Huh? What did you say?

I really think that sometimes they make these things specifically for Mommas with lots of very rowdy kids. 



Enough said.

God bless,
Mary

Let them sleep!

Everyone has a say in whether or not to let your children sleep in or wake them up to keep on schedule.  For years, we have always woke them up to keep everyone together on schedule.  Most days, most of them were already up anyway.  But what we noticed is how much of a bad mood and cranky and whiny the kids were that we woke up.  Not putting much into this, we just dealt with it.

Fast forward many years later, and we are letting them sleep.

Along with our switchover to all natural/organic foods (which by the way, we LOVE), this has made sleeping actually happen. 

We have always had few good sleepers but I can say that sleep has always been a struggle for us.  My heart would sink when I heard other moms tell me or overhear them say that they have good sleepers or that they have slept through the night ( a whole whopping 8 hours+!).  Granted, there was usually a little baby around that would keep me up and that is not what I am talking about.  I mean all the other kids ages 1+. 

Our bedtime radically got later and later as the kids got second winds and my hubby and I were at our wits end.  We never had time together to talk or read or just watch a little movie.  It was at the moment the last kido fell asleep that our own bedroom light went off too.  Then first thing in the morning, our early birds would be awake needing us.  Where did we get to spend some 'we' time? 


We implemented our family night prayer time by around 7:30ish and put our energy into getting them to sleep and in there beds by 8-8:15pm.   All of them.  That's it.  They get to read till 8:30pm and then LIGHTS OUT for all kids.  If they come out of their rooms or keep their bedroom buddy awake, the consequence is that they get cold yucky oatmeal.  Seriously.  Hey, I am feeding them at least!!!  They decided it they want to eat it and if not, then go hungry.  There is always snack time and lunch.   And this also applies to waking up in the morning, if they wake up their siblings, they still get yucky cold oatmeal.  We have stuck with this and so far, so good.

We decided that it was worth the sacrifices we'd make to put our marriage needs first.  That's that.

With an earlier bedtime, they are sleeping in later.  Weird concept, huh?  My oldest still does not need a lot of sleep (never did!) and that is just his makeup.  He is up early and has always done that, and no way can we change it.  But now, we work with it.

I know it has been studied that kids under 12 need 12 hours of sleep at night.  How many of our kids actually get it?  Mine sure weren't and we were ALL paying the price.

Food and sleep are necessary to live and thrive and we wanted to live well, not just survive.

My oldest is 11 and I wish that I did this sooner, years sooner.  My hope is that a young mom or a mom with youn ones will read this and see the hope :)

Kids need sleep.  Did you hear me?--Kids need sleep!  12 hours is worth the sleep.  Most have an average of only 9 hours of sleep.  No wonder they were cranky and sassy.  Oh my.  I am not attributing all that crankiness  to just sleeping but in my own experience, it has a lot to do with it.  Of course, to everything-there is always exceptions but I would recommend always try to get the sleeping in order and then evaluate.

Hope you have a good nights sleep!
God bless,
Mary

Have you ever teared up or even broke down crying b/c you realized that you, as a Momma, have not loved your children the way they deserve simply b/c you could not do what you wanted to do and knew that would help but could not physcially do it b/c of the many demands of children? 

Have you ever cried so hard that your heart literally ached b/c you have not loved your children enough and it was in your power to do so but selfishly chose not to?

Have you ever?  Have you?

I come to you, in this post, and ask you to pray for me and for all mothers who feel this way. 

So heavy on my heart, these feelings, as I cling to the hope I have in Jesus Christ.  He is my rock.  He is my strength.  He is the One I turn to in hopes of mercy and grace.  He may be the only one to understand this power and deep love.  These thoughts can be quite overwhelming, yet I turn to the Cross.  In the Cross is where I can see the LOVE and the Forgiveness and the Hope.  It is only there that I can begin to understand the depth of sacrificial Love that He shed for me and how I am to LOVE those He gave to me to take care of. 

God bless,
Mary

Love is...

a call from my wonderful husband to tell me he made it into work OK. 

