Mr. Mom

My husband and I switched roles temporarily for the first three weeks of June.  I had the privilege to run a science camp at his school in the morning.  He stayed home with our two youngest.  I’m pretty sure it was an eye-opening experience for us both.

He would come to pick us up each day and say, “I hope you didn’t want me to get a lot done.”  He discovered the frustration of trying to keep our house in order, especially with two kids needing his attention.  I’d come home, look around, and, feeling rather exhausted after chasing 4-12 –year-olds for four hours, declare, “It looks just fine to me.”

During the school year, he’s the one reminding me that the house doesn’t look so bad…for a family with three kids under the age of five.  And yet, I often feel frustrated that not all the chores on my list were crossed off.  Of course, I had usually spent the day playing with my kids instead of actually trying to clean the house.

And that was what he spent his time doing, too.  He’d wake up each morning with a list in mind of all he wanted to accomplish with his “free time.”  But he would soon discover that chasing our two littlest kiddos around was enough to keep him busy.

Today, I realized another lesson learned.  We’ve both learned to value the time we get to spend with our kids.

My husband is in summer mode now.  That means he’s busy with course work for his Masters’ degree, busy revamping one course or another for the next school year, busy trying to get caught up on all the house projects that were on the back burner during the school year.  And yet, he’s been much more willing to stop what he’s doing to play with our two oldest, change a diaper, find a snack, or join us on a trip to the park.

This week our two oldest are attending Summer Bible Camp at our church.  So, the mornings have given me time to spend with our baby.  And I really enjoyed lying on the floor with him, watching him discover the world around him.  I’ve realized, too, how much I missed spending the morning with my daughter during Science Camp.  She has such a sunny, helpful personality.  I’ve come home to all sorts of art projects she and her dad have made.

One of the best parts of Science Camp for me has been watching our oldest learn and interact with other students.  He’s been soaking up all the science he can handle—and sharing it with us all back at home.  The other day, he pulled me over to our CD player, opened the door and showed me the simple machine inside—gears!  (It’s good for my teacher-ego to realize that my students were actually learning something from Science Camp.)  It’s such a blessing to watch him explore God’s creation and see him grow.

And now that Science Camp is done, I get to go back to my normal job.  But, don’t think I’m returning to the same-old, same-old.  I’ve got a fresh set of eyes looking at my situation.  I see how richly God has blessed us to let me be able to stay home with my kiddos.  I’m much less jealous of the time my husband spends working because I know he’s working as fast and as hard as he can so he can spend time with his family.  And, I’m refreshed and ready to get back to the job of raising my family…even if it means a dirty house.

Happy Fathers’ Day

One of my favorite childhood memories is of going to a Twins/Yankee’s game with my Dad.  I can’t remember who won.  I couldn’t really see the game—we were standing in obstructed view.  But it was the first time my Dad took just me to a Twins game.  Since then, we’ve been to many Twins games together, but that one will always be special.

I am blessed to have a wonderful father who taught me about Jesus, taught me to love chocolate chip cookies and milk, held a piano book over my hands to keep me from looking, taught me to eat cereal at 10 at night, bought me my first CD, taught me how to drive, and showed me what it means to be a husband and father.  Not that I’m a husband or father, but by his example, I learned what to look for in my spouse.

And now, I am doubly blessed.  I have a husband who teaches his children about Jesus, takes them camping in the back yard (when I’m too pregnant to sleep in a tent), teaches them to love reading, plays “wrestling” with them, changes poopy diapers and wet sheets, and shows them what it means to be a good husband.

Today I thank God for the wonderful fathers in my life.  Not just my dad and my husband, but my brother, my brothers-in-law, my father-in-law and all the other dads I’m blessed to know.  You have a difficult job.   But know that it isn’t impossible when you have your Father on your side.

Five in the Bed

6:45 came awfully early this past Sunday.  We had been up at least four times with children.  And so, when the baby wanted to eat at 6:45, I pulled him into bed with me and my husband.  Soon we had two more snuggly kiddos with us in bed.  I was quite squished and couldn’t help but thinking of the song “Ten in the Bed.”

Growing up, I always pictured myself with a large family.  As life unfolds, I am still unsure what God has in store for us.  But I really am enjoying our family of five, big or little as it may seem to you.  And this was a prime example.  My husband and I often discuss getting a bigger bed.  And I know he was tempted to bring the topic up on Sunday morning.  But instead, we focused on the blessings we had snuggled in with us.  Our oldest son read to his sister.  It’s amazing to listen to him read, especially since I can take no credit for his new-found book-enjoying freedom.  Our daughter sang softly to the baby as her brother read.  And our baby smiled and “talked” away to anyone who caught his eye.

My heart nearly burst from joy.

Many days, like today, I am burdened with the jobs that I feel I need to accomplish as a mom.  I see my kids and can only focus on their poor behavior, their grimy faces, their empty stomachs, their unkempt hair.  This past Sunday, God once again POUNDED me in the heart.  He said, “My child, see what blessings I have given you.  I am giving you the gift of raising My children for Me.”

Today, after a long, tiring day I felt snappy with my children.  I was tempted to focus only on the negative behaviors I was seeing.  And I even gave in to the temptation.  But, as I looked into my room in passing, I was reminded of my wonderful Sunday morning.  I prayed and asked God to forgive my negative attitude.  And then I enjoyed my Father’s children as I tucked them into bed.

Happy Birthday

Today we celebrated our daughter’s third birthday.  I know that everyone says this, but I can’t believe how quickly three years have gone by.  It seems like just a few days ago I was walking around the hospital parking lot, making sure the contractions were really working.  And now, I have a bubbly, talkative little girl who couldn’t even believe that today was finally her birthday.  (Seriously, she’s been waiting for it for the past two months, at least!)

But, even more special than the day she was born is the day she was born again.  June 4^th, the day after we came home from the hospital, we took her to church and she was baptized.  She didn’t look any different.  She didn’t even cry.  But the Holy Spirit was in her heart.

We know that the Holy Spirit still lives in her heart, too.  The songs she sings praising God, the way she “reads” her Bible story book to herself, the way she asks me to help her learn the words to prayers—these are all evidence of the faith growing inside her.  And it is my job (and what a blessing to have such a job) to help her nurture her faith.  Not that I can really DO anything.  But I can do many things.  I can sing, read and pray with her.  I can take her to church and Sunday school.  And, most importantly, I can pray.

Tonight my prayer is a prayer of thanks.  I am so grateful that God has privileged me to be a mother of a daughter.  I am blessed that she is healthy and happy.  And my prayer is a prayer of blessing for her.  I pray that God continues to keep her in her baptismal grace, close to Him all her life.  I pray that He blesses her with love and strength for all that He has planned for her.  And my prayer is a prayer of honor.  Praise the Lord for his gift of children!