You Have My Permission.....(as if you need it or even asked for it....)

Last night I was up after the kids were in bed getting stuff ready to put in the freezer. This has become one of my new favorite activities......this storing up of good foods for the winter, especially because most of it is free from our garden. I was blanching spinach, peas and green beans. Then laid them out all neatly on the counter in their baggies so I could admire my work. After I was all done I thought why on earth didn't I do this last year? This is so easy! Oh wait.....hmmm.....what was last year? That's right.................it was this...........

And this..........

Having a just turned 4 year old, 2 1/2 year old and 9 month old is much different from having a 5, 3 and almost 2 year old. It was kind of a crazy time, an exhausting time. Life is much different now - there is more time and energy and even help in doing all the things that I need/want to get done. We can pick together, shell peas together, make jam, etc. It seemed last year there was a lot of attention that was needed, lots of hands to hold, arms that were outstretched to a stretched out momma.

What all this means is that there is a time for everything - a time to freeze/can/preserve, a time to be that mom who has crafts prepared, games to play, a time to lead bible study, a time to volunteer at school, a time to entertain BUT then there is a time when you let your kids watch more tv than you ever swore you would when you were pregnant with your first, a time when you just go buy the jam/sauce/bread, a time when you swear off any volunteering opportunity, a time when you wonder if you will ever be able to be the mom you want to be because getting out of bed to feed/snuggle/comfort that baby one more time is just about putting you over the edge and this just might be the time you crack.

It's good to have perspective. It's good to be past the first baby, the first year and realize that truly it doesn't last forever and regardless of whatever that child's association group says your child WILL NOT be harmed FOREVER if they spend some winter months eating kraft macaroni and cheese while zoned out on sesame street for a little while everyday. Because while we CAN certainly make wonderful homemade meals everyday, engage our children in meaningful activities, blog about what wonderful women we are and then record every moment in a scrapbook that is not what makes a mom. It's simply that you love on your kids, you hug them, read a few books, eat dinner with them whatever it might be and just be there. So you have my permission to let your kids watch tv, feed them whatever you can find/buy in a box/bag/can, let the house get a bit disorganized, don't make your bed in the morning, buy digital scrapbooks that contain the 20 decent pictures you managed to take of your child's first year and then in a little while you will be begin to find your new normal and get into a groove and you will be able to do more, have more time for what you want to do so much so that you'll almost forget those hectic, sleepless, exhausting days................until the next one....................

Sofia at 1 month. I am still amazed that I had another one after the screamfest that was Sofia - truly a testimony that you do indeed forget what it is like - so much so that I was pregnant again 8 months after this picture was taken.