Uncategorized – four crazies and a cop

travel review: the works- ohio center for history, arts, and technology

The Works: Ohio Center for History, Arts, and Technology is an amazing place (even better for free if you have a membership here or any other ASTC-accredited museum or science center). My kids went nuts over a plethora of hands-on interactive science-related activities on the first floor, beginning with a health and fitness exhibit with various fitness tests such as pull-ups (which I failed haha). Our little one then went off to the table with hundreds of magnetic blocks and other simple creative stations, while the older ones headed to exhibits with Dad that had more technology and buttons to push. The best part for a toddler or preschooler is the Tyke Lab in the back corner, complete with train table, dress-up area, puppet show stage, and even an ice cream parlor modeled after a Velvet Ice Cream Parlor, since their headquarters is in nearby Utica.

We then reconveined into the glass-blowing studio where we could watch Zach Layhew, the resident artist, work with paying customers to blow their own glass. Formal demonstrations are shown on certain days, as well as workshops (although I do need to mention they are not cheap). We then went to a small activity room while waiting for the planetarium show to begin, which was a nice quiet break where my husband and I could sit and watch as they played with various games, mini robots, and other STEM-related activities. In an effort to stay consistent in our parenting principles and not allow our children to leave until everything was cleaned up, we were unable to enter the planetarium show which we already had tickets for. When they say the show starts at 2 p.m., they mean it! Thankfully because of our membership, we did not pay for the tickets.

Upon wandering outside, we discovered an old train car (it is covered in case you go during inclement weather) that the boys loved! The train once belonged to the Jewett Car Company and has been restored and returned to its home town. Although I wasn’t able to read a whole lot of the history since the boys kept us moving, the company seemed to have played a huge role in the local economy at one point. We were able to board the train car, but the bell with the chain just in reach of at least three of the boys was a much bigger hit—the louder the better, of course.

After discovering the second building had a cool-looking restaurant, but not much for touring, we turned back around to check out the second floor of the main building, and I’m glad we did! The second floor is more of a museum than a science center like its counterpart beneath. As soon as we reached the top of the stairs, the boys went straight to the flight simulator and the Spirit of Columbus where they took turns flying a plane on a computer screen (we had a lot of crashes, going to need a lot of training) and sitting in the cockpit of a real, full-size plane once flown by Jerrie Mock, the first female to circle the globe.

We viewed a few more historical pieces, a lot of which was from the Pure Oil Company based out of Dayton, we found ourselves in an old-fashioned village. Different rooms showcased various professions and shops of the day. Our favorite was the game room where we stayed and played checkers, Space Force, and “chess” (this was more of the little one and me taking turns galloping horses across the board), and learned of Ohio’s history with the Etch-a-Sketch as well as Uno. It was a wonderful, cocooned family moment.

There were more exhibits involving local Native American tribes and prehistoric wildlife on the other side of the second floor, but we were past due on nap time and patience. Overall, it was a wonderful place for the kids and us. Everything besides the train car exhibit is stroller-friendly, although we did not need the stroller with our toddler. Next time we (as in I :)) plan to visit the Ye Old Mill where Velvet ice cream is made now that I know it is nearby. If you are in the area on a weekday between May 1st and October 31st you can even take a free public tour of the facility.

book review: tinman to ironman

Before my husband became an officer, I did not have a clue what law enforcement entailed. I just knew it was those men in blue (or black) who gave me multiple speeding, failure to control, and illegal right turn tickets. They were the men and women in the patrol car waiting to “bust” me going ten, okay twenty, over on the freeway. Thankfully I got my act together before my twenties and improved my driving record. Once my hubby entered the police world, I got a taste through his stories of what an officer would do on a regular basis and some of it came as a shocker, needless to say. But when he decided to go into law enforcement full-time, I am grateful to have listened and read material from Chris Swanson—motivational speaker, four-time Ironman finisher, and Undersheriff of Genesee County, Michigan.

In Chris Swanson’s first book, Tinman to Ironman: 26.2 Ways to Crush Your Failures and Transform Your Life Today!, he teaches 26.2 lessons to transform your life, specifically family, finances, faith, and fitness, exemplifying how strengthening those areas leak over to all areas, allowing for a successfully balanced life. Chris shares a little bit of his upbringing as a “tinman,” highlighting the moment he was cut from the baseball team in ninth grade despite being the “home-run king” in a previous environment. This devastating time of his young life caused him to give up on his physical life for over a decade. Like so many of us, Chris allowed one failure to effect the rest of his life until he decided to changed it.

