Yadda, Yadda, Yadda

Do you ever read words on a page, from a blog, in a magazine and all your mind can hear is the gargled sound that is emitted from Charlie Brown's teacher in Charlie Brown Christmas and then responded with the 'yadda yadda yadda' response of Elaine (Seinfeld)?

I do.

Words and pictures can be carefully crafted, at times with the precision of one carefully erecting a tower of playing cards, to portray the image one desires to present. Blog entries can be quick, and unlike a book, do not necessarily need background detail to be understood. Pictures...well, they tell stories of mostly the good times, the highs, the peaks, the pleasures, the pretty. Yet my life is so much more than that...has been...and will continue to be. I do not want to mislead with my words, limited though they be. I disdain the temptation to craft an image through pictures.

I hope it is not what is portrayed here.

I was going to start writing a few little observations about motherhood.

But then I remembered that I know pitifully little. And just about the second I think I've got a hold of some thing, just like that- POOF!- it changes.

Mothering children, while a general commonality among many women, is as unique a journey as the fingerprints of the children you call your own. What works for me, may not work for you. While I think there are worthwhile bites of wisdom to be chewed on from the written pages found at your local bookstore, I tend to discourage new mom's from reading too much. The author of that book that is leaving you anxious or expectant is not the parent of your child. It may or may not work (even if -brace yourself- it has been given the handstamp approval of Focus on the Family. God did not die and leave any one else or any organization but you in charge of your children).

I find that going to the Architect of my children's DNA is a most effective and precise way to obtain guidance on the individuals in my charge.

For example, my third child. She is smack dab in the middle of two sets of twins. The two above are 11.5 months apart, Irish twins we call them, and are turning into a pair of imaginative navigators. The two below sprung to life, shared a womb and now have an already evident bond that leaves even me out of the equation quite often. Her Creator, who knew of her placement in this family and bestowed her personality accordingly, is working with her rather slow mother to enlighten her to the needs of this wild child. Yes, I'm slow, but I am listening.

With her, it's occurring to me that I need to be her ally. Her fierce independence can mask a deeper need for affection, attention and affirmation. I need to give a little more to the one in the middle. That is what I'm hearing, not what I'm reading. If I had anything to share in as far as motherhood goes, that would be it:

Be slow to read, quick to ask and careful to listen. No one knows your child better than his or her Creator. It's tempting, as it s in various areas, to run to a popular author, conference or any thing that offers a tangible 'checklist' of the good we are doing by someone else. It satisfies a need in us to assume we are doing well, but it could possibly be the most ineffective way to achieve the means.

****


I took the picture below, of the top of my living room counter top. It is a commonplace pile. Mail, a diaper that lost it's way to the grocery bag hanging on the door knob, toys too little to be around army-crawling twins and ping pong paddles that were the 'toy' (and weaponry) of the day.

Call me desperate, but Penny's motto at top right hand corner caught my eye and left me a little inspired {but just a little. No tears. No light from Heaven}.

Do I dress my children daily?

Yes.

Always by 8pm, that day or the following.

Do they play with actual toys?

Yes.

For the first 5 minutes after receiving them.

Emptying out the shoe bin is somehow more attractive to them.

Do you let them use real tools?

Yes.
My husband does. Just not the power kind.

How do you effectively potty train?

Let me get back to you on the effective part in about 5 years. Or never.

As for training, it is not for the weak, and it leaves all parties involved quite exhausted.
Make sure there is plenty of pillows, patience, potpourri and extra panties laying around.
(although the patience is hard to find at times).



Do you try and teach your children manners?

YES! They are very important to me.
(along with approaching adults with respect, eye contact & answer what is asked of you).
However.
Life happens. There are times when dinner is so good, that it must be licked off and applied to one's hair. She considers it a compliment to the chef, especially when that particular chef has her back turned and is attuned to something or someone else.




If you need wisdom, ask our generous God,
and he will give it to you.
He will not rebuke you for asking.
-James 1:5


If you are a mama reading this, know that I am with you in this.
If you're striving, I'd gently suggest you stop.
Just ask.
Stop.
Look.
Listen.

You will be given what you need for the child in need.
Or for just yourself.