8 Things I am Passionate About:
- The Gospel and not being afraid to share my testimony
- Taking time for my family and friends
- Taking time for me (eating right, exercising, reading)
- Music (singing, playing the piano, dancing)
- Organizing and de-junking
- Child development
- Teaching
- Having integrity
- My favorite hymns, such as "I Stand All Amazed" & "There Is Sunshine In My Soul"
- "Which Part Is Mine?" -Michael McLean
- "What I Need" -Michael McLean
- "So Many Times" -T.I.M.E. (my song with Wade)
- "No One Else Can Smile My Smile" -Janeen Brady (It's Emily's favorite and I love it, too)
- "Because You Love Me" -Celine Deon
- "Bring On The Rain" -Jo Dee Messina
- "Blessed" -Martina McBride
The Past 8 Books I Have Read:
- Eat Smart, Walk Strong by Leslie Sansone
- It's Okay to Take a Nap by Debra Sansing Woods
- How to Handle 1,000 Things At Once by Don Aslett
- It's Here...Somewhere by Alice Fulton & Pauline Hatch
- Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
- I Am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson
- Book of Mormon (we're half way through!)
- And I'm finally going to start the Twilight Series next week (It's about time, right?)
- "Please, get off your brother!"
- "Was that a good decision or a bad decision?"
- "After story time, we're going to take a nap, and after nap, we're going to..."
- "Who's my best buddy?"
- "Jonny, NO! Danger"
- "Hey sweetie"
- "Wade, you make me laugh!"
- "I Love You"
- Genuinely likes me and wants to be around me
- Understanding
- Makes me laugh
- Thinks I'm funny
- Shares common interests
- Loves the Gospel
- Is also a young mom- optional ;)
- Sees the best in me
- "The Office" is our new favorite show. Wade and I just can't stop laughing!
- I'm glad I married Wade and not___ or ___ or ___ (okay Katie, you can fill in the blanks)
- I have watched Anne of Green Gables more times than I can count and Wade still tries to convince me that I'm every bit as dramatic as she is. I deny it, of course!
- I think I secretely eat healthy so I can save up the calories for my real favorite treat, ice-cream
- My favorite Christmas tradition is going to Michael McLean's "The Forgotten Carols"
- At this very moment, I miss my mom so much it hurts. But she's on the other side of the globe, and I don't know how to contact her while she's in Israel.
- I'm just like my dad when it comes to reading. I love all types of motivational, instructional and self-improvement books
- It means the world to me when a friend calls or stops by just because
- Be a student for life and never stop learning
- Receive my Masters Degree
- Own my own business whether it's to help people become more organized or teaching voice/music lessons
- Write a book and have it published
- Serve an LDS mission with my husband
- Travel with my husband to our favorite parts of the world
- Get to know each of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren
- Donate lots of money to the Special Olympics and other causes I strongly support
- Potty training doesn't have to be impossible.
- Little boys are a LOT more difficult to raise than little girls
- My mood greatly effects the mood and feeling in our home
- I can choose to be happy or choose to be onery. It really is MY choice
- One of the hardest things in life is saying goodbye to a special friend
- The Lord answers my prayers again and again
- Blogging helps me feel connected and understood
- Others know what I'm going through and need me just as much as I need them
If you read this entire post, you really should get an award or something. I didn't write it to appear funny or witty or spiritual. I just needed to journal something like this for me, so I could stop my stupid pity party and start remembering the things in my life that make me happy. I don't know why Satan works so hard on me to get me feeling depressed, like I really can't do this anymore. I'm tired of miscommunicating with people I care about, especially with my little boy who is desperately trying to tell me something, but I can't understand him, so then he throws a tantrum, and it makes me want to flail my arms and curl up and cry just like he does. And if I try to hide away for some alone time, my two very independent children suddenly become so dependent on me and need me that second. It's just so hard, and I need to get those feelings out, but I know I shouldn't complain because I'm lucky to have two beautiful and healthy children, who love me more than anything in this world. And as challenging as motherhood can be, it's nice to know I'm needed.
15 comments:
Oh Catherine, you are just so great...and completely NORMAL!! Motherhood is wonderful. Motherhood is special. But most of all, motherhood is HARD!! I often wonder when I hear the statement that our posterity is the source of our greatest happiness, I think, "REALLY? Cause they they bring me a lot of stress and frustration!"
But the hardest things bring us the greatest joy. The more we care for others, the more we can love and want to serve even more.
Going through my own set of challenges recently, my sister advised me to do three things everyday. It has already blessed me so much: First, do something for yourself, something for God, and something for someone else.
But honestly, you already do this, so I have no real advice for you except to be patient with yourself and the great kids you have. Remember, we're going to miss this time in our lives.