God knows.

I know.

It's the little things.

Thank You, heavenly Father for the gift of my husband.  May I never take him for granted.

God bless your day!
Mary

Is it me?

or...do people just not get together much anymore? 

I have noticed over the past 4-5 years a decline in "play dates" and get togethers for not only mom and tots(which are the most popular) but also for arranging play dates for older kids too.  I also do not mean just the drop off play dates but the "mom comes along too so mom can have some adult interaction and adult talk" play dates.  It makes me wonder if the technology spree has taken over the relationships that people NEED.  We all need people and relationships in our lives, outside of our own family.  Especially the moms, right Moms?   I am tending to think that the Internet, texting, emails, twitter, face book, blogs, forums, IPhones, IPad's and whatever else is out there that I don't know about has taken the place of real live people.   I remember how weird it was when emails came about.  I still would rather talk on the phone than email someone about something. 

It saddens me that our society is okay with this and has let the real human relationship, the sense of community, go by the wayside.   

We (my family and I) are living in a very populated area and there are many very valid reasons to why other moms and kidos don't want to venture out.  Traffic, schooling, clubs/activities and certainly the stress, stress, stress that congestion brings.   Besides the traffic, this would be applicable to any other part of our country too.  Wouldn't you agree that if someone really wants to see another or get their kids together to play and moms to chat, that they would seek them out?  But I wonder if that desire is being fulfilled electronically.

At times, I feel like I have the plague or something!  I had this conversation with a dear friend that lives 8 hours away from me and she feels the same way.  It has to be this electronic world we are living in and not so much the actual location/state we live in.  I have noticed lots of moms feel this way, all in different parts of our country. 

I am not so keen on how this society and world is evolving.  It truly saddens me.

I don't mean to complain but it is something that has been heavy on my heart lately and wanted to share.  I am not sure even how to deal with it or try to change it or if it is possible to change it.  How do I go along with this and enjoy the ride when I feel like I missed the boat?

God bless,
Mary

Together

Do you remember these 2 good friends?


Tonight, I was doing just that.  Being together.

Creating memories together as we cuddled in my big bed and read this good book, just me and my 3 year old.  After a long and hard day of learning obedience and charity, both him and I...we needed this.  We needed love to heal us.  We needed to be together.

He claimed that the big tall one, the frog, was indeed his Daddy and that little one?  That little one, the toad, was him.  Very cute. 

Together.

Then he looks to me and says that I have a smudge on my chin.  I try to wipe it off and he looks and tells me it is still there.  I try again and again.  Not satisfied, he licks his own thumb, and swipes it off my chin.  Ahem, nice one, little guy.  Very cute.

Together.

God bless your evening and your night,
Mary

I am crying

Have you every just cried b/c you are sick of saying...

"Because I said so, that's why." 
"Stay in room till I let you out." 
"Stop fighting and bickering!" 
"If you fight about it, away it goes." 
"Sit down and do your work!"
"Who made this mess?  Please clean it up!"
"Stop teasing your brother.  Now, go in the corner and stay there till you are quiet and I tell you to come out!"
"Why are you waiting for me?  You can do this yourself."  
"Get inside and finish up your school work then you can play outside!"
and on and on and on.

I am so tired.  Maybe b/c my sleeping, or lack there of I guess, and just burnt out. 

The morale is low around here as the weather is getting warmer and nicer to stay outside and away from the books.

Earlier in the week I made a new chart for the countdown of our last days of school and the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.  We all need a light at the end of this tunnel.  Our family does take some time off away from sit down and focus school work during the summer, but it does not last too long since my kids thrive on schedules.  But it sure is fun to just let go and bop around for a while.

My heart aches b/c I want to make the most of the days, with my focus on not having any regrets and doing God's will for our family.  Trying to make each moment count, and last.  But I also struggle to 'be in the moment' too and not an on-looker. 

But yet instead my thoughts are to get through this school subject so we can be over and done with it.  Get through that so that it will be done and we can do something fun, more enjoyable.  Get through this hour so we are closer to nap time so I can rest.  This survival mode is not my innermost desire to spend my days!!! 

