Should Have Sunday

October 24, 2010 Lindsey P. Brackett5 Comments

I spend way too much time thinking about all the things I should have (or should be) doing.

Like this morning.

I should be rushing around to get out the door to church on time, not trying to relieve some of my anxiety by blogging.

I should have made the girls get a bath last night when we got home at 9 even though I was tired and just wanted to nurse Amelia and get to bed.

And I should not have melted down yesterday about the mess the girls made (and Joshua left me in charge of cleaning up). Instead I could have modeled calm behavior under pressure. Even if that pressure was the fact that it was 1:27 and I was supposed to be able to feed all three of them and myself, get dressed for a wedding, clean up the mess in the carport, curl my hair, pack up the girls and get them to Mimi’s, and then show up at the church by 2 for a weddding.

Not happening.

The truth is there’s a lot not happening these days that should happen. We should be reading more story books. We should be playing outside in the beautiful autumn splendor. We should be putting the finishing touches on Halloween costumes and hiding the Kit-Kats from Daddy.

Yeah, I spend way too much time on the shoulds. No matter that this week alone I had a kid read a book (and like it) for the first time this year. I had a productive parent meeting and definitely went above the job description I was handed in EDU 101. I spent about ten hours helping direct a wedding rehearsal and the wedding itself and consoling a harried bride. I braided Annabelle’s hair like Laura Ingalls and cuddled Amelia until she fell asleep. I made $80 dollars selling random items on Classifieds at school and have managed to get all those delivered to their buyers. I took a few minutes this week to catch up with friends and enjoy a glass of wine. And I think I just put the last load of laundry I’m doing this weekend in the dryer.

Finding the balance between home and work and kids and chores and worship and church is tough. And focusing on what my should haves is enlightening when it helps me realize what should be getting the best of me.

So this afternoon even though I should fold all the laundry and mop the floor and clean the bathroom, I think I’ll take a nap and put the finishing touches on Halloween costumes and finish the next chapter of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with Madelynne so she’s ready for her next rehearsal.

And everything else can just wait ’til next time.

Kindergarten Meltdown

August 13, 2010 Lindsey P. BrackettLeave a comment

I have made an important discovery this week. Kindergarten causes meltdowns.

Now, at first I thought it was just me. Well, just Madelynne. But I have been discussing these, um, situations with other moms of new kindergarteners and we’ve figured it out.

They spend all day being so good that they just explode when they arrive home. Now I know that I should be grateful that she behaves for her teacher and other adults, that she feels safe at home and knows we will love her no matter how bad the meltdown may be, but seriously? I’d like to get to experience the politeness and sweetness that I know is somewhere in the middle of all that meldown.

I mean, after all, I did give her life, so I figure I’m entitled to the good child every once in a while.

and that completes #2 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge 😉

http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · madelynne · school

First Days of School

August 10, 2010September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett2 Comments

It was a big first day for all of us. Kindergarten, Pre-K, Bed Babies….oh, and Mommy got to meet almost 100 new faces, too. And right now, I don’t remember any of their names.

I’m exhausted. and my feet hurt. and my head. oh, and did I mention Amelia shared her cold? So after five straight hours of “Welcome to 7th Grade!” speeches, my throat is killing me. But this post isn’t supposed to be about me. It’s supposed to be about my girls and their big milestones today.

Can we really be actual school parents now? For big school? I had more empathy this morning for the parents who are leary of dropping their child at middle school than I have ever had before. Suddenly I realized she was outside the safe bubble world I had created and chosen for her and was part of the real world where there will be so many more influences we don’t want or like. It’s scary.

But I didn’t cry. I really didn’t. I teared up. I choked up. I sniffled this morning while I got ready for my eighth first day of school as a teacher. And I prepared myself to lose it when I dropped her off and she ran ahead saying, “I know where my room is!”

But I didn’t cry. Because before I left she hugged me tight and said, “Don’t cry, Mama. It’s going to be okay.”

And you know what? It really is.