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64. That might be when I have finally figured out this working mom and wife thing. Once upon a time I wanted a ton of kids. Think Lucille Ball in Yours, Mine and Ours. As, I graduated college and entered the teaching field, the number began dwindling and ended up at none. I was going to become that awesome teacher they make movies about. I was going to get my doctorate and research education and bring amazing educational techniques, love and consistency to all the hurting and broken kids growing up in urban areas. I can’t do that with kids of my own to take care of. In college, I met my amazing hubby who I will usually refer to as The Hubby.
Much after college…
He came with my awesome bonus son. I will refer to him as The Bonus (age 16) throughout this blog. I met The Bonus when he was 4 and he stole my heart with his Spiderman, Cars and write his own books obsession. I would say we hit it off quite well. Since I was a bonus kid myself, I was determined to make sure he always felt like I loved him as if he were my biological child.
5 years old was a big deal.
The little boy who stole my heart is practically a man!
Then….
Just as I was about to finish my master’s degree in my 7th year of teaching, we found out that Sweet V (age 4 and a big half) was on her way. So needless to say, my plan changed. A lot.
Our Sweet V!
A little more spicy at 4!
I tried to be super woman the first year of her life. Some choices were due to financial necessity (making baby food, washing cloth diapers, pumped through every break at work) and others because I thought I could do it all. I stayed late at work to be super teacher, organized a wedding in my house and coached the cheer team for The Bonus’ football team. I didn’t want to change the things I had originally planned on doing and my marriage, home and health suffered.
In the 5 years that have gone by since Sweet V has spiced up our life, I am FINALLY learning to prioritize the choices in my heart and home, but I haven’t figured out the perfect balance to keep all the plates spinning. I drop them over and over and it’s only by God’s grace I am still married (another post) still healthy, (another post) and learning to embrace each moment without having a plan (many other posts). I am not sure I have anything to tell you to make your life better today. Just maybe that if your plan wasn’t to be a mom who is gone all day at work or to be stuck at home with two babies and no car or to have four littles ones and your husband does little to help or childless or unmarried…you are not alone. We are in this together. But more importantly there is a big God who listens to our cry out late at night, tear filled prayers and He is there even when we feel alone in our own homes. And if it takes me until I’m 64 to figure out this working mom and wife thing, then so be it. But please, someone bring me wine and take me to get ice cream when I drop the spinning plates. Life is good. High five for home.
And just because I love The Beatles…
Kendra was a classroom teacher for two decades before becoming a mom again in her 40’s. She is currently homeschooling a teen and chasing a toddler around her parent’s Michigan homestead. She holds a masters in reading and language arts, but can’t hold a hand in Euchre. Kendra is a lake loving, ranch on pizza, pop can recycling, map on her hand Michigan girl! You can find her making a pretty long list, learning to homestead, or planning her next adventure in America’s high five! High five for home!
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