Why, oh why can't I see the visible in front of me as these moments?  Why am I searching for clearer focus on finding these moments when they are RIGHT HERE?

So, I cry.  I tear up b/c my wants conflict with my reality of life.  But, maybe this reality is what I should want and truly what I need.  God is the One making my days and who am I to ridicule and be upset with how these days are turning out.  Sometimes I sound like a bit of a hypocrite as I say that I want to do God's Will and I strive to do it, yet I am not content with it.   For that, my friends, I am sorry.  Please forgive me.

I am a sinner and a work in progress....a saint in the making.  I am not in Heaven yet so I am going to keep trying at this.  I am not giving up.

God bless your day and your way of holiness!
Mary

A hard habit to break

As I am laying my 3 yr old down for his daily nap, he says to me

 "Oh, I love to go to sleep.   And I love chocolate."

Now, that is a kid after my own heart!!!  Just like his Momma!!! He is SO MY SON! :P

So, yes, my 3 yr old still takes a nap every single day.  Sanity for this Momma, let me tell you.  He is the cutest 3 yr old twerp around but he is also the most strong willed 3 yr old I have ever met.  So, those daily naps are a must for me to be able to cool down to deal with him for the 2nd part of the day!

Yes, my 3 yr old still sleeps in a crib.  Why shall we spend $ on a twin size bed that takes up too much room in our small bedrooms anyway?  Did I mention that he is a twerp?  Why, yes he is and that is another super good reason that he sleeps in a crib still....b/c he can fit in it!

And that chocolate comment?   So what if I bribe my 3 yr old to take a nap by giving him some sort of chocolate.  What?  You wouldn't do that if you had a strong willed kido like mine?  Ha ha! :P

Talking about naps and chocolate...I could really go for some yummy chocolate but it is Holy Week and I already broke that "no sweets this Holy Week sacrifice" already-I snagged a Cadbury chocolate egg for me all the while I was getting one for my 3 yr old.  Oh, those human tendencies can be so cruel.

To those young inexperienced mommy's out there-do not think I have it all together b/c this was a learned by lots of mistakes and practice. 

You may be wondering how in the world do I get my 3 1/2 yr old to still nap (besides the chocolate bribe!?)?  The kido goes to bed a bit later than hubby and I hope for.  It is also b/c my oldest is getting a bit older (11 1/2), and he is just not ready to fall asleep and stay quiet (he's a chatterbox) till later, at least 9:30, which is not too late for many people but for us-we are ready to go to sleep by 8/8:30!HA!  Instead of fighting my 3 yr old to be quiet and get to sleep, I have embraced it by reading to him and his 2 big sisters and loving on him, without Lil' Lady around, b/c she goes to sleep around 8pm.  BTW, we realized that they do not sleep well and end up having a really restless sleep if we fight them to go to sleep and it was not worth getting them down earlier just for us to be up w/them in the night!  I do know if I did not give him that daily 1 hour nap, that he could probably get to bed earlier, my quiet time and sanity is much more worth it at this point!

So, as much as he is a super cutie, he is also a lot of hard work.  But well worth it and wouldn't trade it for anything.  And now that he is napping, I must go rest up to tackle the rest of my day!

God bless your day,
Mary

Dear young moms out there...

Take the time to really play with your kids.  Show them all the fun games you can create with the smallest amount of items.  Play with them outside.  Teach them how to do an obstacle course.  Have running races all around your yard.  Show them how to play "Spud" and "Capture the Flag".  Show them how to make believe with sticks, grass and leaves.  Let them get dirty.  (It's okay-they can take baths and you can wash their clothes-it's not the end of the world~ I promise you! :P ) 

Pull out their imagination and then sit back and watch it grow. 

Bring out the blankets and have picnics on your front (or back) lawn.  Let them mess up the room with the cushions and pillows and blankets.  Let them create and learn and have tons of fun. 

This type of learning is the best and the most worthwhile, I do believe. 

I know it may seem difficult and you may think you do not have the time.  BUt I challenge you to do it!

