Wake up at 6:25 a.m. to my son telling me he’s “scared,” AKA ready to get up. Nudge his daddy to spring into action.
Alarm goes off at 6:45. Go for a run. Realize I don’t feel very good. Walk home.
Make toast for the kids and me. Appreciate that Annabeth can feed herself.
Have “quiet” time. Hide in dining room for a few minutes to pray.
Kiss Curtis goodbye. Thankful that Jackson doesn’t cry today.
Repeatedly send Jackson in the backyard to play. He’s operating at a 10 out of 10.
Put Annabeth down for a nap. Try to keep the house quiet.
Realize I either forgot to moderate blog comments yesterday or a bunch just suddenly appeared in the moderating queue. Yikes.
Comments from last summer and fall keep showing back up. Weird.
Annabeth wakes up happy.
Get the urge for Papa John’s pizza. Order the $10 large, any toppings pizza.
Twenty minutes later it shows up.
Drop the pizza and watch Canadian bacon and pineapple spill all over the entry way and splatter on the delivery man.
Despite my protests, he generously leaves to get us another one.
Sit on the couch and wonder if that really happened. Embarrassed. Frustrated.
Yell at Jackson for climbing on me. Receive imaginary bad mom of the day award. Apologize to my boy.
New pizza arrives. Give a good tip.
Jackson says, “I want to share with my pizza. With Annabeth. That’s what Jesus likes.”
Wonder if that’s a ploy not to have to eat. He eats all his pizza. He meant it. Sweet boy.
Encourage Annabeth to walk toward Jackson. She claps her hands, calls him “Dat dat” for the first time, and takes a few steps toward her brother.
Heart is happy.
Kids get a bath. In the chaos afterward, Annabeth dumps out the wipes. Towel falls into the water. Jackson sucks toothpaste out of tube.
Annabeth takes 9 steps toward her brother. A new record.
She hits her mouth on her rocking chair. Cries.
Naptime #2.
Try to read Where the Wild Things Are to Jackson before his rest time. He says it’s too long. Not gonna argue with that. Pick a shorter book.
Bribe him with candy if he’ll sleep today. Probably should be ashamed but I’m desperate for the stillness.
Quiet now.
And all is well in the Jones home.
Mercy4Drew 
Great! My boy was last though!
love it! thanks for sharing. I laughed out loud when you said you got the imaginary bad mom award! I get that too!!! rock on!
Oh, I loved this post! I love your refreshing honesty. It is so nice to know that someone else is going through the same things as we are.
I stay home with my nearly-three year old and 6 week old daughters. My days are a rollarcoaster of sweet/blissful and frustrating/going crazy moments. 🙂
Hilarious! If you've been there, done that!
Well, at least you got your run in!!
What sweet times. I remember those days well, my babies are now 22 and 20 yet those moments feel like yesterday. My house is quiet and still now….how I miss those days.
my days of little kiddos are gone, but with 3 teenagers and busy schedules I SO resonate with the desire to just have the house quiet. I know all too soon it will be too quiet, but in the meantime, we do need chunks of our days (or at least a few hours in our week) to be quiet…finish a thought, connect with Jesus through His word and worship, uninteruppted…
Thank you for your honesty. Praying for new mercies in the morning! 🙂
Blessings to you, your home and your life stage. You are sowing and you will indeed reap a great harvest!
Bless your heart, Amanda. I sure do hope you felt better this afternoon and that the rest of your day has been going more smoothly! Sleep great tonight, my friend! 🙂
Hang in there! You are in the throws of the "busy years" . . . the ones where you practically can't wait to collapse into bed at night. =0)
Oh you crack me up! Have to say I've had many days like that when my girls (Julia 6 & Anna 8) were young….I guess I still have them – it's still building character in me (if I admit it half of the time those kinds of things are my own fault). I'm sure you've heard about Layla Grace & her struggle with cancer and how she's up w/Jesus now. It really has made me look at those types of situations w/my girls and just smile. I'm SO grateful I have those kinds of days b/c I still have our precious girls here with me!
Seriously, hope you have a better day tomorrow. If not, maybe you need to take a little time for yourself and get a pedicure – that always helps me! 🙂
So totally glad I'm not alone. Two boys ages almost 4 (3/27) and 8. Separately they are precious, together they are precarious – literally a hazard to each other. Considering part time work just to preserve my sanity. And although I love being reminded that the days will pass quickly, that just makes me feel guilty for the fact that today is really hard and I'm always so glad when it's over and I can sneak off to read the blog or the Word or SLI….or even (gasp) watch American Idol!! ;-P
I am a stay at home mom with an almost 3 year old son and a 15 month old daughter. I can totally relate to this post. I am living this post!!! Thanks for sharing!
May our Father give us all strength and patience!
Those are the moments that seem frustrating in the beginning, but the ones that make great memories and the ones that we end up missing in the long run.
Gosh, I love y'all!
