A Princess, a Stupid Math Assignment, and a Potato

It was a stupid math assignment.  She was frustrated, so she tossed it away for later.  Later came and went, and she was up against the clock.  "My Mom lost my homework" didn't pan out. You could cut the tension with a knife.  She tore, crumpled, even stomped on the rotten thing.  Marched away in disgust.

Hate prepubescence!

So, I gave her a few minutes to calm down with Curious George.

Then I quietly explained that the assignment DID seem dumb.  It was doing multiplication the hard way.
I started with an easy example, to move her into the difficult.  "I KNOW how to do this!"  she screamed in my face.

I calmly showed her how the easy could move into the difficult.  OH.

She quickly finished the assignment and left for school.  "Have a peachy day!"  I thought, "And don't let the door hit you on the butt on the way out!"  Hhmm...

I luxuriated in the relief brought by having most of the little darlings finally out the door for the next few hours.  Just as I looked around and started to sink into Monday Morning Despair a profound thought hit me.  So, here I am blogging about it under a snake-pit of little girls.


First of all, this is not and accurate portrayal of the scene by my computer; and second, it's ironic that I'm writing these thoughts in this situation (under a pile of toddlers saying things like, "Watch me!  Can I type, too?  Are you listening to me?"  Life is full of irony.)

Anyway, here are my profound thoughts:

Princess didn't realize that her math assignment was three-fold.
1.  It would show her that there are many different ways to approach and solve a problem.
2.  It would give her a few of the specific approaches.
3.  It would prepare her for math problems to come by introducing some algebraic terms and processes.

It just seemed stupid, boring, and hard to her.

I my calling with the children of our congregation, I am preparing to teach a lesson about God's individual love for us.


I'm planning to use the object lesson where I will give each child a potato, ask them to get to know it and name it, let them spend some time with it and really learn about it, and then have them throw the potatoes back into the main box and allow them to find "their" potato from the others again.


If a ten year old can pick out "their" potato from a pile (and they can!) after playing with it for a few minutes, how much more does a perfect, omnipotent, loving Father know us?

When He gives me a difficult assignment, how often do I stomp away from it?

I know that He loves me, and knows me.  I know that everything He does is to help me grow and be happy.  I know that He doesn't give me any challenge without also supplying everything that I need to go along with it.  I also know that He can see the beginning from the end, and that with my very, very limited vision, I need to trust Him.

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.



I'm sad and disappointed in myself when I realize that once again I have tried to do it on my own.  I need Him, and love Him.  I want to lean on my Father and willingly submit, as a child, so that he can take me and make of me something glorious.

Lately I have been exhausted, physically and mentally.  (I just found out I've got some thyroid problems, so hopefully I can get my levels up along with my energy.)
                 




In my opinion, I've been hearing my name too much--it seems like everyone needs a piece of me --everyone seeks to have me listen to them and watch them and help them and hold them.  I just want to be alone in my own thoughts, sometimes!  Hence the name, Mom.




One of my dear friends (Catherine) wrote an article on Segulla  about our witnessing for others.  It has had a profound impact on me.

Here's the link address if it works:

http://segullah.org/daily-special/can-i-get-a-witness-2/

(You can also follow the link through Bluestocking Mama on my blog links.)

Anyway, she alluded to our sacred calling as mothers, to merely witness the greatness of others.

It's our JOB to laugh at their jokes, watch their tricks, listen to their stories, cheer at their programs, find their special lucky-ducky socks, walk to the door with them and wave as they leave, greet them by name enthusiastically as they return.

I should never feel burned out by this divine trust.  Some of my little children love me so much, that they are willing to incur my wrath by pushing a bean up my nose while I sleep, just to experience the attention it will bring them.

They follow me around all day, watching me clean toilets and fold laundry.  
I am a rock-star!  So why would I want to cuss and rant about needing personal space with this kind of adoration?

I want to stop thinking about my life as one big "Human Obstacle Course" and see it for what it is.

My loving Heavenly Father had given me an experience that is teaching me all the qualities I will need to be happy.  He's helping me to become like Him.  I am His Daughter!  I love Him!  I trust Him!

I will calm down and be His hands today, be more mindful, seek guidance.  I will pray to see them as He sees them, to help Him help them become the best they can be.


Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come.."  Also, "Behold your little ones."

New Goals

OK.  I've re-evaluated my situation, and changed the previously mentioned resolutions.  In a nutshell here are the new goals:

1.  Resist hibernation.
2.  Put one foot in front of the other.

So far, not so well.  I forgot about reality.


p.s.  I used tough love today to send Princess to school.  She's a major hypochondriac.

p.s.s.  She threw up in the classroom.  Bad Mom!

Resolutions

For several years, my only New Year's resolution has been to Go to the bathroom before my eyeballs turn yellow and I am frantically knocking down small children in my path.  I triumphantly announce that I believe I have tackled this one!!!

Someday, I hope to hit the highest level, and set the resolution to go alone and undisturbed.

Right now, I am somewhere in-between.  But enough about that.  I'm starting to think that there is more to life than surviving exhaustion and performing basic bodily functions.  (Which means I am not pregnant or nursing, so I've had a second to stop and look around.)

In other words, I'm emerging from "SURVIVAL MODE" or at least breaking the surface for a quick breath of air once in a while.

I am in my 3rd year of what my mom coined as a "3-Year Plan."  The plan was to organize my home, establish some grooming, and get healthy.

2013 Resolutions:(Not necessarily in order of importance)
In the Home:
1.  Paint:  the deck, the stair railing, my bedroom
2.  Carpet:  laid downstairs, shampooed upstairs.
3.  Pictures on the wall updated.
4.  Organization:  Each day deep clean one area  (shower, wall, cupboard, etc.)  Each week organize or re-organize one area)
5.  Plan meals around food storage, shop on Thursdays only, and plan a week at a time.

Grooming:
I mostly took care of this in 2012--I've got some nice new clothes, whitened my teeth, consistently wear make-up, and most days I curl my hair.  It's mostly about maintaining.

Health:
It's time to get real with this one.  I've gotten my veins taken care of, and I think that the migraines are something I'm going to have to live with.  Now for diet and exercise.

1.  Exercise 30-45 minutes a day.
2.  Stretch and strengthen each day.
3.  Visit the rec center twice a week.
4.  Eat one fruit or vegetable with each meal.
5.  Set out healthy snacks strategically.
6.  Offer 3 choices of fruits and vegetables with dinner.
7.  No more than one evil dessert a day.
8.  Eliminate "laundry incentive candy"  (This might be the most difficult.)
9.  Brush teeth after dinner and refrain from eating anything else for the day.
10.  Bake with more whole wheat, and substitute oil with applesauce.
         
Family:
1.  Prepare Nellie L for college, a mission, and leaving the nest.
2.  Nag Mr. Cool until he has a job.  Continue to cheer as he learns and grows.
3.  Continue to work with Lil' Mama on Personal Progress.
4.  Help Mr. Lamadingdong prepare for Middle School.  Work on scouting.  Prepare for Eagle.
5.  Ride prepubescence with the Princess.
6.  Help Little P prepare to be baptized. ( March 2014)
7.  Preschool with Little K and Caboose.  Kindergarten in fall for little K.
8.  Establish a little discipline for Caboose.  Potty train and move from crib.
9.  Continue to do family sports, vacations, kid parties, and one-on-one "dates".
10.  Continue to "conference" with each child on Sundays, with weekly planning, Preach My Gospel study, goal-setting and journaling.  Continue Family Home Evenings, Family Scriptures and Prayer, teens to the temple often.
   
 

Spiritual:
1.  Temple once a week.  (Give myself a break when it doesn't always happen.  Keep trying.)
2.  Finish reading Book of Mormon with footnotes and study aids.  Read every day.
3.  Study words of the prophets in Conference talks, etc...
4.  Pray daily for opportunities to serve.  Act on promptings.
5.  Be a better Visiting Teacher.
6.  Fast and pray for those I've been called to serve.  Be more prepared in my church calling.
7.  Be a better friend.
8.  Be a better wife.

       

This year I hope that together we can go to Korea to visit Handsome's brother and his family and  pay off the house.  I'll continue to rotate and supply our food storage, serve more in the community (especially at the schools) and involve my kiddos in more service/volunteering.  I plan to read my brains out, be a better instrument in His hands, learn humility and self-control.  If I could have patience a little quicker and easily, then I'd go for that.  Maybe next year.