Mommy vs. Glitter Girl

I don't know about you, mama, but this week... it. has. been. rough. On Monday, I started back teaching at the college but now fully online and the kids also started back to school, also fully online. As you probably already have experienced, with the kids schooling at home now, too, it's making for a very interesting transition for all of us.

I have to tell you, though, I thought I was prepared ( smug, really). Last week, Lil' miss smarty pants (me) used a template my bestie gave me to create an individual schedule (picture attached) for each of us. We even did a practice run last Friday and it seemed to work like a charm! The kids were raving about it, I felt confidant it was going to work, until .... it didn't.

Monday we started out okay but by Wednesday, I was at the end of my rope trying to be elementary school teacher to my older boys and preschool teacher to my daughter plus preparing healthy meals and snacks, plus trying to keep the house in order, plus trying to get my own work done...needless to say, I was totally ignoring my college students because I just couldn't sit down long enough to answer a single friggin' message. Every time I tried, I heard "MOM! I NEED HELP!" Sigh. By the end of the day, tempers were flaring, patience was depleted and since my 3-year old wasn't being engaged as usual by her mommy and two big brothers, something happened.

You know this equation: Inadequate supervision + Curious Toddler = Recipe for Disaster

Friend, I tried. I really did try to keep her engaged, but the story goes as I was trying to calm my oldest son down after a pre-teen hormonal rage over his taxonomy assignment... I mean we can't get through life without knowing the difference between a roundworm and a flatworm, right?

Anyway, back to the story. I walk out of my son's room "aka, new classroom" and who do I see sitting in the middle of the living area surrounded by piles of rainbow sparkle but my little glitter girl. Oh, yes! Piles of sparkly fun everywhere, Friend. You know it's going to take me a zillion years to find and clean up every tiny piece of flashy plastic. All I could do was stare at her with a wide, open gaping mouth as my heart sank deep into my chest.

Mama, you would have been so proud of me! I didn't freak out! I didn't cry nor raise my voice to her or rip at my clothes. I think my daily Calm sessions have been paying off because I just got down on the floor with her and had a little chat about how we don't make amazingly beautiful glitter creations unless mommy is there to help. Yay! Mom for the win!

Alas, as you can probably relate, by the end of the day, I was totally and completely DONE. I had nothing left to give...or so I thought until I came across this little gem sitting on my desk:

Energy Prayer for Moms

I pray for the physical and mental energy to take care of my family's needs.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint - Isaiah 40:31

I'm attaching the pdf to 10 Mom Prayers by iMOM.com (click the link to take you to the .pdf). I want you to print it out, read it a hundred times (or at least once), and keep it somewhere you will see it every single day. We weren't meant to go at this motherhood thing alone, sweet friend. God has got your back. Today, Tomorrow and every hard moment in between.

Healthy Mom University is here for you, too. Remember that even if today was a disaster, tomorrow is a new day to start fresh. As Annie sweetly sang, the sun'll come out tomorrow...

Be renewed, Healthy Mama. You're only a day away.

Christy and the Lil' glitter girl :-)