The Litmus Test of Morning
Back to more relevant topics (the chin hair post got lots of rolling eyes and under breath comments of "TMI" from Tianna, and acknowledgement from Nicole that chin hairs, and especially the hairs in the skin ridge right under your nose can be a real distraction). Connie, I can never remember, does the punctuation in this case come inside the ( ) or outside? And I call myself a writer...
Anyway, as I said, back to more relevant topics.
Is it well with your soul? It is well with my soul despite continued waves of attitude, interruptions, selfish actions of others and multiple other responsibilities: to God, myself, my husband, my kids, my mother...and whatever else needs to get done. I know you know; you live this life also.
But mornings can give us a great litmus test for how we are doing in the "soul wellness" department.
Tianna provided the test this morning. Remember, she is twelve going on nineteen...(or maybe fifteen would be more apt because by nineteen there may actually be a light bulb of reason flickering inside their head from time to time).
First, we are (instrumental word here "we") are parenting much more as a team, which is as it should be and is also a relief. So anyway, we are having a much smoother bed time routine, preserving couple time, and getting to bed at a more reasonable hour.
The first hint of how this morning would go was when Tianna tossed me a sweatshirt and simply stated, "This needs to be washed, it has a spot on the front."
OK, no problem. When I do my next load of interminable laundry, which was not at 9:23 last night, I will do so.
You know what's coming. So this morning she gets up and says, "Mom, did you wash my sweatshirt, where is my sweatshirt?"
The answer didn't go over well, garnered a bit of attitude, to which my response was that attitude would only add to her woes, and there was an easy solution. I could teach her how to do her own laundry and she could have total control. No one to thank or blame but herself. I also said I would be happy to provide same day laundry as long as it arrived in the laundry room in a hamper by 6 pm. Later than that, no guarantees.
"Well, I'm not going to school then." No problem. "Suit yourself, but you'll ruin your perfect attendance for the year."
That got her moving, but not quite on time. If she misses the bus, I can get her to the next stop just down the hill, but it is a pain, and definitely throws things off the mornings I am on a tighter schedule.
Adding to the disruption of the morning was the fact that the softball coach hadn't gotten back to me yet about whether or not there is practice this afternoon. This "simple" fact, that will probably not be conveyed until the last minute is significant: We are operating on one car (Honda in the shop being fixed from my fender bender), Nicole has girl scouts (just 8 boxes to go to meet her goal) and if there isn't softball then Tianna will swim instead.
So Tianna was texting her friend to find out, I emailed the mom to back it up and that took up a few valuable moments of time. Tianna said "Yes, there is softball. Fact. Period." The email from the mom said, "well, the coach said yes last week, but I haven't heard and it has yet to be determined" (by forces such as liability insurance procurement also being handled in a passive aggressive fashion since softball is less important than baseball, and the guys wanted the gym...) Politics at its best.
But it was well with my soul. Not a voice was raised, (well, maybe Tianna's) and we will have great dinner time conversation.
Oh, and this instead of the too typical frenzied mornings that made for a great skit this past Sunday at our church to promote the Women's Retreat. Katy and Connie, friends and loyal commenters here, are both coming. It is going to be GREAT!
How was your morning? Katy, did Simone make it to school today? May it be well with your souls also.
Peace.
Then the bagel. Had to have one, didn't eat it. The cat will enjoy licking the cream cheese off the top and no doubt my mom who can't waste a thing will eat the rest.
And we missed the bus. And somehow that was my fault.
Anyway, as I said, back to more relevant topics.
Is it well with your soul? It is well with my soul despite continued waves of attitude, interruptions, selfish actions of others and multiple other responsibilities: to God, myself, my husband, my kids, my mother...and whatever else needs to get done. I know you know; you live this life also.
But mornings can give us a great litmus test for how we are doing in the "soul wellness" department.
Tianna provided the test this morning. Remember, she is twelve going on nineteen...(or maybe fifteen would be more apt because by nineteen there may actually be a light bulb of reason flickering inside their head from time to time).
First, we are (instrumental word here "we") are parenting much more as a team, which is as it should be and is also a relief. So anyway, we are having a much smoother bed time routine, preserving couple time, and getting to bed at a more reasonable hour.
The first hint of how this morning would go was when Tianna tossed me a sweatshirt and simply stated, "This needs to be washed, it has a spot on the front."
OK, no problem. When I do my next load of interminable laundry, which was not at 9:23 last night, I will do so.
