So guess what just happened?
A brand new, completely full bottle of pink sparkly nail polish just got knocked off the counter and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces across the entire kitchen floor. Nail polish everywhere.
You'll never guess who did it...
yours truly.
I frantically jumped into full speed, wipe up as much nail polish as I could without it drying mode.(which it did at an incredibly fast rate. Honestly, why doesn't it dry that fast when it's on your nails) Even with my super speed and rushed prayers, it still left a good 15 inch long and at least five inches wide hot pink smeared blob on my tile, some lovely specks all around that, AND some splatters on the cabinets as well. I sat and stared at it thinking two things.
First, why couldn't this have broken on my family room carpet (then Jordan would HAVE to let me replace it!) and second, why can't I blame this one on a kid.
Then I thought, gosh, how would I have reacted if one of my kids had done that. I hate to admit it (that's the first step in the recovery process right), but I know I would have had a royal come-apart. I started thinking about all the times I yell at my kids. AND the guilt sets in...
insert dramatic music here
So I know all of you are perfect moms/dads and you never yell at your kids, but have pity on the guilty one and hear me out. Think for a minute if someone followed you around all day and told you what you could and could not eat, what you could and could not wear, to make your bed, pick up your toys or they are going in the garbage, to take a nap, don't fight, brush your teeth, practice the piano, don't lick the floor in the yogurt shop (seriously...Adley!), get your pajamas on, do your homework, and turn off the TV. These are just a few that came out of my mouth today! Wow, I'm irritated already. Now, on the flip side, I am the mother. Which means I am morally and physically responsible for these children (please pray Adley doesn't die from licking that floor). I can't just let them "chose" to do whatever they want and be OK with the consequences that would bring. But, do I really have to have a freak attack and destroy their innocent little hearts (or not so innocent at times) by belittling them when the choice they made was the wrong one, or when they did something by accident?
You know I blame a lot of things on the twins; wrecking my body, wrecking my house, wrecking my car, and just wrecking my life in general, but this actually is something that changed dramatically with the arrival of twins. I'm not claiming to be a super mom here, but before the twins were born, I do feel like I was much more patient with my kids and yelled a lot less. (the grass is always greener...) Especially when the situation was an accident. It just seamed easier to keep a level head, react less, and act more. Happily, the twins are here to stay, so I guess it's time for them to be introduced to nice Mom. She really is dying to come out again.
So, in honor of the nail polish spill, I am making a new commitment. I'm dumping mean Mom in a ditch and bringing back the more aware Mom who is more interested in making sure her kids feel loved instead of rejected because of the mistakes they make. After all isn't that the way our Father in Heaven parents us? It's all about the love baby! AND the occasional timeouts! (or consistent timeouts if your name is...)
Don't you fret, mean Mom will be brewing for when the kids really need the fear of God put in them, but as for the day to day, patient and understanding Mom please help me out here.
Wish me luck!
PS
I was able to remove all signs of spilled nail polish with an entire bottle of nail polish remover and over a hundred cotton balls. I think I'm high now...which would explain this lengthy and wordy post.
PPS
If I don't curse my kids for their mistakes, then they won't grow up and curse me for all of mine, right? Keep your fingers crossed. And all you Mom's of teenagers, don't burst my happy little bubble on this one.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
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9 comments:
I love this post. Thanks for the reminder and I'm going to make the same commitment. Sorry it wasn't your carpet ;)
Dang so close to that carpet!! But you know it wouldn't have spilled like it did, if it had been!! That would have been to perfect!! You rock!! And are an amazing mom with incredible patience but like so many others, it is being tried by said twins or should we say twin!! She is just full of life and so much fun!! But hey mean mom gets the jobs done but nice mom is always welcome!!! Thanks for letting the girls play yesterday!! And your twins are always welcome to come play with my J-bug!!!
I didn't think you could get any nicer to your children. Yes Melissa, you are the most patient and cute little mom I know! Don't make the rest of us look any worse:) Miss ya tons, come visit!
That's hilarious! Good for you, and good luck. I'm one of the worst yellers there is. I also call my kids retards all the time. I really need to bring the fun and nice mom back out too! Thanks for the little pep talk!
I realized yesterday that after scolding Ava about not washing her hands after using the bathroom, that I then scolded her for using too much water while washing her hands! So whether she washes or not, she gets yelled at.
Great. Just great.
And I'm certain that isn't the only example of this darned if you do, darned if you don't scenario for my darling daughter.
that happened to me recently. Except it was my children who did it. They tried to clean it up too... with the nail polish remover. By the time I came upstairs the worst was over and our carpet still bears the stain of where a blob landed outside the bathroom tile. I wasn't the best mom or the worst in this matter. I was pretty annoyed but managed to make it to church mostly on time anyways without my husband to help!
Oh Lis! That was so beautiful and such a wonderful reminder to all of us.
I think that we get such amazing gifts of the Spirit while we are mothering these precious souls and I am so grateful for that!
I loved this post. Thanks! I also feel like I had more patience with only 2 kids, but maybe it's my imagination.
I feel the same way. I blame the twins for everything! And they do deserve to see nice mom huh?! So thanks for helping me realize that- we'll be working on this together!
And for the record, I think you are an incredible mom!
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