More Precious Than You Think :: Perspective In The Trenches of Parenting

Sigh.
Breathe.
You can do this.
Breathe. 

I repeat this to myself as the screaming/fighting sounds that can only come from siblings continue from the other room. The half-scream-half-whines have been going on for what seems like ALL THE HOURS on this particular morning. Hesitantly, I glance at the clock. Um, 9:07 a.m. Fantastic. That leaves me approximately 10 hours until bedtime, since both of my children have decided that napping is the absolute worst way to spend two hours. I mean, why nap when you can wrestle with each other and demand snacks every ten minutes until mom breaks down and tosses a box of Goldfish in your general direction while starting an episode of Octonauts for the 3rd time?

Breathe. 

More Precious Than You Think | Wichita Moms Blog

Despite my best attempts at keeping it together, I feel myself start to disintegrate internally. It’s like my mind has turned to mush, and my body only feels the fact that I have had zero minutes to myself . The fingernails on the chalkboard shrillness from my children, who happen to be at my feet now, are unfazed by my obviously futile attempts to gain just even five minutes of peace with the delivery of salty snacks and cartoons. Inside I scream, “OH MY GOODNESS, PUH-LEEEAAASE!”, while outside I count to ten through a feigned smile and announce to my lovelies that “Mommy needs a time-out.” Quickly, I step outside and dial my Mom.

Ring. Ring. Ring….Cmon, pick up. Ri–

The moment I speak, she knows it’s been a hard morning. After all, she’s my Mom and she knows me better than anyone. A slight difference in my voice sets off alarm bells only a mom can hear. Before I am able to get too far into my  “B has been working 80-90 hours at the hospital and H was up half the night, hasn’t napped in three days, is getting 3 teeth AND seems to have a cold – plus, LK has NOT STOPPED whining since her feet hit the floor. It is cold outside and we don’t want to load up and…” She interrupts me and says the eight words that have shaped my parenting ever since:

“This moment is more precious than you think.”

More Precious Than You Think | Wichita Moms Blog

Maybe it was the loving, yet stern, way she delivered the message as if to say, “Don’t take this for granted, Lindsey” or the fact that I was overly exhausted from feeling sorry for myself (something that was simply NOT allowed in our house growing up), but those words stopped me in my tracks. Immediately, my perspective changed.

Wow. She’s right. Get it together, Lindsey. 

Our conversation that morning was short as she had imparted more wisdom in 20 seconds than any parenting book ever had. I walked my new-found perspective back into the house, sat down, flipped off the television while pushing the remnants of orange cracker crumbs out of the way. I wrapped my arms around my children and silently asked God for forgiveness for being so self-consumed.

So what if I didn’t get a shower that morning, or maybe for the rest of that day? So what if the laundry didn’t get folded or the toys were strewn all around the house? I was with my children. I was in a comfortable home. Everyone in our house is healthy (& relatively happy…as long as LK’s brother isn’t “LOOKING at me, MOM!” or stealing her toys.).

And, you know what? We had ten hours until bedtime to make memories.

More Precious Thank You Think | Wichita Moms Blog

Breathe.
Give thanks.
Choose joy.

Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes parenting is hard, and it feels overwhelming. But life can change in an instant. In those moments (and every moment in between) remember:

“This moment is more precious than you think.”

 

 

lindseylitzner
Lindsey is thrilled to be back home in Kansas. She grew up across from a cornfield in a little town just North of Wichita, met her husband in High School and their young love carried them through college. The two married after graduation & began the adventure of Medical School, Residency, and Fellowship that took them to 3 states (um, 7 moves!) in 10 years. During that time, Lindsey taught first grade until she had the first of two children and began her role as a stay-at-home mama. Recently, she turned her love of fashion & design into a consulting business. Lindsey credits her role as owner of Huck & Leni Personal / Interior Styling as allowing her to be true to herself as a woman & as a mama. She admits the balance is sometimes tricky, but hey...that's why there's coffee, right?