Soccer Mania

Sweat pours from my kids' faces as they run excitedly to me, reaching out for their water bottles.  Next to me my toddler screams for water too as she pulls on my the hem of my shorts.  Attached to the front of me in an Evenflo Snugli, my infant whines for liquid as well - he's hot and crabby and tired and lets me know that he needs attention- can't forget about him! 

The smell of freshly-cut grass tickles my nose while gnats fly around my face and fireants crawl around my toes.  I hear my kids gulping down water in between heavy panting as they try to catch their breath.  Parents around me sing praises of their children's skills as the kids jump up and down, declaring their awesomeness in kicking a round sphere around on the field.  All of this commotion goes on around me while I think to myself, "Why am I doing this?!?"

It's soccer season and I'm immersed into a sea of soccer balls, practices, games, kids, gnats, fireants, and heat.  I used to lover soccer season but this spring has been rough and I've begun to dread the drive to the soccer fields at the YMCA.  I make this trek three times a week with all six kids by MYSELF!!!  My husband teaches night classes and thankfully, on Saturday mornings, he is able to attend the games with me.  But, I tell ya, I am simply, completely, and utterly worn out with all these practices and games! 

I caught myself falling asleep standing up earlier this week at one of the practices because I was so bored.  Don't get me wrong, I am totally enthusiastic about the sport.  I played it myself growing up and have even coached several of my son's teams but this spring I have had enough.  My two middle girls and son decided they all wanted to play and I was excited to watch them but I didn't factor in the time it would swallow up nor did I realize my husband wouldn't be around to help drag the kids to practice.  Spending 2.5 hours two nights a week trying to entertain a toddler, have an infant attached to the front of me, and support the kids who are playing soccer...well, it's gotten the best of me.  This 31 year-old woman is dragging and feels older than Sarah when she birthed Isaac way back when...I'm seeing wrinkles in places that I didn't know could wrinkle!!!

Although I am weary and worn, I have enjoyed these moments of watching my 4 year-old score a goal for the wrong team, my 6 year-old fix her hair a billion times during a game and then regain focus and fiercely go after the ball, and watching my 9 year-old son kick the threads out of the ball from backfield.  I love screaming for my kids and chearing them on.  Oddly enough, out of the 3 teams my kids' play on, 2 of them are called the Tigers.  It's funny because I live about 45 minutes away from Clemson University, home of the....you guessed it, TIGERS! 

I have enjoyed countless times of running around trying to get that perfect picture to show Daddy when he gets home from work but for now, I'm wishing soccer would end soon...but then, what would I do with my Tuesday and Thursday nights and Saturday mornings?  So, here's to another game this weekend, more pictures to capture, more kids, gnats, fireants, and heat.  Aw, gotta love soccer insanity, I mean soccer mania :)

Happy Teacher Day to Homeschool Parents Too!

In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years. ~Jacques Barzun


This quote is not only applicable to teachers but to us homeschool moms/parents as well!  Teaching is a profession in which an adult is given the opportunity and privilege to instruct children in academics in hopes of guiding them to become productive and intelligent citizens.  Homeschool parents not only get to teach academics but we have the amazing task to train our children in character as well. 
 
As the quote states, we may not see these fruits for 20 years!  Teachers only get a child for one year and hope they make a difference in that child whereas we homeschool parents get the child for at least 18 years of training 24/7 at home!  Although a "real" teacher hopes to see fruit for her labor, homeschool parents pray daily for evidence that what we are doing does indeed make a difference - that the sacrifices we've made to have one parent remain at home rather than earning a living, will reward dividends in our children's lives. 

Homeschool parents choose a variety of reasons for which to stay home and teach their children and no matter our motivation to have the kids schooled at home, homeschool parents should never feel secondary to that of "real" teachers.  Today is a nationally recognized holiday where millions of students and parents all over the country will give a card, and maybe a small token, to say "thanks" for all the hard work their teachers have put forth this year.  Well, I want to say "thanks" to all the homeschool parents who teach their kids because I know the sacrifice, frustration, energy, and time it takes to effectively train our children while raising them too.  Keep it up, you homeschool parent freaks!  You are doing a heck of a job and your kids will forever be in debt to you!  Keep on teaching!  Today is for you! :)

Spin the Wheel

There are so many days where I feel like I am simply a lowly rat in a cage, walking/running on his little wheel toy.  Well, let's see, rats are rather ugly so let's compare me to a mouse? hamster?  Either way, I'm comparing myself to a fat, hairy, rodent - how lovely!  But, I do feel as though I am in a routine of daily waking up, eating, drinking, and jumping onto the spinning wheel and running all day until night falls.  Someone take that dumb wheel outta my cage!

