The Harder the Job, the Greater the Reward.

Okay, so I don't have a traditional "job" in the sense of the word. I don't get paid for what I do. I don't make  money or bring home the bacon. I am a mommy. I stay home every day and take care of my children. This is my job. This is my profession. I chose it, it chose me. I like it. I LOVE it. Sometimes I have some complaints, but who completely "loves their job?"

I looked up the word in the dictionary and this is the first definition: a piece of work, especially a specific task done as part of the routine of one's occupation or for an agreed price.

So... no. I don't have a job by this definition.
My "job" is taking care of my children. And it is hard. Some days are harder than others.

My job lets me hold many titles such as:

Chef - I make about 98% of all of the dinners, lunches, and breakfasts in my household. I am constantly looking for new foods for the kids to eat, and for a variety of things so we aren't always eating the "same 'ole thing."

Doctor - I am not a legit Doctor. I didn't get a Doctorate or a PhD or anything like that. But upon one of my kids getting a boo boo, I administer care to them. Band-aids, ice packs, treats, kisses, etc...
I also have to determine when one of my children needs a referral to someone who is actually a Dr. Then I become a

Chauffeur- I drive my kids around to places they need to go, and places I need to go. Well, until they are 16 and able to drive me around.

Maid - I clean up after my kids, and my husband all the time. I do all the household chores ( my husband does help me, he isn't exempt ) I do dishes and mop and sweep and dust and vacuum and fold laundry, do laundry, clean windows, scrub the toilet... etc... the list goes on.

Entertainer - I dance when a song comes on that I like. I make the kids dance with me. I read to them and put on plays and play peek-a-boo with them to keep them entertained. I am waiting for my Oscar for best

Actress. I should be getting it some day soon. I put on a good show. I can't sing, but I am quite funny. Just ask my kids.

Teacher - I teach my children things that they need to know. We learn not only lessons in subjects, but life lessons and lessons in morality and right and wrong as well.

Judge, Jury and executioner - Not to that extent, but when there has been a "crime" committed and someone has broken a rule, I dole out the punishment and make sure that it is completed, whatever that may be.

Customer Relations - When they kids have a problem, they bring it to me to fix it. Georgia is being mean! Elle hit me!  I handle it so that they can go on about their days.


There are so many titles a mom or dad can have when it comes to taking care of their kids.

As with other jobs, I do not accumulate vacation time, paid time off, sick days, etc...
When I am sick, I still get up and take care of my kids. I can't take a day off. ( I can ask my husband to help me if I am sick enough, and he usually helps me ) But that doesn't mean that my mommy brain turns off. I will still check on the kids to make sure they are okay, and make their lunches. The kids still know I am there, and will still come to me when they need help. I am still a mom. I don't punch out at the end of the day. My days are 24/7.

I don't get vacation time. Nor do I necessarily want it. I like time with my kids. Some time away from them may be nice, but right now I'm not ready to cash that in. I'd like to experience any vacation time I have with them. They're here for a reason.

My job is making sure that my children grow up to be outstanding, upright citizens in this world. I want them to be moral and kind and do the right thing when given the opportunity to. I want them to be polite and wise and commit acts of greatness. I want all these things for them, and its my job to make sure that they have the right tools in order to do these things... like being their teacher and entertainer and role model.

If I don't do my job right, I'm not going to the boss to get a reprimand and potentially fired. No. If I don't do my job right, another co-worker isn't on the line and I'm not making another person's job harder. I am making my own job harder. I am making it hard for my kids' to succeed in life. I can't fail at my job. The people depending on me to do it are priceless and can't be replaced.

I chose this profession. I chose my co-workers and I chose how many kids I was going to have. I chose this daily life. So, as people in other professions have chosen their path, this is the one I choose.

My job is always changing. It's a constant stream of curve balls being thrown at me day to day. There's not a manual on how to do the job right, you just have to use your mind and your heart and know that what you're doing from day to day is the right thing. No day is ever the same.
This can be nerve racking!
I think I'm doing a good job so far. My kids are happy and healthy. They are learning new things daily and developing into little people.

The conversations aren't as interesting as they used to be when I held other jobs. Talk of potties and bottles and My Little Ponies are my daily routine nowadays. Sometimes I crave the attention of adults and of topics of things other than what Elmo was doing on Sesame Street today.