I can surely relate…Some days are just like that 🙂
I remember days like that with 3. God sees all you do. You are a good mamma!
That could have been the description of my day when my boys were younger. Thank you for the stroll down memory lane!
My boys are now 11 and 9 and our days are a different kind of messy now. But the smiles and the hugs are better than ever.
May you continue to be blessed as you enjoy each wonderful and unique stage of parenting.
Oh, Amanda! What a morning!!!
Is it any wonder that both of the insecurity triggers I discovered this week revolve around my view of myself as a mom????? The freedom came when I realized that my insecurity was being fed by 1)my fear that I would FEEL like a bad mom and 2) my fear that OTHERS would think I was a bad mom. It made me laugh when God pointed out that I'm not afraid of actually BEING a bad mom at this point b/c after 9 years, I know I'm a good mom. I just hate FEELING like a bad mom or worry about what others think of my mom skills. Sheesh! Saying SO LONG to that insecurity!! I know I have a LOT to work on, but so does every parent except God.
I'm choosing to be a SECURE Mom in Him…
Oh, how I have been there and done that.
Precious. How I would dearly love to recapture one of those days with my little ones.
I JUST READ JANE'S COMMENT ABOUT THE TOWELS IN THE TOILET AND LAUGHED SOOOO HARD. GOD BLESS YOU MOTHERS…WHAT FUN AND JOY IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL.
Seems like yesterday when I had the same kinds of things going on at our house. Someone told me that I would look back on those days with fond memories and wishing them to come back. I guess I blinked when I shouldn't have because my girls are 12 and 9. They grow so fast. Enjoy those napless days!
The joys of motherhood! Cherish each and every moment!!
Blessings in abundance to you and your precious family, Amanda!
Thanks for posting your real-life moments today. That sounds exactly like my morning life (my kids are the same age as yours). Fellowship (even blogger-style) is a true blessing! Us mom's need to laugh at ourselves and each other sometimes 🙂
*************AMANDA*************
Sorry for the cheesy way to get your attention!
Would you and your family like rodeo tickets this Saturday? I have some great lower level seats I would love to bless you with.
If you are in Toronto, maybe Curtis wants some to take Action Jackson and/or your daddy or some other friends.
Please let me know soon.
Thanks!
Roxanne
That's real life living right there Amanda, and you are doing it beautifully. Don't you worry a bit girl, your kids have so much love, you'd NEVER get a worst mom award!
May your good days always out shine any bad day!
🙂
Teri
Gosh, I miss naptime!! Enjoy it while it lasts!
I had a friend who used to compare God's grace to a freight train. He'd always say "Everything you need is on its way. It's like a freight train, you can't stop it!" (now if you've ever seen the movie, Hitch, and you enjoy the dance lesson scene with Kevin James as much as I do… the "you can't stop it" line adds a broad grin to the face while thinking of it!) But I digress…
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in ALL things, at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in every good work."
One mama to another 😉
Barbra
Oxford, PA
All I can say is, I'm so glad that I'm not alone 🙂
Amanda, thanks for the LAUGH!!!
I remember the days when my kids were that young and busy! Now they are older and that busy! I'm a homeschool mom, and boy do I relish QUIET!!!
Blessings sweet Amanda
Tiffany
You poor sweet little Mommy thing you!!! Sounds like that day happened Nation Wide again…don't you hate it when that happens? Hang in there Miss Amanda…it gets better. They turn 16!!! LOL!!! Will remember to pray extra hard for your "tomorrow" when I hit my pillow tonight! Are we not glad that "his mercies are NEW every morning…GREAT is HIS faithfulness!" (and the kids never remember ANY of this!) Blessings on your day, Sweetheart!
"Hang in there. Some days are like that even in Australia."
This was sent to me by a friend today. It made me smile, and warmed my heart. Hope it does you too.
Pamlea
Man, that time flies by so quickly. It's crazy, but I actually miss those days. :o)
My little people are now 10 & 13–and my 13 year old son is now five inches taller than me. He's the one trying to pick me up. We used to wrestle all the time, now he has to be careful not to hurt me.
My sweet girl was outside on her skates with her iPod today. She skated, sang and pretended her heart out. Man was she fun to watch!
May we store up these treasures as often as we can, for they grow up so quickly. Your post was a great reminder to do that.
Love,
Anna
Oh, Amanda, I so relate. Last week my 8 yr old had a weird eye thing took her to the Dr.(she's fine now), computer wouldn't work, so I'm behind on everything, 10 yr old had 5 stitches in the forehead, sat in ER until 10pm for that, now the 6 yr old has a cough and chest cold. I feel like I've had no time for myself and certainly know the "quiet time", like "please God help me with these kids, I'm so tired today" that's about that. So much for my 40 Day of Faith (seeking God for wisdom, direction and anything else) now it's just about survival.:)
I've never done this Amanda but with the insecurity stuff I'm getting brave. I want to invite you to read my blog post from yesterday (3/9). I hope it makes you laugh and almost cry as much as yours did me. It's at [email protected]. We're the same age and at the same stage. I hope you know how much you encourage all of us. Love you!