You know what's coming. So this morning she gets up and says, "Mom, did you wash my sweatshirt, where is my sweatshirt?"
The answer didn't go over well, garnered a bit of attitude, to which my response was that attitude would only add to her woes, and there was an easy solution. I could teach her how to do her own laundry and she could have total control. No one to thank or blame but herself. I also said I would be happy to provide same day laundry as long as it arrived in the laundry room in a hamper by 6 pm. Later than that, no guarantees.
"Well, I'm not going to school then." No problem. "Suit yourself, but you'll ruin your perfect attendance for the year."
That got her moving, but not quite on time. If she misses the bus, I can get her to the next stop just down the hill, but it is a pain, and definitely throws things off the mornings I am on a tighter schedule.
Adding to the disruption of the morning was the fact that the softball coach hadn't gotten back to me yet about whether or not there is practice this afternoon. This "simple" fact, that will probably not be conveyed until the last minute is significant: We are operating on one car (Honda in the shop being fixed from my fender bender), Nicole has girl scouts (just 8 boxes to go to meet her goal) and if there isn't softball then Tianna will swim instead.
So Tianna was texting her friend to find out, I emailed the mom to back it up and that took up a few valuable moments of time. Tianna said "Yes, there is softball. Fact. Period." The email from the mom said, "well, the coach said yes last week, but I haven't heard and it has yet to be determined" (by forces such as liability insurance procurement also being handled in a passive aggressive fashion since softball is less important than baseball, and the guys wanted the gym...) Politics at its best.
But it was well with my soul. Not a voice was raised, (well, maybe Tianna's) and we will have great dinner time conversation.
Oh, and this instead of the too typical frenzied mornings that made for a great skit this past Sunday at our church to promote the Women's Retreat. Katy and Connie, friends and loyal commenters here, are both coming. It is going to be GREAT!
How was your morning? Katy, did Simone make it to school today? May it be well with your souls also.
Peace.
Then the bagel. Had to have one, didn't eat it. The cat will enjoy licking the cream cheese off the top and no doubt my mom who can't waste a thing will eat the rest.
And we missed the bus. And somehow that was my fault.
Labels: being well with your soul, eliminating chaos, frazzled females/ laundry on demand, Morning stress, natural consequences
posted by www.kathypride.com at
6:34 AM
3 Comments:
No, Simone did not go to school today. She was so tired, she spelled out the word with her own version of sign language, instead of going to the effort of talking. At least she is in good spirits, if not good physically. She DID go to dance last night, and went to bed early with no problem, despite having slept most of yesterday morning.
I'll answer your parentheses question: The punctuation is inside if the whole paranthetical comment is a sentence. (Don't you love the word, "paranthetical?" Of course, I'm not altogether sure is I spelled it correctly, but that's another issue.) If the comment is part of your original sentence (such as this one), then the punctuation is outside. Does that clarify things? (Connie, am I right about this, or have I been doing wrong all these years?)
Well, I am having my tattoo today. I never thought I would be getting any kind of tattoo, but that was before I knew of the existence of medical ones. So the nurse is going to "color in" my rebuilt nipple on my mastectomy side rebuilt breast. It's supposed to make me look normal, although I will never feel anything. :(
Cool about your laser hair removal. I have one particularly stubborn one on my chin and seem to be getting some on my upper lip. Oh, the joys of approaching menopause. Maybe you can do a book for menopausal women (and their beleaguered husbands) in a few more years, when you (and your friends) have had more experience with that phase of life. You could title it, "Dear God, I thought I asked for some frikking patience already -- what's taking so long!"
I know all about the issue with laundry. It's Gregory who pulls that crap with me, even at 19 (so don't hold your breath on any enlightenment). I tried making a rule that I would only do laundry if it was brought down to me (instead of me going around picking it up off floors or wherever it landed). It sorta worked. Well, at least I have less now with all three boys gone.
Does your mother really eat a bagel that the cat licked? Gross.
Love ya,
maybe we'll connect one of these days :)
Katy
Yes, my mother does eat at licked bagels.
No laundry after six, Period. Don't give in. I won't hold my breath, but I won't do the wash either. They are old enough. I seem to be making progress in the tough love department.
I love the book title, great idea!
As for Simone and school, (now I am going to get tough...) how about no school, no dance? I know you will say you can't, but yes you can! And it will be well with your soul.
Love, Kathy
Katy, yes, you are correct on the grammar.
We homeschool and we have a policy, No school, no extracurricular activities (basketball, horseback riding, etc.).
What's TMI stand for again???
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