These past few weeks I have been running so much!  Not literally, because if I were truly running, I'd be shedding some of those baby pounds that are weighing me down!  No, this family's schedule has hit high peak season for busyness!  Soccer is in full-swing and my husband's teaching schedule is at the point where only a few lectures remain before Finals. This means a whole lotta grading for him and a whole lotta inputting grades into the computer for me!  Plus, my kids' homeschool year is winding down which also means final tests and state standardized tests - ahhh!!!  So, there hasn't been much wiggle room time if you ask me.  Thus, the lack of posting on my blog!  Major bummer to all of my fans, right? :-)

In the midst of this running, I am reminded that the only important thing in life to me is my family.  I am so thankful for a husband with whom I can laugh, vent, cry, and walk through life for as long as we live.  He is my protector - always encouraging me, supporting me in whatever I choose to do, and always looking out for my best interests.  He is amazing and I love him so much!  My children are also equally important to me as they daily bring me joy, and at times frustration, but they are so full of energy and life that it is hard to let things weigh me down when I see all these happy little people running around me all day long.  Their giggles are contagious - I just want to squeeze them - give them bear-hugs 24/7!!!  They are growing up way too quickly!!! :(

So, it's been crazy - real crazy - around here lately but I'm thankful that even while I run on my wheel, I can see my family is around me, encouraging me, and working together to get through this crazy, hectic schedule we call "LIFE." 

Lessons Learned from a Toddler

*Note: This posting orginially appeared in another blog I write for (The Domestic Diva Daily at http://luv2write78.pnn.com/11411-the-front-page ) in July 2009.  The frustration and weariness that I experienced back then when searching for a job, remains applicable to my life situation today.  My husband and I are daily searching for full-time work and we have yet to find something but God has been faithful and enabled my husband and I both to acquire part-time jobs whereby we are able to pay the bills and meet the needs of our family.  However, it still can be discouraging at times when applying for so many full-time positions and hearing only negative responses.  Re-reading this older post reminded me of the lesson my toddler taught me last summer and brought some encouragement my way today - may it do the same for you! :)


This whole economy thing has been getting me down lately. The past 8 months my husband and I have both continously filled out job applications and have consistently received letters of "although you are more than qualified for this position, you are not the best qualified." It's been a constant socking to my stomach every time a rejection letter arrives in the mail or my email inbox. How long can this possibly go on? My husband and I both graduated with either graduate degrees or post-graduate degrees in December 2008 and yet no one wants to hire us. So, I've been a bit down lately.

The other morning, I was once again searching the internet for job postings in my area when I heard my 16 month old coming through the kitchen towards my office. Her feet thudded the floor with every step she took. She's been walking about 2 months now and yet she still wavers, falters at times when she walks - especially when she is excited. I stopped my job search for awhile to watch her meander throughout the house. Most of the time she made it successfully to her destination, however on other occasions, she fell to the hardwood floor with a loud thud. Upon her unsuccessful attempts of walking, she would scrunch up her face and begin to whine a little and then she would stop. She didn't waste much time on whining, but rather she pulled herself back up and proceeded to go towards whatever item for which she was searching.

As I sat watching her and thinking about my own attempts to find a job, I realized that maybe I've been whining too much in the situation I find myself in - no job for me, no job for hubby. Seeing my 16 month old pull herself up time and time again, no matter how many times she had fallen, brough an epiphany to me: stand up, girl! Dust your feet off! Stop whining about your jobless situation and just keep filling out those applications. One of them is bound to come back with a positive response, or at least an interview!

So, here I sit searching for jobs, like I do every day, and I have a bit more bounce in my step, a sunnier disposition for my current situation. I am qualified to do my job in the field of education, there will be a job coming my way, but I can't dwell on all the rejection notices but rather I just need to pull myself up and model the persistency of my almost-toddler girl. It's a new day, maybe today is my day to secure a job! No time to whine here - especially since I do have little ones watching how I respond to defeat. Thank you, Daphne, for the lesson you've taught Mommy.  I am forever grateful! :-)

New Family Friend

For the past six weeks, every Friday I have climbed into the van, buckled a child in a seat, and driven down the road toward the same destination.  It has become rather monotonous but it is a necessary trip.  If I had some nosy neighbor, she might wonder why my 12 passenger van can be seen leaving roughly at the same time each Friday morning headed west and returning a couple hours later.  She may also wonder where my final destination is and may even try to follow me one Friday morning.

If my husband were an insanely jealous man, he may think that I have a desire to be at my destination each Friday morning because I am attracted to the person that my child and I am seeing.  Thus, rather than making appointments in as few trips as possible, he would think that I am intentionally dragging them out over a six-week period so I can see this person.  And if my children were foolish, they would think that Mommy is driving to the same destination every week because she thinks it is a lot fun and since her week must be boring, this place must be how she can end the week on a entertainment-high.

Hah!  Puhlease!!!  All of the above is ficticious save my routine Friday visits!  The trip I take each Friday morning is to the family doctor and I feel confident I can drive the route blind-folded by now.  I wish the doctor could see more than one child at a time but sadly, and a huge disappointment to me, he can only take care of one child during a visit.  This doesn't mean I only take one child per visit because infant brother must come along since Daddy can't nurse him!  It is a good thing that I like this doctor and his nurse because I would be highly irritated to waste all this time and gas money for wellness appointments six weeks in a row.  But, the good thing is that all children are healthy and no more visits for at least 5 weeks when once again I will make the trip for infant boy's 4 month check-up.