Because right now,  I am reaping the benefits.  I am letting this moment sink in.  Right now, my older kids have been truly playing outside and doing all those things I took the time to teach them back when they were only 6 and younger.  They are doing the EXACT same things I taught them but now with the little ones!!!

(I do believe this is one of those moments that those seasoned homeschooling big family mommas out there told me about.  I have been waiting for this!!!  THank You God!)

Oh what JOY my heart feels at this very moment and I give all the glory to God! 

God bless,
Mary

Celebrate Motherhood

Do you need support and encouragement as a Catholic mother?
Are you confused and don't know what to do or who to turn to?
Do you have gazillions of questions that need answering?
Do you need inspiration while living in this crazy loud world?
Do you need some encouragement to know you are not alone in your ideals and your desires deep within your heart?
Do you want that support in knowing that your vocation as a mother is a Divine calling?
Do you worry that you are doing the wrong thing or not doing enough of the right thing?
Then, what are you waiting for?
Go CHECK IT OUT---HERE!!!  --MOM HEART---A Celebration of Motherhood

I love this!

God bless,
Mary @ Cheerios

It's not BAD if things are hard

Over these past few weeks I was convinced in a deeper loving manner of how when life is hard, it does not mean it is bad.  When things in life may be difficult, it does not mean that it is not worth it.

I have been bombarded by others trying to escape the hardships of their life.  For me, instead I am trying deeply to embrace my hardships, as they are very different from theirs... albeit still hardships.  Knowing that it is God's Will for He either is making them happen or is allowing them to happen.  Either way, there is peace.  Believing that in all things, there is a greater good, even if we do not know what it is at that moment or may never know or may never understand the why's of it all.

The most difficult things in life are usually the ones most worth it.

Our world is craving the easy life.  The life that everything goes smoothly and 'their way'.  Of course, if asked if I'd rather have it easy or harder, my human side most definitely says the easy way.

But, in life, in reality, there is not many easy ways around things.  Life is not easy.  There is no easy way out.

Jesus reminds us of that cross that we must pick up to follow Him.  He has the perfect cross for us, no matter what we may think of it. 

And just because I may be upset that life in a big family and being a mother of many young children is difficult....  Well, of course it is.  But that does not mean that it is not worth it.  


Just as someone who trains for a marathon does not enjoy the pain and suffering accustomed to training long and grueling hours.  The outcome is really good.  Passing that finish line in that marathon is certainly worth it.  Worth it so much, that sometimes that runner may even start dreaming of the next marathon.  Much like the mother who just goes through a hard labor and birth may start dreaming of the fruit of their marital love, their next baby. 

Staying married to the love of my life, my husband, is worth it.

Parenting a big family is worth it. 

Homeschooling is worth it.

Our Catholic Faith is worth it.

The end product, our goal, Heaven, is totally worth it.

Period. 

God bless,
Mary

A glimpse into a 5 minute segment of my days....

Finally got a chance to talk on an important phone call for a few minutes....kids playing play dough in the kitchen so quietly and nicely...
get ready....

kids asked if they could have peanut butter and marshmallows...I said yes.
I finish up phone call and walk into kitchen smothered in peanut butter and marshmallows bag 1/2 eaten...2 kinds of jellies with jelly chunks spread around the counter...I am stepping on gooey jelly and pb on the floor and mixed up with old homemade play dough pieces all over...table covered in play dough toys so kids eat elsewhere their sandwiches....i knock into the refrig and a toy soldier on top of it falls off into the area that is our water jug area where kids have their cups filled up to the highest part of their cup (why?! i have no idea since the jug of water is RIGHT THERE!>?!? argh....) and 2 tall plastic cups of water fall over from the falling knight...water everywhere on counter into our pile of napkins...all over counter and all over floor...baby crying and screaming....kids fighting over who knows what....kids out on the deck in the pouring rain screaming...or is it dancing and singing? not so sure!....I pull out the hand towels (there goes my supply) and soak up all water...child #5 asking me the 150th question of the morning/day from the deck (window open b/c I am sweating at this point) and baby still whining....I pull another hand towel off another part of the counter only to topple over my tall glass of milk (why milk?  I have not had milk and a PB&J in SO long!) and goes all over my counter and under my coffee maker (no! not my coffee!!!) and child #5 STILL asking me questions..even more loudly at this point....children coloring with crayon on the screens and shades, or maybe I just hope it is just a a chunky chalk...oh, pllllleeeeeeelease let it be just chalk...baby still whining....kids having running race throughout house.....water boiling for the noodles for tuna casserole dinner tonight.

