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.