Motherhood.
It's not Rocket Science.
It's Brain surgery
on Astronauts during a Lunar launch
while reciting the Declaration of Independence
backwards-
only with less logic.
I got this quote in a card from my mother-in-love this last year shortly after Gray was born. It was good medicine for a new mother of 4. I received it on a day when I needed it most.
Everybody hold hands!
How are we supposed to act in the store?
No, we are not getting that, it's not on our list.
Please don't lick that.
Don't touch anything in the bathroom.
Do we want this one or this one?
You may touch that with one finger.
Do you need to go potty?
Do not ask that again.
Are you the Momma?
Do not put that in your mouth.
Is it time to wrestle?
Is it time to be loud?
Everyone hold onto the basket and let's go!
It is wild.
It is crazy.
It is often times comical
and most every time exhausting.
I have tried explaining to Brandon, that trying to get up and get going some mornings when it's just me and the boys is like trying to herd and clothe a pack of cats. Not necessarily wild cats... just cats. Have you ever tried to dress a cat? It's difficult. I dressed a few cats in my early childhood years (my family will attest to this) and let me just tell you... It's a lot like trying to dress a strong headed 1yr old. Or a two year old with a mind of his own.
It's not easy getting anything accomplished when you're the only person heading in the right direction. All the while the little herd of crazies are going in 4 different directions. Much less go grocery shopping! Which, by the way, I really haven't made a habit of doing my big grocery shopping trip with all 4 children. I try to do "the big one" with at most 2 children, if the Daddy can be home OR during late hours while all of my crew is asleep. When all the people are stocking the shelves at the grocery store. I know, night owl here. It's kind of a blessing and a curse.
Blessing: being able to get things done while everyone is resting soundly in bed.
Curse: shopping amongst the sometimes creepy night stockers. (this doesn't include my perfectly normal cousin, Aaron, of course. Congrats btw for you new day job amongst the living ;)
Anyway...
Even though I try not to take them all with me for the big grocery trip, we do tend to go places together... You know, all at the same time. And it never ceases to amaze me what people say.
I can't even count the times I've heard the infamous words, "You sure have your hands full...". It doesn't take a brain surgeon to see that having 4 children, no matter their ages, would automatically make your hands full. I mean, sometimes I want to ask, "Did you come up with that all on your own?!" I know that wouldn't be right and I have never given in to that temptation. Like my baby sis always claims, "But I was thinking it!"
One of the last grocery trips I took, my before mentioned mother-in-love, Monica, joined me. We split up for the first half of the trip (she actually took the oldest 3 with her) and then toward the end we rejoined forces to wrap up our lists. The boys did a great job that day even not having naps that afternoon. And mostly people were complimentary about "all those boys" we had. But two people made comments that just broke my heart.
As I was scoping out the mushrooms in the produce section, a woman blessed my heart because of my "3 boys" and when I pointed out the 4th with a big grin in the shopping cart her response was "Oh, no!"
I was in complete shock.
Oh no?
I guess looking back on the instance, maybe she was trying to be sympathetic for me since I had all boys and no girls?? But "oh no!" as a response wasn't what I was expecting.
The other comment that caught me off guard was from a lady who turned the corner as I was reminding my all-boy boys to stay calm and that we were nearly finished shopping. She rudely asked me, "Are you having fun yet?" I was actually able to gather myself this time and I answered her with a smile and said, "Yes ma'am, I am!"
I realize people are just trying to make conversation. Trying to have something to say and the obvious is standing right before them in 4 different heights, ages and eye colors. But it hurts my heart that people in our society are so negative about children.
The comedian Jim Gaffigan does a hilarious bit on having 4 children. If you need a good laugh you must look this up. I will give a little disclaimer though, don't watch it with your 7 year old... Even though he's cleaner than most it doesn't mean he's squeaky clean. Okay, back to the point... He says at one point that he and his wife just had a baby and the crowd cheers. Then he follows with "Yep, just became a Father..." (still applause) and then he adds "for the 4th time" and it's almost like the clapping and cheering stops completely. Of course, he makes a joke of it and moves on. But this is a huge problem in our culture in America today.
I am thankful I don't have to just rely on people's words (positive or not) to form how I should feel about my growing family. I try to seek out what the Lord says and allow that to shape and encourage my heart. I know I am called to be a momma of 4 boys, if not I wouldn't have them!
"Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, children, a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one's youth. Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them."
Psalm 127:3-5
I am not sorry I have 4 children or that they are all boys. I am overjoyed to have my hands full. The alternative to having "my hands full" would be to have them empty.
I don't want for this post to sound like I have a chip on my shoulder... I don't. My heart truly breaks for people who can't (or don't) delight in having children. And see the calling on their lives to raise them as God calls us to.
It isn't easy having lots of little ones. Whether we go out or stay at home! Ha! But I do want to enjoy each moment... Even the crazy ones.
This is my favorite necklace given to me by my Husband and boys. I want to live up to what it says.
Thank you Lord for your many blessings! Namely, Tristan, Peyton, Kohen and Grayson. They are a joy. A crazy joy! And You desire them to be a blessing for Your Kingdom's sake. Continue to give Brandon and myself the grace we need to raise them to be godly men. Guard my heart (as well as my mouth) as you use us to point others to YOU! And may it be so that I have a happy heart as you have made my hands so very full.
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