OK. 
Phew...

I am tired...are you after reading that?

oh my.

God bless,
Mary

Recovering

I just wanted to let you know that I am feeling a lot better both physically and emotionally.  It was a long tough week and we are so grateful to God for the gift of life He sent our way, even if it was only for 10 weeks.

Thank you for praying.  I cannot find the words to explain how uplifted and supported I felt during all of this through the praying of family & friends.  Thank you, thank you so much.

  Life is short, pray hard!

I entered our little Therese's name into the "Book of Life" at the Church of the Holy Innocents Shrine in NYC.  I vaguely remember going to it in my very early 20's and here is where our sweet Therese's name is where others can know of her short 10 week life and to pray to her.  It is so special.  They even sent me a certificate with her name on it.  (I wish I could figure out how to print it!  It is with some diff. format than what we have.)

Sometimes when it rains, it pours...doesn't it?

Not only was this week 'the week' for releasing our baby, but my oldest also fell on a super sharp rock and ended up with 5/6 stitches on his leg, then he ran a fairly high fever that we thought was associated w/the wound but thanks be to God, it was just a virus, then my husband had a sinus infection...and on and on and on.

And then on the forecast, it is calling for 5 straight days of RAIN-Mon-Fri.  Oh my goodness.  I do not look forward to that with 7 kids inside (4 of them boys!) but I am so happy that it is sunny right now and finally we are all feeling better.

The great news is that ....Tomorrow is our 12th Wedding Anniversary!!!

God bless,
Mary

How we do it-Bulk and Buy on Sale-Part 3

I wonder how many parts I will end up writing!!! haa haaa!!! :)
Not sure but once a thought comes that stands out in my mind as "Aha!  That is the way we do it with big families! :)", then I jot it down.

Here is Part 1

Here is Part 2


So, here we go with "How we do it-Part 3"

Buy in BULK and buy what is ON SALE.

CHALK:   We do not have the cute colored chalk that holds 8 chalk.  No, we have 52 sticks of colored chalk.  Yup!  My kids LOVE chalk-you should see all over our driveway, walkway, sidewalk and the road...and even our back deck!  It is quite hilarious!!! :)

ART SUPPLIES:  20 glue sticks, 10 paints, 72 pencils, case of printing/copy paper, 20 boxes of crayons, 20 cases of markers, 5 huge piles of construction paper, 20 cent composition books and 1cent staples notebooks.  Found LOTS at Walmart and Staples. 
I usually go through almost ALL Of this before Christmas so then I ask for arts and crafts supplies as the main need for presents!

CLOTHES FOR MY KIDS:  FREE! from generous and awesome friends-we are so thankful!!!

If I cannot find things on sale-then I look for it at the thrift and goodwill stores.  If not there, I can usually find it at tag sales!  God SO provides, all we need to do is be open to HOW God wants to provide for us!!! :)

THere are so many other things that I know I forgot so I will add them as time permits.

God bless your Sunday,
Mary

Super Dad!

*Warning:  This post is ALL about my husband!*

I warned you.  See above?

Yes, this is all about my wonderful husband.  Okay, ladies...he has his quirks but don't we all?  But I can't help but post on what my husband has felt called to do lately.  I don't intend for this to be a bragging post, and I apologize up front if it is coming off that way.  That is not my intention.  Frankly b/c I am in complete awe of this man God has given to me and our family.