Ah, the life of having so many children who need to see the doc.  He is definitely our newest family friend...did I mention my husband got to make the trip last Friday too?  Was it because Daddy needed to introduce himself to the man I have seen every Friday morning for the past six weeks?  Nah, Daddy is not that silly!  He needed his physical too!  So, Doc has met the entire family and we're all healthy!  Well, wait, Mommy needs to go too...uh, sorry!  I think I'm just fine :)

She's Gonna Blow!!!!

I feel like I'm a featured act at a circus.  I am a clown who is juggling too many items, all of which are different shapes and sizes, and at any given moment, I will lose my act and all items will come crashing to the floor with a resounding "thud!"  The audience for which I perform seem to enjoy watching the crazy clown struggle and they think the clown is having fun but in reality this clown is frustrated and about ready to chuck everything out the window.  Or rather the clown is ready to throw the random objects into the audience.  That would give the clown a good laugh and boy does this clown need a laugh to ease some stress!

I have a problem and I am ready to admit this flaw.  I am a super-crazy-wants-to-be-involved-in-everything-under-God's-sun type of gal.  If my child is involved in an extra-curricular activity, I want to be the "Team Mom" or "Fill-in-the-blank Mom" so as to show support for my child.  I do not like to sit on the sidelines which is a good attitude to have in life because it's best to be a participant than a spectator but maybe I'm participating in too many things which is causing me to be a little short at times with those whom I love most in my life.  So because of this "get-me-involved" attitude, I'm short-tempered, stressed, tired, worn-out, and ready to chuck some of these extra-curriculars out the window.

I have thought about all of this deeply for the past week or so and I've come to the conclusion that it is time to give up at least one of the tutoring jobs I have because it's taken entirely too much time away from kids.  And I get paid $10 an hour to tutor 4 kids at one time.  Doesn't sound too great, right?  But I was drawn to take the job because I wanted to help meet some financial needs for our family but it's not worth the time and effort I put into the job.  I love to teach, tutor, and interact with students but if I'm not being the homeschool mom/teacher I need to be, then it's time to quit the job.  And I hate to quit because I am a firm believer that when you start something, you finish it!  But at the same time I'm a firm believer in family so if I'm doing something that takes away quality time with my kids...well, it's time to chuck it.

I need to learn how to not take on everything.  I need to remember to focus on the priorities in life: support and love my husband and kids.  Everything else is SECONDARY.  Why do I feel like I have yet to learn this lesson?  I continue my juggling act for now...just a little bit longer...

Let's Commence Date Night!

A new movie is opening in theatres on Friday and showcases two of my favorite actors: Tina Fey and Steve Carrell.  The movie is entitled Date Night which I assume means that the plot will cover the myriad of adventures that Fey and Carrell embark upon during their night out on the town.  This got me to thinking about how much my husband and I are in desperate need of a date night ourselves!!! 

I always thought that a good idea for a marriage - especially for one in which there are children - was to make date night a PRIORITY in order to see the marriage survive and thrive.  And when I say date night, I don't mean date night once a year, but once a month at least!  My husband and I began our marriage with this intention and it went well while we lived near family but once we moved our immediate family from one coast to the other to pursue graduate degrees, well, the monthly date night option was tossed out the window because there were no grandparents to take care of the kids.  Ya gotta understand, we are extremely protective of our children so no-one had ever baby-sat our kids before besides grandparents - you can never be too careful with whom you leave your children!

During the 3.5 years of graduate school, I believe our date night ratio was that of 1:4 - 1 date night per every 4 months.  Some of you may think, "Hey!  That's not too bad!"  It's AWFUL!!!  Date night is not just a time to go out to eat, catch a movie, or go shopping, it's a time for the husband and wife to fall in love again and chit-chat about stuff that doesn't really matter but is fun!  Like when you were dating!!!  I prefer not to see movies on date night because that's two wasted hours of me not engaging in coversation with my husband.  Besides, we can always wait for the dumb movie to come out on DVD and then watch it at midnight when the kids are in bed!

Anyway, so graduate school has come and gone and now we've moved our family once again to yet another destination where no family resides near us.  So, date nights have occurred when family comes to town!  But, thankfully, we have joined the local YMCA and they offer free baby-sitting, once a month, for those with family memberships which means that my husband and I are having a date night tomorrow night!!!  I trust the YMCA baby-sitters because I have left my children with them before while I work out and there are always 4 children per 1 adult (2 females and 2 males).   Yay for the YMCA!!! 

What am I going to do on date night?  Bring along our 3 month-old infant for one thing but who knows what we will really do.  Watch the movie Date Night?  Nah, I'll save that for a couple months down the road when I can find it in RedBox.  All that matters to me is that tomorrow night I'll be with my husband - for the most part without kids (knowing they're totally safe where they will be) - and I will enjoy every moment I have with him.  He's my bestest friend!  Can't wait for Date Night to begin!!!  :-)