be a better mother

I need to sit with my children more and play with them instead of worrying about all the chores that need done. I love to spend time with them, but sometimes I get wrapped up in being a perfectionist.

This is the kind of goal where there’s certainly always room for improvement, but I think I’ve accomplished the things I had hoped to when I first added it to my list. I’ve cultivated new and ever-growing reserves of patience when it comes to Audrey and her wild 3-year-old mood swings. I’ve broken the habit of sometimes giving knee-jerk “no” answers to things that could or should be a “yes.” I’ve slowed myself down and gotten better about giving Audrey much more of my undivided attention. We’re playing and having Mommy-Daughter time every single day, and we’re developing an assortment of our own special little traditions like our weekly Target trip. I really wanted to make the most of the time Audrey and I had together before the baby came, and I think I’ve done a wonderful job at that. We have a few more days/weeks to savor, and then it will be time to figure out how a new baby fits into our world.

I think I’ll look for a new and more accurate Mommy-related goal to keep track of all my Mommy triumphs and trials.

lights up at any opportunity to spend time together. Last night, she and I went to pick up an order I’d placed for steamed white rice (I didn’t want to eat yellow), and we opened the sunroof, turned the radio up full blast, and jammed! Her face was lit up the entire night after that. I think I’ll focus just that much more on making (and keeping) her smiling.

Even the boys, as we sat at the computer, looking up lyrics to our favorite songs, seemed to really enjoy my “one on three” attention. I had forgotten how I used to be able to turn to my kids to keep me uplifted, and vice versa.

i love my baby so much but it’s so hard sometimes to be a momther,i don’t know what to do at times,please help i think she hates me

Monday was such a rough evening with Audrey, and I know it was all my fault. I was in an iffy mood all day, and then I came home to quite possibly the messiest house I’ve ever laid eyes on. Eric is usually so good about keeping things somewhat tidy so it was a shock to see the complete and utter chaos. He was headed off to work as soon as I got home so I was instantly in a crummy mood over the prospect of having to deal with all my usual evening things like dinner and taking care of Audrey plus picking up the house. My crankiness instantly spilled over to being short with Audrey. My response to everything she asked seemed to be snippy and overly negative. I hate when I let my bad moods show so much to Audrey and ruin what could have been a nice evening.

I did my best to make up for it at bedtime. Before we read our stories I apologized to her for being so cranky and compared it to times she’s cranky and has meltdowns. She really seemed to make the connection. We had an extra long and cuddly bedtime routine filled with a few extra songs and me staying in bed with her for awhile after I’d turned off the lights.

I WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY SECOND I HAVE WITH THESE PRECIOUS GIFTS THAT THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME WITH. I WIIL PRAISE THEM MORE, ENCOURAGE THEM, AND SPEND EVERY SECOND LETTING THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE. I WILL GIVE THEM HUGS AND KISSES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

My oldest wants me to buy a Super Duty Sewing machine. Because she wants me to sew together the clothes she designs. She has her own little portfolio and everything with her designs in it.

I love her ambition. And I’m so happy she wants me involved with making the clothes. Who knows? Maybe she’ll be a famous designer one day. If not. She is one awesome kid who has a wonderful imagination.

I will get that sewing machine. The one I was looking at costs $300. I’ll have to save up for it. Or see if Santa will bring me one for Christmas this year. =)

I always feel good about my parenting when Audrey and I make it through a rough moment, and afterwards I feel 100% confident and right in how I handled the situation. The other night Audrey and I had plans to go out for ice cream after Daddy went to work. She was having one of those days and was just a terror from the moment I walked through the door. I made it clear that we wouldn’t be able to go out for our treat if she wasn’t behaving, and ultimately I had to take the privilege of the ice cream outing away. You can imagine the tears and tantrum that ensued, but I stayed firm, and after a few minutes she came and cuddled up with me to talk about why we couldn’t get ice cream.

I am not very patient with my daughter. I do not give her enough time to complete a task when I ask it. I am aware of this and am not proud of it. She is five, and I have to make this change in myself right now or she and our relationship will suffer. She is very willful and has started the talking back thing. My husband is helpful, but he works over an hour from home, is often home late, and I am responsible for taking the children to daycare and picking them up and taking them home, which is fine with me, but it can be hard after I work all day to maintain patience.

What I have done so far is try (every time) to remind myself to count ten before I get mad. This works when I remember to do it!

Most of the time I think that I have become a better mother, sometimes I think I’m not were I would like to be as a mom. Specially ebing a single working mother, its hard to not feel guilty all the time for how much time you spend away from your child. I think that maybe that is where I would like to start to be a better mom. To find a way to be with my son more.