WHEN PARENTING IS HARD

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a mom. I remember just always feeling like it was what I was made to be. I always loved babysitting and couldn't wait for the day I had a little munchkin of my own!

Well, flash forward to present day, and I suppose one could say I was "right" with that intuition :) Mom of Five -- never a title I thought I'd have, but most certainly the one I am most proud of.

AND, most certainly the most difficult one I ever think I'll have, too.

Emma is now six (and almost a half, as she'll remind you) and, thus, I have that many years and months parenting experience. And still, each day challenges me in new ways, most of the time making me feel like I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. How old do your kids have to be for you to feel like you finally have all of the answers? Oh, never, you say? OK, great. 

I know I am an abundantly blessed mom. My kids are healthy, and, more times than not, they are polite, well-behaved, loving and fun to be around.

BUT, then there are the times that, well ... they're not. And that's hard. Which, in return, makes parenting really hard.

At our house currently, we seem to be in the midst of a season with an excessive amount of whining (oh the whining! Why can't you just go away forever?!), bickering, back-talking, and boundary-testing. Fun, huh? I'm sure you all are going to be lining up to want to hang out with us now!

I've found myself short on patience, and have lost my temper more times than I care to admit. Simply put, I've just kind of felt a bit overwhelmed lately.

Now, this isn't to say that there aren't pieces of sunshine amidst all of that rain -- like Finley and Beckett randomly holding hands just because, or peaking in to find Emma and Finley snuggling like this (after a full day of arguing with one another, mind you) in the middle of the night:

When you're in the thick of it (parenting) it's sometimes hard to stop and see the blessings right in front of your eyes. It can feel like a constant cycle of cleaning up messes, loads of laundry, dirty diapers, dishes in the sink, snotty noses, crying, and (fill in the blank).

But, if you can stop and take a closer look, it's also the little voice who spills her glass of milk to add to that mess, but looks and innocently says, "Sorry, mama!" and runs to get a paper towel to help clean it up; it's the almost two-year-old boy who, amidst the countless loads of laundry, sees you loading the dryer with wet clothes and runs in and says "I 'elp!'"; or the soon-to-be first grader who tries to help out with those dirty dishes by eagerly rinsing her dinner plate in the sink and successfully places it in the dishwasher; the baby with that snotty nose who gives you a big smile once you've finally sucked it out; or the giggles you can sometimes get out of any one of them when they start to fuss, and you start tickling them under their chin and turn that frown upside down.

You see, what I'm learning is parenting is all about attitudes - and no, I'm not just talking about the attitudes of the kids (although good attitudes definitely help!). It's about the attitudes of us as parents.

I believe, that if you look deep enough, you can find a blessing in just about everything that happens. It's kind of like that Mr. Rogers quote:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."

The "helpers," in that scenario are the blessings. And, in tough times of parenting, I think it's important to look for those little helpers/blessings. They aren't always easy to see, or won't necessarily be the thing you want to focus on. But ... They. Are. There.

I am so crazy thankful to be a mom, and I don't ever want to take that for granted. I once read that the way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice. I try to remind myself of this when my patience is low (like it has been as of late). How I choose to respond to their behavior has a direct impact on who they become. They practice what they see, and how they are treated, and become what we make them feel they are. 

I don't know about any of you, but I want that inner voice of theirs to be one that is full of love, grace and confidence. Today's world is a tough one, and if there's two things I hope my kiddos never forget is that:

1. God loves them. Always!
2. Mommy and daddy love them. Always!

So, if any of you, like me, are in a season where parenting is challenging you a little more than usual -- hang in there. Look for those little blessings wherever you can, no matter what those may be. And, when in the thick of it, try to sprinkle in a little grace, and a whole heck of a lot of love (and I'll be right there trying to do the same!).

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Anyone else being challenged lately? What are your parenting tips when in the thick of it?!