Life is NOT a picnic when you have small children...but I am RSVP'ing for the picnic anyway

Two articles have caught my attention today.

To Parents of Young Children: Let me be the one to say it out loud

And....

5 Things I hate about Homeschooling (and how to deal with them)

I usually end up "liking" these sort of articles on Facebook and then "sharing" them on my profile page. This time, however, I wanted to share them here. A couple of things resonated with me while reading these articles.

1. Here lately, I have been feeling bone-tired all the time and having to do bedtime duties makes me feel like I am falling into the abyss.
2. Being with James as much as I am is hard. When I am not at work, I am at home with James. There is rarely a time that we are not together. (But, dang it, I wouldn't change it. There are precious moments even in the midst of the most crazy days)

I make that sound terrible but I hope that you read the articles above and better understand where I am coming from. I think Steve Wiens is right...there is great pressure to enjoy every single solitary moment with our children when it's really and absolutely asking the impossible. And that goes double for homeschoolers, I think. Everyone knows we CHOOSE to be with our children 24/7 (or almost 24/7) so we must be some kind of crazy to want to be with our children so much. Um, no. I've seen harried homeschooling moms with their children who would give anything for a hour or 2 of respite so they could have an uninterrupted thought, be in and out of the grocery store in under an hour or just talk on the phone with another adult...for 5 minutes. I know I have had that look before too. I know this because I had a complete stranger- and bless her heart-come to my aid in Target a few weeks ago. I was in the shampoo aisle. All I needed was detangler. But in the span of 30 seconds, James dropped his bag of popcorn on the floor, then stood on the shelves when I moved him from the mess and told him to "STAY!" and I, in turn, knocked stuff off the shelves next to me while trying to corral said boy. Ugh. She was sweet and her awareness of my state caused me to re-evaluate my tense demeanor and take a deep breath. I love little mercies and, Lord, you know I need them. Thank you.

Just the thought of bedtime makes me want to pass out sleeping right where I am. It is it's own sleep aid. And it's all natural. If you happen to be a person who depends on sleep aids, call me. I have the perfect remedy for what ails you. When it's bedtime for James in our house, all of a sudden he too is super tired. He needs to be carried up the stairs and if that can't be accomplished then he crawls up the stairs at a snail's pace. A bedtime that includes a bath (I ain't washing this kid every night. No way. No how.) requires strength and patience of superhero proportions. He walks around naked for a bit and pretend cries (for some reason) and then he is finally in the bath! Yippee! Now the hair must be washed. Oh brother. Do I have to? I mean, really, what would happen if his hair didn't get washed???? Once the bath water is now down the drain, the little stinker walks to his room- soaking wet- and attempts to dress himself. If I wasn't so tired I would be laughing hysterically right now!!! As I kiss him good night, I remember that he hasn't brushed his teeth. I have forgotten this step because of the craziness of bed time. But he is "too comfortable" to get out of bed now. Sigh. "Get up!", I say. Now, back in the bed he says, "Action Bible". Dude. I'm dying here. There have been nights I have said No. (I just can't do one more thing for you. I love you and no.) 

So, to combat the fatigue of mothering/parenting, I schedule play dates, sleep overs, dates with my husband for "us" time, etc. Then it's not just the two of us and I can see how others see him. He's fun and has lots of energy. He likes to share with his friends and talks a lot too. And when I can stand back and watch, I remember why I love being his mother...and with him. I find myself making "dates" with James on Fridays because it's a day I don't have to work. We might go to Someway (i.e. Subway) for lunch or to the movies or the park- even when it's not a park play day. Or just cuddle on the couch in our pj's in the morning for smoovies (smoothies) and movies. Love that. 

I guess I feel ok that every minute is not a Hallmark card or a McDonald's commercial. It's life. And sometimes life is messy. But I do wish I had a bedtime nanny!!