He goes through lessons he has learned along the way, whether it be in athletics or in law enforcement. I believe it should be a requirement for not only anyone thinking about entering the police world, but also the spouse of significant other of those going through the academy. The stories not only prepare for the possibly gruesome road ahead and not only how to survive some of the moments to come, but how to thrive.

For me, I believe Chris’ material helped me to be a better law enforcement wife. I remember when my husband had his first DOA (dead on arrival). I’ll leave gruesome details for another time, but I was able to sit and listen to my husband tell me about what he saw and experienced without cringing. I believe the stories I read in Chris’ book helped to prepare me. I want to be someone he can talk to about anything, even it includes a gory image of an event he had to endure. I also believe that if more people, whether it be a “normal” member of the public or a law enforcement spouse, can understand a little more of what these heroes go through, we would have a lot more respect for them as public figures and as husbands and wives.

So if you are married or dating a LEO, related to one in some other way, or just want to know more about what it is like in their world and want to transform your life, Tinman to Ironman is an amazing read that will leave you with lessons you can take to the grave.

raising warriors

I was racing through Target again, all four in tow. We used to try that sit-down cart where two kids could get strapped in near me and then the other two would either just walk next to me or sit on the back of the seat with his feet on the seat itself. This was fun for a while, so long as everyone sucked it in when trying to pass through a tight aisle with oncoming traffic. But then the baby started walking… and climbing… and conniving. Since that no longer worked, we found that the two middle kids like to sit in the basket of a normal cart (as long as they can use the scanner on the Target app) so once they climb in, I quickly strap in the little one before he can let out too many wails and quickly start moving, allowing him to forget about the trauma he just experienced. Meanwhile, I get a quick glance around—gotta watch your six—and as usual, I see a few glances peering our way. Some days I feel like a freak show prancing through the grocery store with my monkeys hanging all over the cart cooing and screeching. But that’s life. With hubby on shift work, I don’t have time to wait for him to have time to stay with the kids so I can pick up some diapers and protein bars. We just make it work.

What gets me in these situations though is when my oldest child, who is extremely helpful but refuses to stay “in the boundaries” suddenly whispers to the two-year-old, “Wanna race?” or something along those lines and suddenly speeds up behind me or towards another customer, having to suddenly jerk the cart to a halt causing all of those in the cart to either wack their heads or begin laughing hysterically to yet again, draw attention to the circus act in the middle of the store. One time I had to jump in front of the cart to intervene between him and a lady being pushed in a wheelchair through the aisle perpendicular to us, casted leg straight out. I’ll admit my blood pressure raised pretty quickly, although he really wasn’t going that fast (more so lack of paying at this point).

This is my choleric—the high A personality who loves adventure, challenges, and just does not want to be told what to do. We have had some challenging days, trying to help him understand that I do not just “tell him what to do” because I want to control him or boss him around, but that I really do want what is best for him. Anyone with a strong-willed child can relate, I’m sure. As hard as it is to raise them, these are the children that will grow up to change the world. All of my children have it in them. But that’s okay, because the rule-breakers and boundary-pushers will fit the old adage, “To make a difference in the world, you must be different than the world.”

Chris Swanson, Undersheriff in Genesee County, Michigan and motivational speaker talks about three types of people in the world—the sheep, the wolves, and the sheepdog. The sheep are the majority. People who go to work, hang out on the weekends, do their thing. Nothing wrong with that. We need all types of professions and the world would be boring if everyone was the same. The wolves, he says, are people who are aggressive and will use that aggression to inflict harm on the sheep often for personal gain. But the sheepdog have been blessed with the gift of aggression, as well as a compassion for the sheep. Now I am not intentionally grooming my children to go into the military or law enforcement, but I can’t help not see it in them. When other children would run and hide, my kids tend to choose to confront the situation. I see it when one of my children tell me if a bad guy comes in our house, he’ll punch him in the eye, despite our trying to teach him that he needs to get Mom or Dad or call 911. Nope, he’ll take care of it. I saw it today when that same child was trying to “tickle” the neighbor girl with a giant branch with leaves on it. Everything he does is intense. I believe that’s part of a warrior mentality. They definitely get it from their Dad.