You see, a few weeks ago, he felt that he was called by God to go weekly food shopping for our family, so it is one less thing that I have to do.  Not by himself, mind you.  He is taking ALL 7 OF OUR KIDS WITH HIM while he goes food shopping!!!

This is NOT something I would ever venture to do, unless I was in dire need.  NOWAY would I do this.  So, this is why I am in utter AWE of this man!!!

He even takes the 7 month old baby!!!

He straps on the hiking baby backpack with baby in it and hands off a walkie talkie to our oldest son.  He hands out the list to the oldest 2 kids and they are off with one shopping cart while he pushes the other cart with other kids in tow.

He is my hero. 

Every Wednesday night he is off doing this.

I am on strict orders to take a hot bath and relax.  Just so that I can relax and have a little down time to do whatever.  What ?!??  I think I manage that.  It is so hard to comply with these orders! haa haaa

Now you see why I love this man?!?! 

He continues to amaze me.  I bet you too, right?

This is a completely selfless generous act on his part ...for me.  What an act of love.

He is always willing to improve, willing to figure out ways to make things work for the better for our family.  Thank you God for this man I married.  I never would have guessed he would be the person he is today.  Thank you God for him in my life and our family.

God bless this man of mine.

God bless you too!!!,
Mary

St. Monica, pray for us!

St. Monica, pray for us!

My oldest and I were able to get to daily Mass this morning and what a glorious day to go!!!  The feast of St. Monica-yet another one of my all time favorite Saints.  We also have a little girl having a name day too today!!! :)  Her middle name, but nonetheless wonderful! 

My children like learning about this Saint and how she had such virtue of perseverance in praying for YEARS AND YEARS for her husband (who was full of such temper and violent) and her wayward son (you may know as St. Augustine!: )  Yes, her terrible son turned Saint ~her son!!!

Her life gives mothers such hope! 

Thank you St. Monica for never giving up, for living a life of joy in the midst of turmoil.

Thank you for praying for us, mothers. 

Help us to do all for the Glory of God~ remind us to live a life of selflessness and of great love,

being the heart of our home.

God bless,
Mary

How we do it-Chores-Part 2

The main comment or question that I get when I am out with all my kids is...
you guessed it.

"How do you DO it?"

...and... 

"There is noway I could do what you do."

First off, let me tell you something. 

You are right.  Absolutely right. 

There is noway I do it and noway I can do it.  The ONLY way and I mean it, the ONLY way I can do this is with the grace of God.  He is the one that helps me.  He is the one that gives me strength.  He is the one that keeps me forging ahead. 

How does HE do it? 

B/c I ask Him.  I beg Him.  And most of all, I allow HIM to help me.  I pray and I pray some more.

Yes, I fail.  I mess up.  Everyday. 

But yet, I wipe my tears and beg God to give me the graces to get up and try again.

How can I not mention my wonderful husband?  He is always willing to help out and do whatever needs to be done.  He is a super example of a father to our children.

He is always looking for ways to lessen my load.  I could not ask for better!!! He spoils me in his generosity.  I just wish I make him feel as loved and as important as he makes me feel.  He is so awesome.  I thank God for him everyday.
Now, the practical side of how exactly we do it.  And since I am not exactly sure what is meant by "it" but nonetheless, I will try to answer that persistent question. I think it means keeping house.  If not, please let me know.  I will try to answer that in another post.

"It"...=Chores.

Our family is a team.

Everyday we all have our daily chores to accomplish.  There is noway that I could be the housekeeper and tend to this house all by myself and be a calm wife and mom!!!

They each have their own morning chores and then the family's afernoon and evening chores.  The boys also have their outside chore work once a day.

Since you have asked, here are their family afternoon and evening chores... roughly:

10 yr old: Take trash outside -2 cans of trash; sweep kitchen and foyer; empty dishwasher; outside work
9 yr old:  Fold laundry; put dirty dishes into dishwasher; clean up play room and living room
7 yr old:  Laundry switchover, vacuum under dining room table; wipe down walls and doorways w/magic eraser; outside work
5 yr old:  Fold laundry; clear off table after meals
4 yr old:  Put clean utensils away; help fold laundry and help clear off table after meals
2 yr old:  Help other siblings as needed or be w/Momma
6 month old BABY:  Nurse and nap!!! :)

They do these jobs mid afternoon right before or after snack and evening chores right after dinner.
My husband makes sure these are done after dinner too! He is an awesome motivator to our children! :)  He really has that gift and I am always learning so much from him.
I hope that helps clear things up. 

