Perspective

I had a freak out this morning. Our house is a disaster. And well it should be, since there is no time to pick up or clean up or do anything else that is required to maintain a home. We have barely had time to stop home to change or even sleep since we have returned from vacation. Summer activities are in full swing, friends and relatives from out of town are visiting - life is go, go, go!

Whew! So this morning, bright and early, I decided that I should make time to clean the floors, vacuum the rugs and scrub down the bathrooms. I had about an hour to squeeze it all in before the boys had to get to swim team and swim lessons. Rock on. It could be done, right?! Right?!

No. It can't be done. I am the queen of setting expectations for myself that simply can't be met. I get frustrated when I can not meet these expectations and then end up snapping at my children in the heat of the moment. Our hour of lazy Monday morning soon evolves into a stressful, crazy yelling Mommy morning. It's not a good look for me.

By the time we got to the pool for swim lessons, I felt like the worst parent ever. The worst, yelling impatient mean parent ever. After a few minutes of getting the boys settled, one of the other pool mothers walked over to me, smiled and said, "I just don't know how you do it."

I smiled back at her and laughed because she has three boys of her own, all the exact same ages as mine. I replied, "I don't know how WE do it," as I gestured to include her.

She shook her head and said, "No. Your boys are so sweet. They sit with you and listen to you. They'll eat lunch with you and chat with you. My boys don't do that. I don't know how you get yours to do all that, to act like that."

I smiled gratefully at her and thanked her. I told her I really needed those kind words to remind me what is important. Summer days full of sweet boys, my sweet, darling boys, are important. Clean floors, vacuumed rugs and scrubbed down bathrooms - not so much.