Thinking back to a need for sheepdog in this world and what plans God might have for my children, I try to roll with the punches (sometimes literally), all the while teaching my warriors to do the dishes, scrub toilets, shake hands like a young man because that’s what you are, respect females (my husband is great at teaching them this), and take responsibility for their own actions when too much of that gift of aggression comes out. And they better kiss their mom good-bye, I don’t care who’s around. They may be hard to raise and often downright embarrassing at times (normally that’s just regular home behavior that suddenly becomes horrific when it takes place out in public), but raising strong-willed children on a solid foundation is what this world needs. Do I do it perfectly? Absolutely not! But once I came to the understanding where God wants our family and what He is doing through us, I am much more able to look to the future and be proud these guerrillas are ours, even when it’s hard.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth” (Psalm 127:3-4).

for once they cared

“For once, people actually gave two sh**s.” These are the words that came from my husband’s lips as he described what he felt passing hundreds of people in his patrol car among the procession. This was no parade with candy and clowns. This day was different. This was a sea of blue escorting the recently fallen officer to the auditorium where hundreds of law enforcement officers and family would gather to honor a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Please understand my husband has the utmost respect for the public. He cares, otherwise he wouldn’t be an officer putting his life on the line to serve and protect every day. But with all the backlash and disrespect law enforcement receives in today’s society, it was amazing for him to see cars pull over on the overpass to pay their respects by silently watching the procession of law enforcement vehicles, led by the hurst and family. Employees from local retailers, passerby’s, and even the staff of a dentist office led by a gentleman in scrubs stopped their daily routines to come out and support the blood and blue family.

My four boys and I stood near a group of other police wives and their children to watch as the line of flashing lights drove by, displaying our thin blue line flags the kids made earlier in the day. The image will never leave my mind—a sea of flashing lights covering the highway coming over the hill, a wave of red and blue in utter silence. It just reminded me there is strength in numbers and the law enforcement community not only has numbers, but it truly is a brotherhood like no other. I was blessed to feel the love of a sisterhood as well among the families, after being invited to a play date with two wives I just met that day, as well as learning of the childcare network one of the police wives group set up so the wives of the local officers could attend the funeral. There is an amazing trust that cannot be broken by shots from an irate criminal or a liberal media.

This whole anti-police movement I really do believe is aimed at the wrong people. These officers being criticized so often for their attitudes towards suspects or racial profiling are really just doing their job. A lot of the training involves certain methods for a reason. They graduate police academy as “peace officers” and yet an angry suicidal pulls the trigger aimed at the very officer who was merely answering the call of a concerned estranged wife*. I believe the problem therein lies.

Often times, many of these activists speak out before having all the information, quickly assuming a badge represents a man or woman hungry for power and authority, quick to pull the trigger when his respect is at risk. Edmund Burke said, “Evil prevails when good men do nothing.” All of you good people out there who know the truth must speak out. Say hello and thank you to your local officers. Thank them for answering the armed robbery call and chasing down the culprit so he won’t terrorize your community again. Thank them for catching speeders so one more life can be spared, even if it means you may have to pay a fine once in a while for going ten over. Thank them for blocking traffic while trying to finish that crash investigation, because one day it may be you they are helping. Please teach your children that police officers are the good guys, even if they do carry a gun, because they are.

I think that’s what my husband meant—for once, even if for two seconds, people cared. People realized what these officers go through, maybe if just one day of their lives. People remembered who these officers really are. They are good men and women who feel a constant tug on their hearts to serve and protect in whatever way they are called. And in the wake of tragedy and mourning, people stopped to remember these men and women are truly servants and protectors, and really do make our world a safer place.

*R.I.P. Trooper Clark. Thank you for service. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nicholas-clark-cops-new-york-state-trooper-shot-dead-responding-to-call-over-suicidal-man/

travel with kids: fort wayne

Finding places to go with small children can be a challenge, especially when you are trying to make fun memories with ages nine to two. The older ones of course want adventure or danger. The little ones want something hands-on. And of course, Mom wants educational. I’m not sure what Dad wants. He could just be along for the ride. Either way, we found a sweet spot just a few hours away in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This city even made it on Travelocity’s “20 Best U.S. Cities to Visit With Kids” list.

If you are in town, Sweetwater is the sweetest spot for traveling on a dime. It’s completely free! (Unless you intend on going home with a drum-set from the retail section in the front of the building.) You walk through the front doors into this humongous storefront that is a musical abyss. Since this was our first stop after our three-hour drive aside from food and bathroom breaks, we went straight to the free arcade to unwind. The boys started with a round of mini golf, the older two quickly transitioning to the virtual soccer and golf simulator nearby.