Will I ever know if I've done the job right? They'll always be my kids, even when they have their own. Then they'll be asking me for advice, and I'll have even more job titles in my repertoire.
Grandmother, mentor, advice giver, old person. :)

My payment is seeing my kids grow up. My payment is in hugs and kisses and laughs and cuddles. My payment is the satisfaction that these little people love me, and will one day go into the world and make a difference not only to me, but to others as well. This is the best payment. I'm a billionaire by comparison. My heart is full, and its an amazing feeling. There is no reward or payment greater that I have ever gotten than my daughter(s) telling me that they love me.

This is my life. This is my job. This is the BEST job I have ever had, and will EVER have.

Something that I thought I should share

I came across the following, 19 things we should say to our children.
I got teary eyed reading it.
So, I thought I would share because it was very much worth it.

1. I love you! There is nothing that will make me stop loving you. Nothing you could do or say or think will ever change that.

2. You are amazing! I look at you with wonder! Not just at what you can do, but who you are. There is no one like you. No one!

3. It’s all right to cry. People cry for all kinds of reasons: when they are hurt, sad, glad, or worried; when they are angry, afraid, or lonely. Big people cry too. I do.

4. You’ve made a mistake. That was wrong. People make mistakes. I do. Is it something we can fix? What can we do? It’s all over. You can start fresh. I know you are sorry. I forgive you.

5. You did the right thing. That was scary or hard. Even though it wasn’t easy, you did it. I am proud of you; you should be too.

6. I’m sorry. Forgive me. I made a mistake.

7. You can change your mind. It’s good to decide, but it is also fine to change.

8. What a great idea! You were really thinking! How did you come up with that? Tell me more. Your mind is clever!

9. That was kind. You did something helpful and thoughtful for that person. That must make you feel good inside. Thank you!

10. I have a surprise for you. It’s not your birthday. It’s for no reason at all. Just a surprise, a little one, but a surprise.

11. I can wait. We have time. You don’t have to hurry this time.

12. What would you like to do? It’s your turn to pick. You have great ideas. It’s important to follow your special interests.

13. Tell me about it. I’d like to hear more. And then what happened? I’ll listen.

14. I’m right here. I won’t leave without saying good-bye. I am watching you. I am listening to you.

15. Please and Thank You. These are important words. If I forget to use them, will you remind me?

16. I missed you. I think about you when we are not together!

17. Just try. A little bit. One taste, one step. You might like it. Let’s see. I’ll help you if you need it. I think you can do it.

18. I’ll help you. I heard you call me, here I am. How can I help you? If we both work together, we can get this done. I know you can do it by yourself, but I’m glad to help since you asked.

19. What do you wish for? Even if it’s not yet time for birthday candles and we don’t have a wishbone, it’s still fun to hear about what you wish for, hope for, and dream about.

Taken from this source... Click Here.

I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Closet.

I just ran out of one of my daughters' rooms because I almost had an anxiety attack.
I have random clothes scattered throughout the room because I am sorting. This is a thing you have to do when your kids are always growing. I'm putting away the 9 month clothes and getting out the 12 and 18 month ones. I am putting away the 24 month and some 2T as well.
Georgia is now in a 2T and 3T. She's almost as tall as Ellie. Ellie is in a 3T, 4T and maybe some 5T.
( if you don't know kids clothes, you're saying what? But, its not important, don't worry )

But you're asking "Why did you almost have an anxiety attack?"
Because I had a flash forward.
A premonition.
A psychic encounter of what is to be.
And all I saw was....
...clothes.
I have three girls and right now we have an endless amount of clothing. Several large gallon plastic bins full of clothing, on top of the already full dressers and closets. In my future I saw mounds of teenage clothes strewn across their rooms, and mounds of laundry piled up in front of the washer/dryer. ( this is already true, mind you ) But right now, they're small clothes. They don't take up too much space. The more they grow, the bigger they get. And if my wardrobe is any indication of how my girls will be  -- I am in serious trouble.
Yes, I have a lot of clothes; a lot less these days because I have whittled it down significantly due to weight gain and loss through pregnancy. I had lots of clothes because my profession was business professional and I wore a suit or dress clothes to work on a daily basis. When I  came home I would change into something casual. So, I had two wardrobes pretty much. I have a million tank tops and until recently, I had more jeans than a person should own.
What happens if my THREE girls are like this?
Crap.
I am in trouble.
We are going to need more room, more space, more closets, more storage. We're going to need more hangers and dressers and everything needed for more attire. Winter/summer storage closets, etc. Yikes.
And the never ending laundry. I have a remedy for that, though. I am going to make my kids do their own laundry once they are old enough to help. It's never bad to make sure they know how to do this for when they're on their own eventually.
Plus its the least they can do for free room and board and carrying them and then childbirth.
Daughter, let me tell you about childbirth and how much pain mommy was in -- the least you can do is sort your laundry and take clothes out of the dryer.
Thanks. Love You!

