Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Unwrapping Motherhood

I am on a mission.

I am starting my spring cleaning a little early this year. I am sorting, dumping, giving, and rearranging everything in my path. On Sunday afternoon I was buried in clothes and toys. My girls tried to help, I really wanted them to help, but when they start digging things out of the garbage I realized it might take forever to get it done.

Yesterday I thought that I would continue where I left off when my older girls went to school and my husband left for work. I got my little one settled in with Dora the Explorer and her chocolate milk. It wasn't long and I heard a little voice from behind me, "Mama will you play with me?"

I tried to keep her busy for a little longer, but I heard her little voice again, "Mama will you play with me?"

My mission was delayed and we played, and played and played.

Last night as my husband and I were settled in to watch the Olympics in a quiet house I heard a thump, thump, thump on the stairs. Nadia crawled up on my lap and wanted to cuddle. She said, "I love you Mama." My husband looked at her and said, "Can you believe we moved here when she was only 6 months old. She couldn't even crawl yet."

I stopped and thought about the last 4 years. A lot of my plans and missions are often delayed. My to do list is often left undone. But I have been home with this little one to see all of her first moments. I was here when she crawled and when she walked. I was here when she said Mommy. I am the one that gets to sit and play Go Fish with her over and over again.


This little face is pretty hard to resist.

So today, as I look at my long list of tasks and then glance over at a little girl just wiping the sleep from her eyes, I realize that today is going to be a great day. I am unwrapping the gift that my husband gave me the day that he said, "The only way we are moving is if you can be a stay at home mom." I am joining Emily over at Chatting at the Sky for Tuesdays Unwrapped. I can't wait to read about the other gifts that are being unwrapped today.

17 comments:

kellyjae said...

So sweet!! I love this...what a blessing to be a stay at home mommy! Have a great day!
Love,
Kelly

Southern Gal said...

Yes! I love this. Enjoy every minute of it.

Richella Parham said...

YES! Yes, yes, yes!!

I am so blessed to know that you get it--that even in the times when it would be nice to be able to work uninterrupted, you are grateful that you're there for her. For them. For your husband. For the Kingdom.

Good work, Mom. Keep up the good work.

A Joyful Chaos said...

What a sweet, sweet post! Thanks so much for sharing.

Flamingo said...

thanks so much for stopping by my blog! looks like we are both on the same page here with the gifts we are unwrapping. it is so easy to let these moments go by and be distracted with our own to do's.

I would not trade staying at home for ANYTHING!

Tracey said...

That is a sweet little face! Now that both of my girls are in school, I must admit I sometimes miss those times of being asked to play with them (although it still happens occasionally during evenings and weekends!) So glad you are enjoying these precious years!

Anonymous said...

Putting work away to play is something I needed to be reminded of. Thank you! Your daughter is adorable.

-FringeGirl

Alyssa said...

It is the sweetest gift your hubby could give you - being a stay at home mom is such a wonderful thing.
I look forward to the day when my husband is able to say those words to me too.
God Bless!

Alyssa
lifeoflyssie.com

Scooper said...

A sweet gift indeed. The time rolls by so quickly...you'll never regret the time you spend with them. {I'm reminding myself of this too.}

Anonymous said...

Aw, what a sweetie you have! Thanks for the kind comment on my blog today!

Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae said...

I'm sitting on the couch reading this with my three boys right beside me. They wanted to "snuggle" which in boy speak means "sit in your general vicinity and ignore you."

I'll take it.

Loved your post.

Beth said...

Thanks for popping by my blog today. What a beautiful thing you're unwrapping! I don't have any kids yet, but I have a mental file of wisdom I'm learning from all you wonderful moms- and this is definitely a little tidbit I'm filing away. Enjoy your time with your daughter, and forget the to-do list for a while. :)

Dawn said...

oh to play. i am trying to more of that here... but i am the one begging the kids! that to-do list will always be here... but these little ones (mine aren't so little!) grow up quicker than we can imagine. play on...

Anonymous said...

Amy- this has definitely been my frame of mind recently. I am a mother that works outside of the home and these impromptu moments when my 4 yo. wants to play have proven to be rewarding when I actually sit and play or read to her. I have to remind myself during those times how great it feels to just "be there" for her and my preteen....who recently is asking too many of those personal questions..yikes!! LOL!

Melissa, Multi-Tasking Mama said...

What a sweet reality check!

Shannan Martin said...

What a lovely post! It really is a gift. :)

K E Fleck said...

this really touched me today .... thank you for sharing and for reminding me that sometimes the best plans are the ones we abandon in favor of better opportunities.