God love ya, Amanda!! Your morning makes my day feel like a day at the beach : ) Everyone is right though….time flies and children grow up much too quickly!!! This morning when I dropped my youngest at school (second grade) I was thinking back to her first day of preschool and wondering where these last few years went!!!
Judi
Lancaster, PA
PS. Thanks for taking the time to write…sure made me smile!!
I got the imaginary bad mom award too today! I feel your pain and joy, friend!
Praise the Lord for new days, right! Isn't Parenthood so humbling. Bless you as you are in this, often time, crazy phase. I constantly feel like I am a walking Family Circus cartoon. Seriously I think parenting small children is so rewarding, yet so tiring. Proud of you for ordering the pizza AND giving in when the delivery guy said he would bring a new one back. And by the way you did say you weren't feeling good earlier in the morning and pizza sounded really good…should we be awaiting an announcement? Hee hee hee. Only kidding (kind of). Bless you tomorrow, hang in there and know there are many of us who know how you feel.
Oh sweetheart. Sorry for the rough day! Even though they happen to the best of us….I am feeling for you. Also praying that tomorrow is a better day in the Jones house! Love you!
In Him,
Andrea
LOVE this!!!! We are kindred spirits!
I have a 3-year old boy, a 2-year old boy, and an 8-week old baby girl and I can totally relate to your day, friend! It's just a flat-out relief to know there are other gals going through the same stuff as me! I'm not the only one running around like a chicken with my head cut off! Someday soon we'll all look back on these crazy days of motherhood and know that life is (and was, even then) GOOD. Be blessed in the chaos!
Amanda, you will look back on this post some time in the future, and the smile will creep across your face!
i had the worst mommy award today also..mine are teens now though..
love you and you put a smile on my face. stay strong and realize this time, while it seems forever now, will just tomorrow seem like some body traded you two small kids, for two teenagers!
delilah in berryville ar
seriously.
I just had a flashback to 8 years ago when my son was 4 and my daughter was 1! Just wait til you find her at 2 years old up in a tree in the backyard trying to copy her big brother…
Two nights ago that same boy, 12 years old now, asked if he could cook me dinner for the first time. (He made mac&cheese, and I ate it with proud tears in my eyes.) Then his 9 year old sister said she wanted to give me a foot massage.
Best job I've ever had, being their mama! 🙂
Sounds exactly like my day. Except for lunch we ate chocolate cheerios. Atleast pizza has all 4 food groups, good job mom!!! Maybe this is why He made a point to tell us His mercies are new EVERY morning!!!
Thanks for making me not feel so crazy today..
Hang in there . . . these are the days you will actually wish you could go back to when your youngest has flown from the nest . . . it's a lot EVERY day, but you are doing a great job!
Oh you dear woman…There ain't a mama out there who doesn't know what you are talking about. And we are smiling, and nodding our heads and maybe there is just the smallest tear because we remember longing for a moment of quiet….and now we have it, and we long for those little voices to intrude on our peace once again.
Melana
I got tired just reading your post! However, I remember those days very well. As mothers we are very judgmental of ourselves. All is well! Enjoy, your babies will grow so fast. Mine are now 21,18 and 16 years old! Where did the time go???
You tooooooooo shall surrive. I promise!
Oh my gracious. I just SO loved this post. It brought back so many happy, exhausted memories.
You're being such a great mommy! I humbly bequeath you the Awesome Mom Of The Day Award.
So there. Throw away your imaginary accolade which wasn't a very nice one (but one that we all seem to keep imaginarily close by) (smile) (or, sigh).
Warm in Alaska.
Oh my sweet sister. I have to smile at the memory of those days. Sucking toothpaste out of the tube. At the time seems like more chaos but what a sweet memory that will make when you are my age. Sorry about he pizza. I dumped my boys birthday cake upside down on the living room carpet one year. Yikes, cake with fuzz on it!!! I smile now just thinking about it. And yes, like you I was embarrassed and frustrated. I had to remind my self, Okay, April in the scope of eternity how important was that really? Now over ten years later I laugh and smile at the memory of me dumping JP's birthday cake on the floor.
Thank goodness God made only 24 hours in a day and tomorrow will be a new one. Love you so sweet thing and Thank you for letting me take a peek into your life.
April S.
Port Orchard, WA
Oh my! Our day wasn't as crazy as yours but I did yell at my 2 year old. He was trying to climb in the dishwasher after trying to "help" with various other things in the kitchen…like the sterilized bottles for his 2 month old sister. When I pulled him off (out of?) the dishwasher he ran to his room saying "night, night!" and closed and locked the door behind him. He was able to unlock it and get out before either one of us was traumatized. 😉
Yes, me, too. We had a few small victories this morning…and the sun is shining.