Moving on after a few other games, we searched for the infamous two-story slide which I somehow ended up on with the two-year-old. After checking out the observation deck over the massive warehouse, following conveyor belts all over to see if we could track a product all the way down to packaging, we wandered the storefront, checking out guitars, keyboards, soundboards, and other percussion, my oldest son’s favorite area being the drum studio.

The next day we journeyed to downtown Fort Wayne to Science Central (ASTC certified). This place was unique, being that it was the old power plant and still had the generators in the middle of the building and an observation deck where guests can see what it was like when the plant was alive and productive. The older two enjoyed a special electricity show about the Tesla coils. Being that their mom is obsessed with the electric Tesla Model S, seeing the original idea how it all came about was intriguing (and the boys enjoyed it too ha).

Be sure to check the website for Old Fort Wayne before heading into the city. Although it was cool seeing a recreation of the fort used during the French and Indian War, the volunteer staff who operate this historical site dress in costume to bring the 1700’s to life on certain days and for special events, and the buildings are open for viewing (https://oldfortwayne.org/).

We had planned to explore the botanical gardens before leaving the city, but by the time we found it, three of the kids had dozed off and we really did not want to loose that precious opportunity to gain some miles home in peace. Instead we decided to drive the hour and a half to Toledo and stop at Imagination Station since it was on the way home anyways, but that’s for another blog.

if you only knew

Earlier today as I sat down, I decided to do a quick scroll through Facebook and saw a picture of two girls in softball uniforms, at least one of them the daughter of a police officer, with some writing on the their arms that made me do a double take. Written on them were the last names of two local police officers who were shot and killed going to a 911 hang-up call just a few short months ago. They had written the names to honor those two families who would not be showering their fathers with hugs and gifts today for the first time. If they only knew that last year’s Father’s Day would be their last with their daddies…

My heart aches for those five children who lost their fathers and the two wives who lost their husbands on that day.

As I looked around at the decorations the boys stayed up late last night to hang, it made me treasure once again every moment we have together. The morbid thought did cross my mind as we ran streamer across the ceiling and blew up balloons that there was a chance my husband and their daddy would not be home in the morning to see all that they did.

Just the other day, while I was sitting around the table having dinner with my children and playing outside, my husband was in the middle of the woods for hours with four other officers looking for a man who fled after being pulled over for a simple traffic violation, presumed to be armed. I missed this call on the scanner and was not aware of this until the following morning, but it was one of those situations that make you ensure to cherish your marriage every single moment. If I only knew what situation my husband would be in that night…

The emotional toil of being an officer or being a loved one at home, waiting anxiously for that officer to walk through the door, could make a person crazy if they focus on what could go wrong. But instead we try to focus on what could go right, look at the difference our LEO has made and continues to make, and honor the fallen who made the ultimate sacrifice. Although really it’s their families that made the biggest sacrifice. If people only knew what an officer, a soldier, any first responder really, and their families go through on a daily basis…

Most importantly, we do our best to remember that no matter what happens, we’ll all be reunited someday in a place where there is no injury, no sickness, no criminals, and no death. Knowing that is best reassurance possible.

why fitness matters to me and should matter to you

As a mom of four, I drink more coffee than the “recommended allowance,” which means I’m hooked. Anything we can’t easily just give up, I would consider an addiction. Sometimes addiction can be good… like Orrin Woodward talks about being positively addicted to Christ, to the love of his wife, and other good things.

Now of course, even certain positive addictions can get out of hand. I remember Elizabeth George relaying a story in her book A Woman After God’s Own Heart about her husband walking in as she was preparing a wonderful meal for someone else as a ministry. When asked what they were having for dinner, the response was less than satisfactory. She was so busy serving others, she failed to serve her own family that day. Serving can feel good, and that feeling can become an addiction or an idol in our lives if we don’t keep it properly balanced with other priorities.

As far as fitness, I have seen moms who were “addicted” to fitness, or to looking good. I am no expert by any means in motherhood or in fitness, but I love both. Motherhood is a higher priority for me, but as a family, we all can make small sacrifices for each other. It all comes down to our motives. Sure, I want to look good especially for my husband, but I have a tendency to swell at compliments when someone notices the weight I’ve lost or the commitment to my exercise and nutrition program. And seeking those compliments can easily become an idol for me if I’m not constantly aware.

