Wednesdays with Wanda

Motherhood isn’t always easy.

And with four little boys, I have to admit that sometimes I am completely overwhelmed.

Before I had kids, I could do things the way I had planned. 

I could get up when I wanted.

Eat when I wanted.

Go to stores or movies I wanted to go to…when I wanted to go.

But then I had my first son, and then another, and another, and another!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life changed drastically.

I am often awakened by one of my boys, but usually in the middle of the night, not the morning.

I usually have to share my food with four little “vultures” , as I call them, who like to pick things off my plate.

If I go to a store, it’s with at least one boy in tow, and if I ever do go to the movies, it’s a Disney movie, for sure. (And I have to share my popcorn and coke there too!)

Sometimes it can be frustrating being a mom.  So many people needing so much from me at the same time.

I used to talk to Mom about those frustrations, and she would always encourage me to enjoy these times with my kids because they would be gone all too fast.

Now don’t get me wrong, though being a Mom is hard,  it is the greatest thing that has ever happen to me in my life!

And when things get tough, I am trying to focus on the blessings God has given me.

A couple of weeks ago, I found something that Mom had sent me in the mail.  At the time, I was the mother of two.

She wanted me to read it.  I wanted to share it with you…

 

If I Could Live My Life Over

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. 

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television-and more while watching life. 

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day. 

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I ‘d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. 

When  my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.” 

There would have been more “I love you’s”…

more “I’m sorry’s”…

but mostly,

given another shot at life,

I would seize every minute…

look at it, and really see it…

live it…and never give it back.

Written by Erma Bombeck,

(who also passed away from cancer)

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One way I know that Mom would want me to “seize every minute” is to soak up my dad! 

Though I have lost my precious Mom, I still have the most wonderful Dad a girl could ask for!

There are no words to describe how precious he is to me!

My sister, Cyndi, wrote a wonderful post about our Dad on her blog.  If you would like to read it, click HERE.

Thanks for joining me, and have a BLESSED day!

 

(This is a weekly post that I am doing to honor my wonderful mother, Wanda, who passed away on September 22, 2009. It is a place for me to share precious memories of her…for myself, for you, and most importantly, for my children.)