Miss and love you,
Kathy
First of all, you are just as dramatic as Anne of Green Gables. ;) hehe I would love to give you tons of advice about being a mother, but I have no clue. All I know is that you are doing exactly what Heavenly Father wants you to do- being a mother. I know it might sound a little silly, but if you are really this overwhelmed why don't you ask Wade to give you a blessing? Try fasting about it. Everything will work out. "I never said it would be easy. I only said it would be worth it." It will be worth it!
I Love You!
I worry about you when you don't post often, and now I'm really kicking myself that I didn't call you! I hope you're doing okay. I understand the pity party. I'm in the middle of one myself, but I'm trying hard to let it go. It really is a nasty, but effective, trick of Satan's. I wish I had something nice and uplifting to tell you, but I think you've got a handle on it. Sometimes you need a little time for yourself, even if you know life isn't as bad as you think.
Oh, and as for filling in the blanks. . . I would need many more than three. Three would get me through about sixth grade.
I can't believe how ALIKE we are! I could insert my name on so many things you posted - I might as well copy and paste it onto my blog. Man, I wish we lived closer! I didn't know you were an Anne fan! Have you ever sat and fast-forwarded to all the parts that have Gilbert? My favorite! I think you are AMAZING and have so much to learn from you about motherhood, especially when I have two little ones!
Catherine--you can email your mom! I do, and she has even sent me a couple of emails back from Israel. Go for it!
First I have to agree with Ruthanne and say yes you are just as dramatic... maybe more :) And we love that about you. I have many many moments where I just don't know if I can continue being "just a mom". I know especially when it was just Katrina and Amanda I would consider going back to work just so I could have a few quiet moments to myself. Here are a few things that helped me.
1- take a day and don't do any housework, eat only leftovers and cold cereal. (use the time instead to read a book take a nap or just meditate with some of your favorite music.
2- Go grocery shopping after Wade gets home and leave the kids with him. Quiet time for yourself after a long day is heaven!
3- Have a girls night out or trade babysitting in the middle of the day so you can get some errands done in peace.
Just remember that this too shall pass and someday you are going to miss these moments (we won't remember how overwhelming it all is) As my girls get older and can help a little I find that I have much more time to myself and when I do have those moments where I need to go to time out myself. Katrina will help watch the other two for a few minutes while I calm down. I promise it is just going to get better and better. Love ya
What a great post! I learned lots about you! Don't worry about feeling down, ALL of us mothers feel that way at one time or another. The other say Sara said "I love my kids and all...and when they take a nap I just look at them and they looks so cute I just want to wake them up and play with them....but then they start to wake up and I think...OH CRAP!" We were ALL in agreement with her!! So don't feel bad when life gets you down...at least you know you are in good company!!
Fun tag. It's always fun to learn new things.
I'm sorry you've had some "down time." I think we all go through phases of feeling completely overwhelmed, over-needed, and yet useless all at once, and it's totally okay to admit it. There's a lot to live up to with all this Motherhood stuff. I'm sure you're doing great though, you're probably trying to be too perfect. Just relax, which is easier said then done I know... but you can do it. (Relax AND everything else, somehow it all works out.)
Hey there! It was so awesome to see you today! I can't believe how big Jon is! I loved your post...especially the part where Wade says you're just like Anne of Green Gables. My mom loves that show because aparently I'm just like Anne too! Anyways, I hope you're feeling better and I'm glad you were able to take some time and count your blessings! Sometimes it helps to take that time out! Remember, I'm always a phone call away.
I'm glad you finally did my tag, and it was a good one! I haven't talked to ya in a while, maybe I should call...
I miss my Mom too... so much it hurts. The way we love our Mom's, is the way our kids love us. That comforts me when I need something positive to focus on. Great tag/blog... very uplifting.
Advice for reading the Twilight books--when it is time for bed and you are reading and get to the end of a chapter, DO NOT read even the first word of the next chapter, it will pull you in and you will be up all night finishing the book. BUT you will love them. I did and I am so excited for the movie in November! Yahoo! And if you get a crush on Edward, like I did, I'll have to fight you for him. He's all MINE!
So sorry things have been difficult for you lately, the mommy blues are the worst. Just remember to take time out for yourself and hopefully that will help things run a little smoother! I had to laugh at the Anne of Green Gables comment because I can totally see it! P.S. you are going to love the twilight series!
You are a good mom Catherine. I feel the same frustrations everyday and not being able to communicate with a toddler is so frustratin...half the time I don't think Sophie even knows what she wants.
I have to take credit for getting you hooked on The Office. It really is the funniest show. We just bought season 4 and have been laughing our tooshies off. I can't wait for season 5 to start in a couple weeks!! When are you going to come get my Twilight book?
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