Tuesday, May 12, 2009

To me from me.....

Dear Sara,

This is your inner voice of reason addressing you, so sit still and just listen. I know that at some moments of each and everyday you wonder when will life settle down. When will all the messes finally get picked up, when will cooking a meal not involve juggling a baby and keeping two silly boys busy. When will the laundry mountain that only grows bigger with each passing day get smaller? Well, it will never slow down and all of those other things will only get easier with time. 
Your day to day battles will change as your little ones grow. Remember to stop and look at their amazing little faces. I know that at times you count down the minutes until nap time and you some times just put a movie on so that you can get one thing accomplished.....shhh I know I said it out loud. But, forgive yourself for not always having a perfectly neat house and for not having your children sitting at the table making some wonderful craft while you bake cookies. Get real, just keep doing what you do best, and that is loving them, holding them and giving them a stable and safe home. Teach them to love the Savior and to follow the commandments, allow them to grow and be their own person, let them explore and be creative. 
You can do it, I know you can. Soon that days will be filled with sports, and ballet, school activities and mutual. Enjoy them at each stage. 
Take a moment each day to pat yourself on the back for surviving and for being a mom. Your doing great! I will stay in touch, just keep my words in the for front of your mind, as you clean up an entire box of cereal that has been ground in to your carpet, and the baby screams in her swing and the phone rings and you know..... just breath. 

Good Luck and Best Wishes~

11 comments:

Heather said...

That is a fabulous letter. Although I think you forgot this part

PS Let your kids run around Heather's yard when you need a break. Seriously.

PRP said...

Every mother feels exactly the same way and needs the same reminder.

Relax. You're doing great!

PRP said...

That's freaky, Heather...the EXACT same time!

ks said...

I've been in the same boat lately, Sara. In the same day I feel like I'm on top of things, then going to throw a kid out the door, then happy to hear their laughter, then totally embarrassed as I have to keep yelling at Jacob while we're on campus... It's a crazy life! A month ago I went back and watched the talk Elder Ballard gave to young moms, and it helped me a lot. Profound joy comes in "little moments", he said, although I always think it's supposed to be constant! You're an awesome mom and I always love being in your house (messy or clean :) ) Take care! Love you!
PS - I hate admitting I do the movie-babysitter thing too, but you know, I have to tell myself I'm a better mom when I have a break!

Jennica said...

So hard being a mother of 3 and running a household, but also so great and rewarding! You are wonderful, and you're right about letting your kids be who they are and to explore everything. That's so important! Not the clean house and organized everything.....the happy memories, the chaos, and the craziness that is right now. It's amazing that you can see that and not freak out, because that's probably what I would be doing, so give yourself more credit woman, you deserve it.

The Stevens: said...

Yes, good idea, "just breath":)

Debie Spurgeon said...

You wrote this for me ,and probably lots of others who need these words. Thanks, Sara.
It's hard, but so rewarding. Keep up the great work.

Juliann said...

Sara,
Why do we have such HIGH standards for the cleanliness of our homes and the food we prepare and the activities we allow them to do. Today I turned on a movie and took a nap and even at 36 weeks, I felt AWFUL! WHY?? Thanks for the reminder to relax.

Juliann said...

This is Juliann, not Rob. Sorry.

CatherineWO said...

You are a wise woman, Sara, and I love you.

The Christensen Family said...

When my boys were younger I use to stress about a clean house and having everything done as well. Then one day my wonderful husband came home and I was stressed, he said he would rather come home to a happy wife and kids and cluttered house then to a clean house and stressed out wife and crying kids. So remember kids grow up way to fast. Take the time to enjoy them. The lundary or dishes will be here later.