They certainly do not do the best job ever but they sure do a great job for their age! :)  Having a big family helps me to accept their jobs doen to the best of their ability and let go of perfection.  I am just glad I have the help!!!

God bless your weekend,
Mary

How we do it-- Part 1 *updated*

Oh, yeah, did I tell you that we ditched all TV/Movies? 

Oh, I didn't?

Surprise!!!

Yup, we surely are making this a family lifestyle MAKEOVER lately! :)

I know...I know....don't start.  I know it is odd.  I know we may be missing out on the news.   I know we are missing out on a helper per se..a 'babysitter' of sorts.  I know I might be missing out on some good movies or shows out there.  Can we be any more 'wierd' in the sight of the world, other than having 7 children that make us stand out?
But do you know what else?

Our children are worth it.
We felt compelled to do this. 
We felt God leading us to this decision.
We felt God calling us to this radical decision and who are we to disobey His Will?

It truly has been a radical change in our family.  It is a lot of hard work.  Constantly.  But our children are worth it.  Their souls are worth it.

The big motivator for this decision was the trash all over movies and tv, which is awful.  There is not much uplifting of family life& marriage & children but just the opposite.  If this marriage and family and children is what God upholds as wonderful and beautiful, why would I subject myself or my children to watching those things that are the opposite of what God desires?  When we need to tell our children about something on the news or something that we feel is necessary to, then we will.  We, as parents, will pick the right time to tell them.  We  are their parents, afterall.

The other BIG motivator for this decision for our family was realizing how much time is plainly wasted by watching tv/movies.  When we decided to forge ahead on making this schedule, we were in awe of how much we wanted to accomplish with our God-given time.  Seriously.  We did not want to waste this precious time with our children on this sort of entertainment. 

It is so evident that we made the RIGHT decision.

Since the TV/movies have been off and gone, we have been so much more resourceful.  My kids have shown great growth in creativity.  Some of my kids have really matured in so many ways.  We have instituted "Books on CD" and quiet time in those times that I would have put on a movie, daily.  One of my children, my 4 yr old sweet guy, has been talking so much better, using better words than what I have seen.  We have been spending, and I mean really spending TIME with our children-being present with them.  Not one eye on the tv and one eye on them.  Not the "wait a minute" and I'll be there b/c I really want to see what happens with so and so in this show.  We have found our children focusing on us as much as we are on them.  They are happier b/c we are giving as much as we can to them.  I really think they are feeling better about themselves and feeling the value of themselves in our family b/c God put them here in our family.  B/c we are present to them.  We truly believe it is b/c of no more TV/movies.

(FYI---Of course, if they are sick or if we deem it is necessary, then we are not totally opposed to it.  IF it is educational, then we may feel it is okay.  There are some grey areas for this decision.)

Well, best go now...time to get back to my kids.  We are all enjoying a most beautiful day outside.  My kids are using some boxes on our front lawn making them into air space shuttles and whatever else!  It is quite amusing for my little lady and I to watch.  To the rest of the neighborhood, it looks as if we are having a yard sale!!! haa haa!!! LOL

Go summer!!!!
God bless,
Mary

My Schedule Thoughts-Part 1

This summer has been flying by so quickly!

 

It is HOT HOT HOT and sunny most days :)  If it rains, it is only a passing shower and it gives me some hope that we can get back outside or to the pool.  This weather is amazing! 

 

The blog, however...uh, as you have noticed probably has been placed on the back burner. 

 

I sure hope you don't mind and hope you are having a fulfilling and fruitful summer as we are! :)

 

I have been super busy with that schedule that I mentioned HERE.

