Thursday, September 15, 2011

Coming Clean. . .

They say confession is good for the soul (I don't know who "they" are, but I listen more than I should).

And I would never, in any sort of way, want any of you to think I'm something I'm not.  So for those of you who "don't know how I do it" or call me "Supermom" (please stop, by the way!) or think juggling the Troops makes me "amazing"?

Here's the truth:

1.  I can be seriously grumpy, impatient, and intolerant of my goofy kids.

2.  Sometimes I want to leave and/or quit.  (Usually when all of the goofy kids are home.)

3.  I like to stay up late.  Even when I'm tired (drives the Coach Mr. Self-Discipline crazy, by the way).

4.  I love rainy days.  And Eeyore.

5.  I hate getting up in the morning (especially since we got that 3 inch memory foam mattress topper.  Grrrrr.).  (See #3)

6.  I'm am even more grumpy, impatient, and intolerant when I'm on a diet.

7.  I'm always on a diet.  Did I say diet?  I mean "life-style change".  Whatever.

8.  I haven't lost any weight since February. 

9.  I have a horrible memory.  Embarrassingly horrible.  If I call you the wrong name, just remember it's not because I don't love you.  I call my kids the wrong names all day long.  And I love them, even when I'm grumpy, impatient, and intolerant of their goofiness.

10.  Calling the girls "Sister" and the boys "Brother" helps with my memory issues.  And it makes me feel like I live in the deep south.  Except the deep south was cooler, apparently, this Summer than it was here.  Go figure.

11.  Heat makes me cranky.  And sweaty.  And cranky.  This Summer the average temperature was higher in our state than it's ever been in history.  That's a lot of cranky sweaty.  I may not cool off until December (because I never, ever, sneak the thermostat down a degree or two.  Never.).

12.  I'm addicted to Diet Dr. Pepper.  But I quit drinking it rather frequently for weeks at a time because my firstborn won't stop telling me how bad it is for me (maybe he's one of the "they"s who say things?).  Except that when I'm not drinking it, I'm even more difficult to live with.  If that's possible.

13.  I think television (or Netflix, Hulu, DVD's etc.) is God's gift to mothers.  Forget playing outside (remember those record setting temps?). . . go "watch something".  Unless your laundry isn't put away or you have homework, in which case if I catch you watching something you will meet "Cranky" in a whole new way.

14.  I eat when I'm stressed.  Getting out of bed is stressful.  Getting seven kids ready for school is stressful (How DO you lose ONE knee pad?  How?).  Making eight lunches is stressful (especially with help).  Calls from the big green van to tell me what was forgotten and needs to be brought to school is stressful.  Trying to get all of the laundry done, grocery shopping done, meals cooked, and house cleaned before I have to go BACK to school is stressful.  (See #7)  Don't even get me started on what it's like after school.

15.  I have failed to teach any of my eight children to change the toilet paper roll.

16.  Finding an empty toilet paper roll when I go to the bathroom is stressful.  (See #14)  (And #7)

17.  All of the socks in our house go through the wash inside out.  And get folded inside out.  And somehow are STILL inside out when they get put back in the laundry basket.  Go figure.

18.  I love magazines.  And I read them from back to front.  And I may or may not hide in the bathroom to read them.  With the door locked.  At least I'm HERE!  (See #2)

19.  I'm a list maker.  Bet you couldn't tell.  Some of my kids like lists, some of my kids hate them.  I can't ever remember which is which.  So I make them for everyone.

20.  I like quiet.  And clean houses.  And personal space.  (Yes, I CAN hear you laughing.)

There are days, or weeks, when I seriously feel for my easy-going Coach and my fun, happy (in spite of me) children (who love to make big messes).  Because I can be really hard to live with.  My expectations are too unrealistic.  I get frustrated when I should laugh.  I'm ALWAYS too tired for one more story, one more song, one more piano duet, one more math problem, one more "Look Mom!  Look!".

Maybe I should go to bed earlier.  (See #5)

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Even when I fail miserably, to be the comforter and encourager that I should be to my family, I'm so grateful that the Lord (and the kids) offers forgiveness and that I can return again and again to HIS strength and grace.  The love of Christ is wide. . . long. . . high. . . deep.

Pretty sure that's enough love even for Grumpy Cranky .

Happy Thursday!

8 comments:

Lori Leigh said...

ha ha ha ha ha ha h ah ha ha ha ha ....

I am SO laughing because I LOVE your list and I LOVE your honestly and that list is SO me. I mean, I could just copy it and put it on my blog. Seriously. I feel so much better about myself since I read your list. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha... I sometimes feel like I am never going to measure up to the supermom status and I've finally decided that I just never will. Doesn't mean I won't keep trying... but it's so encouraging just to know that it's all an illusion anyways.

Love ya friend!

Lori Leigh said...

What ever happened to Thankful THursdays? I need to start that again. :)

Jen S said...

The thing is, I hardly believe you!!! I'm sure that you are exaggerating. But, I hope you aren't because then we have a LOT in common. :-)

Zimms Zoo said...

You know how badly I needed this today!! I started a "life-style change" with my friend to encourage her for her daughter's wedding. Let's just say that hospital stays make me cranky which leads to eating which leads to cranky because the scale doesn't agree with what I think I should weigh.

Love ya Girl!!

joancurtis said...

I LOVE YOU!!!!!

I love that you are so real, and so ME! It is nice to not be the only Grumpy Cranky who has blessings, that sometimes don't feel that way.. even when I KNOW in my heart they are!

and I made a lifestyle change too.. I quit dieting! LOL

Playdate soon!
Joan

kuliejellogg said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one. :) Does that make me selfish?

Blommom said...

I hear you! Sometimes I just want to pull my hair out and I think, "I could get so much more done if I didn't have kids!" What a silly statement! We ARE all in this together, and we all face our trials daily. Then, when we stop to really think about it, we realize we wouldn't want it any other way. My children are a blessing from the Lord. They daily bring to light my short-comings and show a wonderful picture of how I act to God.
Have a blessed day!!
(BTW, mine is Coke Zero!)

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness, sounds like some of the very same things that happen over here. So happy for cooler weather, dieting hmmmmm... that is just a lifestyle right?! I love to read, don't always get as much time as I would like. My children greatly benefit from having the dad they do. God knew just what we all needed! Keep on keeping on friend! Love your smile.