The day began early, before she felt quite ready, and before long, breakfast was over, and her husband had left, and there were Dishes.
She began her work with attempted cheer, and stopped to tickle the toddler and coo over the baby, but after a while she realized that with all the interruptions her to-do list was not even started, and she redoubled her efforts to be productive.
The oldest wanted to tell her a story about how if he got some bolts he could probably build her the pantry door she had been hoping would happen soon.
The three year old stubbed her toe and cried loudly, and somewhat angrily, and the toddler wanted something to eat.
She juggled the baby while she handed out leftover pizza for a snack, but just as she was laying the (finally) sleeping baby down for a nap, a fight broke out in the living room over Who Got To Lay Down On The Couch, and when she went to intervene she noted with a sinking feeling that the baby had woken up from the commotion.
Holding the baby again, she looked at her older children and realized they must be bored, here in this tiny space with the rain pouring down outside.
“They can help me with my work,” she thought, and set out the grater for the potatoes and some mixing bowls for the finger jello she planned to make for the potluck.
But pieces of grated potato soon littered the countertop, and while she waited for the water to boil for the jello, her children fought over the whisk and who would get to stir it, so finally she Very Firmly sent them all to read books on the couch.
She was extremely ready for quiet time that day, exhausted from the early morning and the stress of grumpy children. She watched in anticipation as each child slowly succumbed to sleep – and then watched them for a minute, almost ready to wake them up again just to hug them.
But she just sat in the rocking chair, thinking over the morning, repenting for her bad attitudes, and reading a psalm for encouragement before laying down for a much needed nap.
If you’re having a rough day, you aren’t alone. May God give you grace to face the challenges and embrace motherhood even on the hardest days.
This describes alot of my mornings these days with a grouchy, teething baby and interrupted sleep at night…but then there’s nap time! Thanks for the encouragement – it’s nice to know I’m not the only one!