So you will understand why a future glimpse gave me the shivers and caused my blood pressure to shoot through the roof.
I'm hoping that because they are all so close in age, they will be able to wear each others' clothes and that will help keep the number of clothes down. And Maybe they will be able to wear mine and borrow my clothes from time to time? That would be nice. I hope I'm cool enough and I don't have a "mom wardrobe" not worthy of borrowing.
I could only hope.
"Honey, I think we're going to need a bigger closet."

2013, The Year of Doing Something

So, Christmas came and Christmas went. Just like it does every single year. The build up to Christmas was so great, and then it comes in a flash and is gone.
Ellie thinks that because there is snow on the ground, that Christmas is still here. I think from watching movies about Christmas, she associates snow with Christmas. It's snowing, so it must be Christmas. It's a good thing we live in a state where we get snow. I'd hate trying to explain to them that it never snows where we live. Although, I would completely relish living in a state where it never snows. I envy you, whoever you are. :)
--Now that the climactic ending to the year has happened, and New Year's has rolled around; we enter a new year. 2013. Are you superstitious? You know, the 13 and all. I hope not. I, myself am not and am looking forward to a year of the 13.
I've never been one to make resolutions. If I want to set goals for myself, I don't need a new year to tell me that I need to. I figure that you can make a resolution or a goal for yourself at any time. I also don't like being pushed into doing things, and so forcing me to make a resolution just because its a new year, well, that's not my bag. I do have some wishes or thoughts for the new year, however. I have a couple of ideas for my family.

• I would like to get the kids enrolled in swimming lessons this summer. I think its important for them to know how to swim. 
• I would like to get Ellenore more involved in the kitchen with me. She has expressed an interest in helping me cook and do the dishes, and I would like to help her explore that. Georgia, too. 
• I always say I am going to keep a cleaner house *this year* -- but then we have another baby or my husband's work load gets a little greater and so I am left to doing most things on my own; which leads to burn out faster. 
• I want to remain more active in my blog. I guess that means for me to find more "me" time. Whether that means getting to write in my blog, reading a book, doing a craft... etc.. whatever! I want to make sure that I am able to have some time for myself. I need it, frankly. All people do, even if you have children or you don't. It's something that we all require. "Me Party" time. 
• I really want to do more creating this year. I'm not sure what that entails right now. I don't know if that means more crafty ideas or more exploration in the kitchen, or exploring my art degree and putting it to good use. Maybe photography? I took several classes in college and I think I may want to explore that a little further. Painting? Crocheting? Sewing? SOMETHING! All the things I have pinned that I WANT To do?! Imagine all the possibilities! They're endless. 
• I want to get more involved with teaching my kids more things. I bought some anatomy "how my body works" flash cards for Christmas, and I'm thinking I need some in every subject for them. Yes, they are little, but its never too early to start learning. :) 
• I want to be more social this year as well. I admit that I can be a shut-in and avoid human contact sometimes. ( you mean I have to put clothes on and get out of my sweatpants today?!) Yep. Be social, make play dates. Get your kids into social settings. It's good for me and them. 

I'm sure that there are more things I want to accomplish this year. But I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't do them. I am going to make the list again and post it somewhere so that I can see it daily. A reminder as to what I want to do this year. And I need to remind people around me to encourage me.
"Hey Leslie! Did you learn to crochet or knit or sew yet?"
Well... um... no.
"Well keep on that! You're doing great, but think of how you wanted to learn to do that and what you can do once you learn!"
Good point. I'll get right on that. :)