I went fishing today; I netted 19 plus.
My posture wasn't a traditional fisherman's; awkwardly prostrated atop my washing machine and dryer, rear-end curved like the hump of an inchworm on the move, arms dangling low and legs flailing high, I was Mom on a Mission.
I needed clothes hangers and I knew where to find them: wedged between appliance and wall.
There's a hanging bar suspended three feet above our washer and dryer, barely within reach when my arms are extended; I've become a pro at spinning hangers off of it when stretching to hang up a shirt or pair of pants. I think the ratio is two hangers down to one shirt hung.
Tired of never having enough empty hangers when the dryer screeches "THEY'RE DOOOONE!", I finally decided to go after them.
It wasn't a pretty sight; I was at it for almost half an hour. Think "Barrel of Monkeys" and you'll better understand. A bent, elongated wire hanger was my "pole", and several times I'd drop a hanger just when it was in reach of my free hand trying to "unhook" it from the pole.
The socks were a more difficult catch; I ended up with six of those–two pair and two singles.
As I cleaned off the hangers–some of which must have been there for years based on the very large dust bunnies that had taken up residence–I thought about the work of a mother that goes unnoticed and under appreciated. Not that we take care of our homes and families for attention and accolades, but that so often we falsely feel a lack of accomplishment for not getting "anything" done when we've…
- changed the toilet paper roll {because apparently no one else a) knows how to do it, or b) uses any…!}
- washed, dried, folded and put away six loads of laundry {that if your husband had helped, would've been one load because of differences in sorting methods…}
- wiped noses
- scheduled doctor and dentist appointments
- remembered doctor and dentist appointments
- kept track of who had what medicine when
- picked up wet towels off the floor, candy wrappers, straw plastic from juice boxes, etc.
- vacuumed straw ortho rubber bands ALL OVER THE HOUSE
- wiped down kitchen counters, tables, appliances, cabinets
- clipped fingernails
- removed science experiments from the refrigerator
- located lost shoes and socks
- put on found socks and shoes
- wiped behinds
- dumped & disinfected the potty chair
- de-gunkified dining room chairs (loved this from @AmberOliver!)
- vacuumed under couch cushions
- cleaned inside the bottom of trash cans
- found the remote control for the umpteenth time
- corrected bad manners
- prepared lunch
- corrected poor grammar
- disciplined children gone wild
- wiped fingerprints from windows or tv
- purchased birthday gifts
- RSVPed to birthday parties
- baked for class parties
- chaperoned field trips
- shopped for groceries
- tightened lids on everything…OR ELSE!
- cleaned or touched up paint in high traffic areas
- cleaned the microwave BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE EVER NOTICES IT'S DIRTY!
- drove carpool
- completed school forms
- signed school work to be returned to class
- paid bills
- wiped down the high chair
- swept or Swiffered the floor
- cooked dinner
Of course the list is partial, but I bet some of you have done many of these in a single day!
Years ago, before I gave birth to our third child and when my oldest two were newborn and just turned two, I remember my husband asking me at the end of a long, exhausting, sucking-the-breath-of-life-out-of-me kind of day, "What'd y'all do today?"
It was one of those days where my oldest was particularly needy and I hadn't even gone to the bathroom because of attending to her and a nursing baby! I couldn't look him in the eye–in fact I closed my eyes so he couldn't see how painful that question was for me–and tears started streaming down my face. I felt like I had done nothing…nothing…all day because I couldn't point to one demonstration of accomplishment. He didn't mean to hurt my feelings (and let me tell you, it takes a LOT to move me to tears!), but that very question implies action…and I couldn't see any.
Oh, sweet mothers, be encouraged! During the days where you feel like you're accomplishing little; during those seasons where you're wiping noses and behinds and just about everything in your house; when you're headed out the door and realize your oldest just poured bubbles down her shirt and your youngest just blew out his last diaper and your middle child vomited on the carpet and the dog left a goodie in the corner and you're out of juice for sippee cups for the road and the chicken you planned to cook for dinner is still frozen and you're NOW RUNNING LATE FOR THE DENTIST AND YOU HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO USE THE BATHROOM ALL DAY…
You're making a difference in the lives of your children by demonstrating love to them in the thankless, unseen actions that by themselves seem insignificant. You're loving your husband by acts of service that might be "invisible" to him or taken for granted sometimes, but they're selfless, important expressions of love.