 

It is a super duper, heavy duty, 30 minute time increments of our day.  I hope to, God willing, post in detail about our days and how we are working with it.  That will come with time. 

 

However, I will post today on my overall thoughts on it.

 

Prior to implementing our family schedule, I had some issues at the end of my day.

The biggest things for me were:

• Why didn't I start my day with prayer?  How did I forget?!
• Why was I ending my day and wondering what did I accomplish? 
• Why didn't I get to the things I really wanted or needed to do? 
• Why didn't my kids get around to doing the things I knew were best for them?

 

I was living in a total reactive mode of parenting. 

 

I could not get one step ahead of my children and their want/needs/desires.  I could not figure out how to tend to each of our 7 blessings in a way to 'fill up thier love tank' and be the Momma they needed me to be for them and the Momma and wife that God was calling me to be.  Daily. 

 

Days would go by. 

 

Weeks would zoom by. 

 

Months were disappearing in a snap of my finger. 

There was a mental list of things I thought that if I accomplished then it was a good day.  If I didn't get to them, than it was not such a good day. 

 

This way of thinking was not healthy, b/c we know children have their wits about them and God's Will was very prominent. 

The deal was, I was fighting God's will for me and my family. 

It was apparent that I needed to change a diaper (or 2!) or fold the laundry but I was doing this task lacking the much love that it needed and deserved.  I was grudgingly doing these things.  I was wishing that I was off doing something else.  I believe St. Teresa said to 'find God in the pots and pans'.  And that is so true.  In my vocation to motherhood, though, I was not seeing it.  I wanted to, oh, how my desire was to.  BUT, I was kissing this boo-boo, disciplining this child, vacuuming when I should have been reading to my son, or answering my emails or phone eradically when I should have been playing w/ my 2 yr old b/c he wanted me to and on and on and on.  Living in a reactive mode of parenting set me up for a disaster of sorts. 

 

30 minutes is what we have per scheduled activity throughout the day, minus lunch and dinner which is 1 hour each.

 

30 minutes is a very short amount of time. I like that. It is short enough that fights and squabbles may not errupt too badly and long enough to be able to get some stuff done. What I have to get used to is that a little each day goes a long way-we may not finish the whole page of Math for the day and may need to come back to it the following day. This is not how I have ever really done school-it was always to finish a whole page and then Math was done. Not now, it is done at that 30 minute stopping time. That's it. It is growing on me, for I see how excited they are to be done with that subject. They can visualize the 30 mins and they know it is not that long. They opt to get to the scheduled work quicker than me nagging at them to do it (most of the time! :)

 

Now, this 30 minute schedule really freaked me out the first few weeks-thoughts rushed around my head and doubts that it would really work for our family. But, once into practice for a while, it has helped us all tremendously.

 

It makes me think of what Blessed Mother Teresa said:

 

"Do small things with great love."

 

Making a list of things that I wanted and needed to do that entire day was uplifting.  It gave me hope that I could get to reading to my children that I so badly wanted to and all those other things as well, but could not 'find the time' to do it!  Now, when my kids are interested in me reading to them, I tell them that I absolutely will and what time it will be at.  And it gets done.  Period.

 

That's all I have time for today!
God bless your day,
Mary

Oooooh! That smell, can't you smell that smell?

If your 2 yr old asks for a snack and you are changing the baby's diaper,
you might tell him he can have a banana.
And if you told him that,
he might think you actually said strawberry yougurt.
And if he gets out that yogurt,
he might realize he does not like strawberry chunks in it.
And if he sees those chunks he might just throw it all over the kitchen floor.
And if you go past that kitchen thinking he is eating a banana but yet smell the sweet smell of strawberries,
you might want to stop and take a look.
And then you will find strawberry yogurt all over the kitchen floor.
And then you'll be balancing a sick runny nose slightly fevered baby in one arm and paper towels in the other hand....cleaning up that strawberry yogurt.

Just sayin'.

(pssst.  Can you please say a little prayer for my sweet baby who will be 5 months old tomorrow?!?!? She is not feeling well and that makes this momma sad and tired too! )
God bless!
Mary