A Rough Week

So I was listening to the radio the other day when a song came on that I've heard at least a dozen times but I actually listened to the words this time. It is "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins. I added it to my playlist because I really needed to realize this week that I am going to miss my children being little. It has been a rough week for them and I think the reality of change has sunk in . . .

Clark has actually been really obedient and has stepped in to help me quite a bit, however, he still suffers from the elation and excitement he receives by teasing his brother and sisters. Teasing Carlee gives him extra joy. He pretends to be a monster and growls and chases her while she runs away screaming and crying. I tell her there are no monsters so she tells him to "leave me alone, Clarkie!" and proceeds to hit him. While he is laughing at her hitting him, I am trying to tell her that we don't hit. He also tortures her by carrying her around and away from everyone, putting her in a room, and shutting the door. I wonder if I should do that to him . . . if only he weren't so darn heavy!

Katelyn has what we call "Brattitude". She actually agreed that working on this would be her New Year's resolution. This happens about every 2-3 days. She will be a great helper--always willing to help me out with little things around the house, with Carlee, or just playing nicely, and then the Brattitude Monster takes over and she talks back, turns up her nose, stomps her foot and gives mean looks all the while saying, "I can't, Mom, I'm busy" or "Do it yourself". Looks like that monster needs to be chased away by Carlee. Maybe I'll allow hitting on that one, if only I could see it.

Jacob has a problem with staring at me and not comprehending anything that I say. As I'm telling him to do something or get his work done, he is completely thinking about something else. Everything is in one ear and out the other with him. The other day, I was rattling off a list of 3 things he needed to get done before school. Right in the middle of my sentence, he said, "Mom, do you know that all snowflakes are different and none of them are the same?" I said, "Yes, I did know that. Did you know that I was talking to you?" He nodded but didn't know what I said. Then he stuck his thumb in his mouth and walked away. Another new phrase that he has said twice is the dreaded one, "I hate you!" He has said that to me once and to Katelyn the other day. They were fighting in the car on the way to the store--kicking, screaming, crying, hitting, etc. when those mean words came out of his mouth. I was at my wit's end so I told Jake that if he hated his family then we would find him a new one while we were at the store. I was pointing out different moms and asking him which one he liked. He was crying and saying that he didn't want a new family but I said that if he hated us then he shouldn't be with us and he should live with one he loved. He could even pick what family he wanted! I was pointing out different characteristics of each mom, dad, brother and sister and Clark and Katelyn were giggling. He finally apologized to Katelyn and to me and said that he would love our family and be nicer. So, the moral of this story is . . . when you're at your wit's end, you've lectured, threatened, bribed, and punished until you're blue in the face, you go to your creative side and do whatever works!

Carlee is back to clinging on to me all day long. She follows me, wants me to hold her, has to be carried up and down the stairs, and can not be away from me. If I leave for one second to do dishes or put in a batch of laundry, she runs screaming and crying after me. Too bad that she is too big and heavy for a baby sling. That would be the best solution instead of putting myself in time-out for 5 minutes while she bangs on the door. She is also into everything and doing things herself. She has a huge sweet tooth and I have to pick the lesser of the two evil junk foods. She is into saying, "one mo' time" and "jus' wheel quick, Mom!" I am definitely learning patience with this one and I have to pick my battles with her. One such battle is her choice of clothing. She has to pick out her outfits and this is usually an argument. Do you know how difficult it is to argue with a 2-year-old? We always end up with a compromise but every day she insists on wearing these high-heeled Minnie Mouse shoes she got for Christmas. When I try to get her to wear normal shoes, she throws a fit so I give in and we shop and run errands in bright yellow high heels. I have to admit they do look darling on her and she gets a million smiles and compliments although I end up carrying her because she can barely walk in them. What we women do for fashion and beauty!

Now that I have complained about the fighting, bickering, and naughty talk of my children this past week, I do have to say that they are good kids. They always step up when I am stressed and they usually listen when we have "family council" (code for Mom is going to lecture). We have great days more often than not but it seems our few bad ones are pretty BAD so they tend to get the focus. I love my four munchkins dearly and nothing brings me greater joy. I love being a mom and it's what I've always wanted to be. I am so grateful that I can stay home with them and be there for every question about snowflakes, see the smirks and dimples when something is funny, hear their apologies for messing up, cuddle with them to read stories when the hustle and bustle of the daily routine is done, kiss them good night as they sleep peacefully, hear the words, "I love you" constantly, catch their flying kisses when they head off to school, and watch them saunter around in high heels flipping their hair and talking on their "i-flone". I know that I will miss these days and that they are growing up too fast. They are my greatest gift and I love them so much even through a rough week.