lessons i've learned

some of what i've learned
being the momma of seven
who seeks joy
{inspired by the picture archives on my blog}

always take pictures of baby feet
no explanation why needed


spilled messes on the floor are okay.
 you get to wash your floor afterwards and then check it off your list.
 if your house is like mine you'll always have spills and therefore always have a clean floor
in fact, i love this tip so much that i wrote about it last year
so-thankful-for-those-spills

socks don't need to match
it's much easier to just grab socks and wear them together
however
hanes socks are the best - they color-code their socks
but, hee hee, i don't always make them match

it's okay to cry
not about everything
but my kids have seen me cry
about Samuel and Celiac Disease
or when my grandpa died
cry and tell them it will be okay and that sometimes we need to cry
then give them a hug


always grill in the summer
there's less cleanup
but more propane costs
but again
less clean up
{and if you don't know how to grill -- you simply must learn}

watch them when they don't realize you are
you'll hear them talking to each other about God
or lining up cars
or laughing with each other
and it will do your heart good


save some of their artwork
especially artwork that pictures mom as a mean monster
{which my daughter hannah drew when she was six}
or mom as the princess
{which she drew the next day}
and display their artwork on your fridge

buy costumes on clearance in november
and then you will get pictures like this


teach them about weeds
and share your love of lawns with your kids
but, be prepared for them to point out weedy lawns to you
and gradually they'll learn to love gardening
maybe as much as you do

sing with your kids
we make up our own songs for the kids
and love to spend our time singing and humming and singing
and playing piano
{just look at baby Samuel...sigh}
be prepared for noise
which, one day, you will miss


find an ikea
and invest in their pack of plastic glasses and bowls
and then don't get mad if you find them outside in the sandbox

buy garden tools for the beach
{learned this from my aunt}
your kids will rock the beach when they can dig on with an actual garden digger
versus the shovel
and play in the sand with them - building the coolest sand castle on the beach

 don't sweat potty training
really, trust me, they'll get it
{if you're in the midst you might not believe me}
but every single time my kids eventually caught on
relax
and invest in cheap underwear that you can throw away if needed

be goofy with your kids
run through the sprinkler, play cards
make sure to take time to 
laugh
{remember these pics from my birthday?}


that's what they'll remember

hold them at bedtime
especially when they ask you to stay for just a minute more
because one day they'll be too big
and you'll be so sad
and if you need to remember
read Love you Forever
{by Robert Munsch}


let them cook
and that will probably mean some fails
but tell them that because it didn't work out that next time they know what not to do
and then one day they'll make you yummy food
{like my kids do}

pray with them
always
throughout the day
even if it's just before math
or soccer practice
and always before dinner
they'll remember this even more

teach them animal sounds
and make sure to make the pig sound as a real snorting noise
and add odd sounds
cause then your child sounds like a genius

sit and listen
let them talk to you
stay at the table
don't add your agenda
your schedules
but just listen
listen
listen
listen


and you will be blessed.

how about you?
lessons learned?
favorite lesson of mine?
please do share.