You're doing what moms do best: whatever needs to be done. And in the process? In the midst of 1,000 mini-sacrifices of doing what you might want to do? You're glorifying God by living your faith.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I shook my head and almost shuddered as I returned to the present, wife to that same husband and children now 17, 15 and 12. I smiled to think none of them would give a rip about my behind-the-washer "fishing" expedition; they wouldn't notice that now I had an abundance of hangers, ready to hang their freshly washed clothes.
But after years of modeling (without thinking) the daily truth of Philippians 2, I shouldn't have been surprised–
…my husband replaced the brakes on our car, cleaned out the interior, and pressure-washed our front sidewalk…
…my youngest unloaded the dishwasher without being told…
…my middle child cleaned the dinner dishes so I could walk before it got dark…
…my oldest, out of the blue said, "I'm so glad you're my mom…you're the best mother…"
All those "nothings" combined have been wise investment; the paychecks? Priceless.
Your turn: Can I hear a witness? :) Can you add to the list above or share your Mama Paychecks?
{A million thanks to a gaggle of Twitter friends who quickly reminded me of PLENTY of mundane mama tasks–click their names & you should land on their contribution to this post! vitafamiliae, @vdog, @anjyldream, @WayMoreHomemade, @vanderbiltwife, @FriedOkra, @ToBeThode, @LiveLaughLoveCj, @SandraWP, @Babybloomr, @dianaguiney, @Jenny867530h9, @Gina_Lee_Garcia, @Clemntine, @toddleddredge, @bethsportsmomma, @kellyatlovewell, @AmberOliver, @justmalia, @carrien_laughs, @madatmama}
What a great day! Isn’t it amazing what a “Your the best” does to a mom! My boys, all 5 of them, haven’t figured out how to put toilet tissues on the roll! What a beautiful, hard-working, real-life motivational post!
Amen! I’m at a point where I have more days like that than not, but I’m waiting for the day that I begin to see the fruits of those labors in my children! =)
Oh thanks for this, Robin. Reading these words of encouragement is like a light post in the tunnel. I know the light at the END of the tunnel is still a ways off (for me), but it is so good to see a bit of light and look around and see that everything’s just fine, and that I’ve just got to keep on chuggin’ through.
It’s so easy to hear that “what did you do today” question in the back of my mind every day. Thanks for the encouragement!
Today? I heard my 3yo say, “Let’s read our Bible story instead of American Girl.” My 11mo took a 2 hour nap. My sick hubby had a homecooked lunch.
So that’s a good day!
Wow.
My soul is swimming in this pool of encouragement, Robin. Like Jo, I’m still in the thick of it; the light at the end of the tunnel is pretty tiny, and sometimes, I wonder if my eyes are just playing tricks on me.
But deep down, I know that’s not truth. And you’ve done a great thing by reminding me of that today.
Excellent post.
Great post….Love your blog….
Hope you will stop by and visit my new Christmas blog.
Great post. Eyes are teary and my heart is refreshed a bit … it’s a thank-less job most days, but one that needs doin’ regardless! Thanks for the acknowledgement.
FIVE BOYS? Oh…my! My husband is one of four boys and I think my MIL is a
saint for managing that testosterone to adulthood :).
Do you ever wonder just how long it would take them to “learn” how to put on
a new roll? Or, I guess, it could just stay propped on top indefinitely.
This definitely is real life–ha! Thanks for visiting!
You will, but it’ll sneak up on ya :).
Jo,
It IS harder (imo) when you have a bunch of young children, especially
during the years you’re doin’ all the wipin’ and dressin’ and hair & tooth
brushin’, etc. We were diligent and intentional and we attempted
consistency back then…and now, there are almost daily evidences of that.
If my kids remain true to their current personalities, they’ll make human
beings you might just wanna know :).
(In other words, keep chuggin’ along! You’ll be “here” before you know
it….)
Amanda, I agree, that IS a good day. I would’ve melted if I heard your
little one asking that!
The reality is that question does linger…and it’s why we (as moms) NEED to
be encouraged by those who’ve been there, done that (or who ARE there DOING
that!). 🙂
Hope your hubby feels better soon!
Kelly,
Wow backatcha…as I was writing this–and the post DID go a different
direction than how I thought it would–I hoped to encourage “somebody”; I
remember feeling like I was drowning or suffocating or BOTH sometimes when
three little bodies needed me whenever my eyes were open…and sometimes
when they were closed.
I KNOW it’s cliche to say “time flies” and they’ll grow up in a
blink…but…that’s what I’m living now. My oldest is in her junior year
of HS and I can see the sand speeding down through that hour glass
tunnel…and my heart aches. My pastor made the comment years ago that
we’re “raising our kids for someone else, not ourselves”…and though we’ve
always encouraged their independence…gosh…the reality of that stings
sometimes.
