Animal Crackers, Dart Guns, and Motherhood

Toys litter the floor, laundry baskets overflow, crumbs constantly spread across the hardwood, shoes in various stages of migrating across the living room, dirty dishes fill the sink at least twice a day, dishes, did I mention dishes?

You know, I read Proverbs 31 and think, "Wow. This woman must have been a super-woman!" However, the more I read it, the less I think she was all that at once. She was human, after all. I'm sure it took years and years before she was all of that. Still, Lemuel's mother tells him to look for a woman just like that. How did he know how a girl would turn out? I'm sure he watched her
-Habits.
-Standards of character.
-Choices.
-Principles of living.
All of which would carry over into womanhood.

Honestly, I do not burn midnight oil. I'm not an early riser. I take naps frequently with Jude, just trying to stay energized enough to keep up with him. Many times I bow to an easy, rather than healthy, meal. One could say with certainty though, I am NOT idle. I can't be. My attitude has to stay positive and light, and I must remember that someone is watching my every move. I'm not perfect, and I want my sons to see that; but I also want them to see a mother who fears the Lord, works hard, lives with principle, and loves them with all her heart. After all, that is what Proverbs 31 is all about, isn't it?

Jude loves animal crackers and recently discovered the wonders of daddy's dart gun. He is all boy. Tractors, trucks, motorcycles... anything that makes loud noise is in his immediate radar. He likes to know how things work and will sit and figure out how the sound works in a toy. He can play for an hour stacking and knocking down blocks. At the same time, he loves to read and will bring me his favorite books so he can sit on my lap while I read them. Currently, his life pretty much revolves three feet around momma... no matter how hard I try to get away! :) He's a happy boy who thrives on social activities, yet stubborn as they come.

In short, parenting is both a joy and a trial. I feel like I'm constantly treading water, trying to stay afloat or shoveling snow in a blizzard. Some days I want to just give up on the house, because I can't keep up anyway. Other days I'm so exhausted that we "bail" the schedule and cuddle on the bed to watch Octonauts or Baby Einstein. All in all, I try to remind myself that someday my boys will be all grown up, and I'll wish I had rocked them to sleep just a little longer...

Motherhood is hard work, yet it has it's beautiful moments, and of course, huge rewards. I could say I'm a specialist in childhood development, or a stockholder in a long-term investment program, but there's just something beautiful about saying I'm a mother.