Be Kind

I've been sick.  It's been a long time since I've had a really good cold like this one.  No fever, just really tired, throat hurts, head hurts, and I haven't an appetite.  I've been so spoiled though.  I don't have to go in to work.  My girls have done school work quietly, allowing me to rest.  They have made me soup for lunch. Marty has been doing the driving in the evenings and my parents even dropped off soup last night.  I am so spoiled!

Mostly, I've been dozing in the recliner wondering whatever did I do when the kids were little!?  I know that I just kept going and you get through, but what a luxury to not have to do that!  You young moms with little people have a hard job.  I can honestly say that in my experience, being a stay-at-home mom is a harder job than going to work!  Seriously.  Because the work at home NEVER STOPS!

When you go to an office you can work as hard as you want.  You can procrastinate, be slow, make like you're busy, eat at your desk, etc.  Of 'course, I realize there are deadlines and some jobs are more high stress than others.  Still, at home, the kids don't wait.  They don't understand "mom's sick."  There is a constant need and a constant mess.  Meals to be made, play to be supervised, and if you are homeschooling....well, it is demanding.  No sick days for moms/dads at home.

I can remember times when I thought there was something wrong with me because I just couldn't seem to get well.  Well-meaning people who care about me would urge me to take care of myself.  I tried, really I did.  I'd take medicine and try to rest whenever I could, but sometimes it felt like I was up to my elbows in kids and cleaning.  Usually, they would get sick first.  Then, after wiping 1000 runny noses and being sneezed and coughed on another 1000 times, my immune system would be beat and I would succumb. 

It's a hard job.  Be kind to yourself.  I know now that I didn't have to have it all within myself.  Learn to lean on people; family, friends, neighbors, and especially Our Lord.  When you pray, "Lord, help me get through this day." be prepared to say "yes" to the neighbor who offers to watch the kids for a few hours or pick up milk at the store, etc.  That is Him helping. 

At the end of those long days, don't focus on what didn't get done.  All the dust, dirty dishes, and mess will wait for you and even if you had cleaned it, it will most assuredly come back again.  You'll have plenty of days when the kids are gone to have a beautiful house and leisurely mornings with coffee.  Till then, be kind.