There’s light friend…on the days you can’t see it, it’s just hiding behind
a cloud. 🙂
Sometimes two words make my SMILE big time…thanks! 🙂
Thanks, Teresa!
And your Christmas blog? Bright & cheery, just like Christmas :).
Naomi…sometimes we just need to know that someone else *does* notice. Or
remember. Or relates. {{done!}} xo
Oh how I wish I would have known you 10 years ago. Perhaps I would have been able to better deal with the baby stage had I realized that I was not alone and not trapped inside the four walls of my house.
Love you. Love your writing. {{hugs}}
This is actually in response to your WFMW post but I couldn’t find a way to comment on it. I am in love with the file folder idea for papers coming in!!! Soo excited that I am going to get started today. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
My “baby” is in college now–and he blessed me more than he’ll know recently when he told was telling me who he would have on his list if he could have dinner with any six people in the world. He named his pastor, a very learned Messianic Rabbi that we’re acuainted with, two of his college professors, Jesus, and me. Somehow moments like that make it all worthwhile.
I remember salary.com (or some site like that) doing an article about how much moms should get paid. And when they added up all the duties it was around $300,000. How about that barrel of monkeys? (:
I liked that and the one I read @Aubie78’s blog this week about the TO DO LIST on http://freemanbits.blogspot.com/2009/08/daily-to-do-list.html You are some Rockin’ Mommys! I get incouraged just thinking about you gals.
Dang it! Bout to cry. But it’s good. 😉
It’s been a while since I stopped by. I popped over from Boo’s comments that I have re-visited since this morning and cracked slap up all over again at your comment.
I SOOOO want to break dance in the Spirit.
This post touched me. Got more than even break dancing in the Spirit. 😉
Wait. . .
Deep breath. It really got me. My girls are 19, 16 and almost, not quite, but really close (September 19) 3. That last one–tubal reversal. My oldest is pregnant, in the National Guard and just got married. Her new husband and soon to be father is at basic training as of last Tuesday. He joined the Guard as well. I will be a grandmother by the end of the year.
A GRANDMOTHER.
Sometimes I scratch my head and wonder if I can pull it off. I’m still working on the mother thing. Which, incidentally, is why I will have to end many of my email closings with a something like I mentioned in Boo’s comments: Missed the mark again, fell on grace, Rena.
And now I have introduced myself as a comment hogger as I do over at Boo’s.
UGGG!
Thank you for this post! God is so awesome! LOVE, love, LOVE how He works through His people–even in blogs!
So, I’ll end–not with a super clever holy closure–but by saying my new slogan (and current blogpost)…
Robin, your Jesus is showing! 😉
With fire shut up in my bones,
Rena
😉
I loved your blog. I know what’s it like to wipe hineys, wipe runny noses, wash a million loads of laundry and think no one notices!! I’ve come to just know that’s part of my life and I sometimes take joy in knowing I’m caring for my family.
Thank you for the encouragement and a fab list of people to follow on Twitter!
Well said! of course I’d have to add…check facebook, emails and blogs! lol
This hit the spot, Robin. I wondered what we were contributing to and I’m glad to have been a small part of such a sweet, helpful, encouraging post. I did a little post to dove-tail off of it and linked my readers to you.
It’s amazing the treasures that get stored up between the wall and the washer, isn’t it?
Okay, I’ve got stickies to clean up.
The only thing that comes to mind is…
MOMMY DEAREST: No more wire hangers !
and:
“Give a man a fish, he eats for a day…teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime…
or something like that.
I miss you.
Hello there roomy,
I saw you visited my blog and now I am visiting yours. You are an encouragement and an amazing writer!! I hope you had a great summer. We took it easy, did some roadtrips and I went on another Compassion trip. I hope all is well in Tennessee!!!
Much love,
Patricia
Bravo! I needed this right about now, thanks!
Great post! Needed that today!
Thanks! I needed this. I’m right smack in the middle of the change the diaper, sweep the floor, feed the toddler, sweep the floor, dress the toddler, sweep the floor, read a hundred books to the toddler, twice, how did the floor get dirty overnight(?)stage. It’s encouraging to know I’m not the only one, and that it does pay to sweep the floor again!
Wow, just what I needed to hear, I have 3 boys 6 and under and you encouraged me so much. Just sitting down after “one of those days” and ran across your blog. Thank you, what a blessing!