On a positive note, I believe being a “fit mom” sets an example for my family of truly treating my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Having fitness goals also helps me apply 1 Corinthians 9:27 to my life: “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” I know I rarely feel close to God after a midnight binge in the cupboard. Next time you feel guilty about taking time for yourself to exercise, remember the benefits for your husband, your children, and everyone else you serve, as well as your temple. Here’s to a happy, healthy life!

a few thoughts on blessings and time

Some things in life can not be explained. Why would God allow one person to make millions of dollars only to blow it on drugs and premarital relations, while another searches the garbage innocently to find a scrap of food? Why do I lay in the comfort and warmth of my own bed next to my wonderful husband while another woman hides in terror waiting upon the arrival of her abusive spouse? Why does a crack addict bare children with handicaps, beaten and scared with no stable person to care for them, while the barren woman desperately cries for months on end waiting for just the chance of carrying their own? And yet, the crackhead, the barren, the blessed–they were all fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and we are all COG POW’s (as learned from Pastor Carrie Antzcak): Children of God, People of Worth.

I love the saying “If you are blessed, be a blessing.” It is our job to discern how God calls us to be a blessing. As wives and mothers, it can be hard because those missions come first. It is all and well to volunteer at the church, serve the hungry, or reach out to the needy but not at the cost of neglect to our families.

We try to involve our kids in a variety of missions and volunteer work in hopes of some sort of compassion sticking in their hearts. I want them to look back on their childhoods and remember service being a priority. And by no means is our family perfect. In fact, some days, the ungratefulness of my kids and sometimes even my own heart makes me wonder if any of it is making any difference. But then I’ll have a chat with God and realize that’s just the devil trying to get in. They’ll remember serving at the community dinners, picking up litter in a hard neighborhood, or putting together tie blankets at a local Linus Project event.

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it (even if he tries really really hard to do so mid-childhood and rebels against everything you’ve taught him) (Proverbs 22:6, parentheses added). God will reward your effort, in this world and in the next. But it’s all in His timing, and that’s the hardest part.

making a leo family work

Having a full-time law enforcement hubby can be tricky to juggle schedules, frustrating when he is gone for twelve hours straight four to five days in a row because the training happened to fall in his long week, and at times downright stressful. But we have to remember why they do what they do, and why we do what we do. If you are like me, you have been called to be a wife and a mother first and foremost. Being a LEOW is a special role to play. There are some things I believe we can do to help make life a little better, and our families a little stronger. Twenty years from now, when I am reflecting on the days of having four young kiddos in the house, this is what I will remember doing to make our LEO family work…

1. Family Trips. Before my husband began his on-the-road training, we agreed to take at least one overnight family trip every quarter. These trips have been the best memories! Normally we keep them within two hours away, which will probably increase as the youngest grows out of toddlerhood. Planning involves finding the ideal “short week” to travel within and deciding which museum to visit. I am blessed to receive a membership to our local natural history museum from a family member every year for my birthday. Because this museum is ASTC-certified (Association of Science-Technology Centers), we qualify for the Travel Passport Program which allows free admission to multiple science centers and museums in just about every state as long as it is outside of a ninety-mile radius. There are at least five qualifying places within two hours which make for a wonderful quick overnight stint and some awesome experiences. Even if we didn’t receive the membership as a gift, it would be well worth the money, especially with four kids!

2. Date nights. My husband and I agreed to make sure we do at least one date night each month. This has been a variety of things, depending on the budget and expenses for the month or what events are happening. We are both UFC fans, so a few times a year we’ll go grab a drink and watch the fight at our favorite local bar (thankfully we don’t live in the same city as his department or he might see some familiar faces he previously cuffed or cited). Depending on what’s playing, we’ll go take advantage of “Customer Appreciation Day” at the local theater (since our “weekend” is often on a Monday and Tuesday). Sometimes we just need to mellow out so we’ll pick a night to watch a movie together on the couch, pour a glass of wine and call it an “At-Home Date Night.” Being that we don’t subscribe to cable, and aside from an occasional “Live PD” or “Officer 401” video on YouTube, we don’t really watch television so Movie Night is a treat (you know, a flick that is not animated). You just have to find your niche, and as wives, we usually get to pick where we go or what we do… make sure to do something in his world once in a while even if he doesn’t necessarily ask for it.

3. Date days. We also make sure to date our kiddos once a month. Each child (except for the two-year-old; he has another year or two) gets to pick what he does or where he goes for a date day, within a $10-$20 budget and a half-hour drive. We try to alternate who goes with which parent each month also. Date days are to make sure nobody gets lost in the mix; they all get that one-on-one attention during their special time out. And it’s always fun to get a break from the daily routine of caring for four youngin’s.

