the place my children go to sleep at night. I want our home to be "base" for our kids, that safe place where no one can tag you. This is our sanctuary, where we find refuge. This is where I teach my boys about respecting others, about loving their neighbors, and most importantly...about Jesus. I can't do these things if we aren't consistently spending time here. This is not to say that we don't do our share of running around. There will always be t-ball practice, family trips, and school events. It also doesn't mean that we don't welcome others to enter in to our family life. We love when others join in with our daily routine. But, here's the most important part...top priority for me is my kiddos, that's the bottom line. It always will be. It's more important than accepting a social invitation or than being involved in things that others may perceive that I "should" be involved in. If it doesn't work for our family's routine, it's not going to happen. And, to be honest, just keeping up with three boys doesn't allow for much else. My boys are little and they require my complete attention. Soon we will be adding two little girls to our family that will have a whole host of new needs. So, if you think I don't leave much now...just wait until then!

It is a privilege to be Riley, Trey and Evan's mommy. I can't imagine my life without them. They fill my life with so much joy. Some days can be frustrating and exhausting, but I want to live every moment with them to its fullest.

And to my mom...thanks so much for modeling these things for me. Thanks for making us your top priority. Thanks for the chocolate chip cookies after school. Thanks for all the meals you made, and still make at your table for our family. Thanks for the bedtime prayers. 445 Howland Dr. was always my base, and it's still one of the safest places in the world for me. Happy Mother's Day.