How Can I Be A Good Mommy!?!

The other day I was told...Alyssa you seem to have it all together! How do you do it? Balance working, duties at home, and a family... All together? Obviously they have not looked in my cupboards, closets and under my couches! OUCH! That would show I dont have that it all together. I do try to keep my house "picked up" and present able but I make sure to have fun with my boys and enjoy doing whatever we do. I have a little poem I read daily which I feel helps me keep things into perspective.

You always clean the fingerprints I leave upon the wall.
I seem to make a mess of things
Because I am so small.
The years will pass so quickly
I'll soon be grown like you
And all my little fingerprints,
Will surely fade from view.
So here's a special handprint
A memory that's true.
So you'll recall the very dayI made this just for you!

This poem helps me to stop and take a deep breathe and put things into perspective, leave the mess on the counter or the load of laundry for later. I've come to the conclusion to keep this in mind when planning my day... In 5 yrs what will I remember...what we had for supper? the laundry folded and put away? my house dust free? over will I remember the books we read, the times at the park, the hours we spent rolling cars over the floor, or the game of chase??? SO the I have learned to stop feeling guilty when we have a frozen pizza for supper...thats 30 extra mins of books, pushes on the swing or cuddle time in the chair that I will never get back. I can always cook, fold laundry or clean when my kids are grown, but never again will I have the 15 mo old that backs his way into my lap with a book in hand.

Another thing I have had to learn and remind myself daily is since becoming a mom is that EVERYONE is very willing in giving their advise on how to raise your child, what you need to be doing...Ect. I guess one of the many joys of being is a parent is you have the ultmiate final disicion and I have had to keep in mind they are all OPINONS and if your child is happy and you are enjoying every minute do what works for you and keep those OPINONS as OPNIONS and in one ear out the other! Speaking of opinon and this is my medical background talking if you really need advise ask the expert--your pediatrician! They have studied for 8 yrs all different types of children and have EXCELLENT ideas and advise. If you have access to the expert why not use them? We feel very blessed to have Dr. Wickenkamp who has been amazing with Merrick and he loves her!

So me having it all together is very much an understatement but I will say I have fun each and every day with my boys and consider it a true blessing to have such an AMAZING gift of family!