4. Family nights. Just before our oldest turned three, he fell from a tall kitchen chair and broke his femur. Having an eight-month-old baby as well as the two year-old in a full leg cast led to a lot of movies being watched. From this came the tradition of Movie Night which ended up falling on Fridays. Once the oldest started school, Movie Night was highly sought after as a time to just chill out and cuddle with everyone. Eventually Cleaning Party* was added in, making Friday evening a time to “work hard and play hard” together. Movie Night was exchanged for Game Night upon participation in Screen-Free Week with our church group and ended up being so much fun that we now alternate. No matter the activity, Family Night is a time set aside for us to make sure we are catching up and having some fun in the simplicity of our home.

5. Overnight trips. My favorite! At least once a year, just the hubby and I go off somewhere overnight. I’m sure once the kids are older we’ll be doing this much more often, but for now, we don’t want them to overstay their welcome at the grandparents’ house. We usually stay within a couple of hours away and somewhere simple, but it is wonderful to get that time with just us. After all, you’ll be living with your husband a lot longer than you will be living with your children. Make sure you to be reminded what it’s like to be with just him again! And it usually means someone else is cooking–yea!

These are five things we have made sure to do to make our family work even before my husband became a LEO. We’ve had to revamp some things, but it still works even with shift work! By no means are we a perfect family—we are far from it! But twenty years from now, I know I will have no regrets in making these five things a habit, and I know our family is better because of them.

*Cleaning Party- a weekly time on a set night when each child picks a chore from a hat (they now work on rotation), Disney music is blared, and the floors and bathrooms get scrubbed/vacuumed, followed by a half cup of pop (since pop is only allowed at “parties,” this makes it a special treat).

stressed-out mama

You have four wonderfully handsome, strong, witty young men and a hard-working hubby. You have a roof over your head. You’re not living with the fear of your power being shut off or your stomach not being filled. You get to be at home or swim lessons or the coolest library program. In fact, it’s your choice of where you go and what you put into your schedule. So why is life so stressful? (This is me talking to myself, and you if you’re like me.)

Financial peer pressure. I believe peer pressure is just as tough as an adult. Us “mature ones” just don’t like to admit it. It can be hard to watch as your neighbor gets a new car, even if you know they don’t actually “own” it and will be lucky to have paid it off by the time they crash it or it breaks down. Frugality can be a tough principle to follow, and it is most definitely against the status quo.
Fear of the unknown. It is so hard to always know if what I am doing today will be the best choice for my children when their time comes to go out into the world. Finding the right balance of teaching responsibility while allowing them to be kids can be a tough gig, and then you throw in your own emotions, fatigue, goals, you name it.
Fear of guilt or blame. It can be so hard to deal with the harsh words that can come from the very mouths we have raised. Especially with pop psychology shouting at us over any sort of discipline and how it will hurt their self-esteem. I wonder if mothers from decades past worried about things like self-esteem, or if they just didn’t have so many different opinions thrown at them from all directions and less time to write about it!
Regret. Regret can be one of the worse pills to swallow. Whether it be from harsh words spoken or just a subtle disbelief in someone like your own kid or husband. And regret on the deathbed, I’m sure is the worst of all. I love what Chris Brady says: “There is a too late.”
Anger or bitterness towards our own upbringing. My, oh my, how the pendulum swings. Can’t the stinking thing just stay in the middle so us moms can have some sanity? I’ve heard my own mother say how she wanted to give us what she never had growing up, which I get. It seems sometimes we can get so caught up, or at least I have, in what I did not “get” (and I’m not talking about stuff, I got plenty of that) while growing up that we can become obsessed or at the very least well overdo whatever it is we feel was missing from our childhood. One example for me is feeling that certain TV shows were more important than what was on my mind, so it was very easy to limit screen time in my home, and not subscribe to cable or any other media provider, so as to not get sucked into this with my own kids. On the flip side, who knows if one day one of my children will choose to watch hours of television a day just because of they were not allowed to do so growing up?!

So how do we find peace of mind among the pile of dishes, toddlers pulling at our legs, or tweens begging for attention and doing really obnoxious things to get it? I believe it, of course, always goes back to God. He’s the maker of peace, and they are His children anyways. We are to be good stewards. Keeping priorities in line helps also. Living up to our own standards and what God wants for our lives, and doing our best to ignore the standards the world gives us will allow for a life of no regrets. If you have been blessed with crazy kids, then do your best to embrace it. Make sure they are respectful, but find ways to let them be crazy. I’m obviously talking to myself. That’s really why I love writing so much, and if I can help one other crazy family by sharing what we do or just knowing that they are not the only one out there, then it’s worth it.