Monday - Cleaning Day

As a mommy with four children  I need help, a lot of help. Daily we, as I like to call it, "straighten up the house" but on Mondays it is down right clean the house day. About a year ago I cleaned the entire house myself, cleaning up after four children and two adults is hard work. It seems as though on some days I cleaned one surface multiple times. On one of these Mondays I was vacuuming the floor for the second time that day and it was like a lightbulb appeared over my head, I could have these kids help me clean! I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to realize.

Eli is an excellent helper and the girls are both...okay helpers but I like to think of it as instilling a work ethic into my children even if they are only learning to clean instead of actually cleaning. Each Monday we each have our jobs, Eli cleans his room, makes up his bad, takes out both bathroom trashes and vacuums. Bella cleans her room, makes her bed and vacuums her room. Lily cleans her room and makes her bed. (Do you see the trend?) Milo is a lazy bum who does nothing but make more messes! ;-)

 The kids help the cleaning and make my job a little easier. Now they know that on Monday we don't do anything fun until our jobs are done and the house is clean! I occasionally hear, " Mom, do I have to clean?" and "But I don't want to-oo-oo!" but I tell them the same thing I tell them every week, "We have to clean the house then we can have fun. If you have bad attitudes we will not play on the Leappad or watch TV. This works every time and before you know it the house is clean. On a typical day, by lunch time the house is clean. Truly I would't be able to do it without them! Not only does it teach them a work ethic but it helps them to be a part of something bigger. My children are contributing to our household and our family. They are doing their part taking care of their own mess and helping with the family mess. Eli being 5 is excellent at his jobs but the girls are just learning. Would it be easier to do it myself? I don't think so they truly do help make my job just a little easier! 

But, why?

A lot of things have happened over the weekend both good and bad. We enjoyed some terrific company of friends, family and church family. No matter what is going on in our household I'm so grateful to have those three things. My kids have been a little crazy, I have been really crazy and somehow I still love what I do. Being a mother can be stressful at times, honestly living life in general can be stressful but no matter the stress or the problems we especially as mothers must "keep keeping on". Some days we may feel like walking out of the house to never return again. There may be times when you'd just love to be anywhere but in the four walls of your home.

Why, do we do this to ourselves? As I said earlier life is hard enough why add to it the stress of raising children and by staying home with them? I know why down in my heart I know why, it's because of one thing that keeps everyone going the one thing that drives goodness in our hearts. Love, we do all that we do for our children because we love them dearly. Possibly we may even love them more than life itself. God has given and showed us this perfect love when he sent his son to die for us. An unconditional love. No matter what silly crazy or even wrong thing our children do in our hearts we should love them. Love gives us the strength to carry on.

The truth? I stay home with my children because I love them and I feel that me being home with them and raising them is most important. God gave me each of these wonderful human beings and the least I can do is try my very best to raise them to be good productive adults. I take that job very seriously and try to do all that I can to teach them right. But on those days where I lose my mind and decide that enough is enough, those are the days that I remind myself of the love I have for each of my children. Love inspires me to go on another day. Constantly moving forward. I thank God for His love without it I would not have that perfect example of unfailing and unconditional love. If I had conditional love I would have thrown each of them out by now! :-)

Love, I love my children which is why I truly love my job. As moms, I think sometimes we need to remember why we are doing what we are doing. Because passion and reason is important when looking to the future and not just in the here and now. What am I teaching my child now that will make them the adult they are for the future? And why have we decided to do it. This week I'm going to try to have a perspective of love in everything I do. Because the truth is not only am I a SAHM (stay at home mom) and I do that for my children but I do my housework for my children and husband as well because I love them. I want everything I do, even for duty to be done in love because if I'm not doing it in love it's not worth doing anyway.

The Neighborhood Book Box

We love our quiet little neighborhood. In our neighborhood the majority of our neighbors are older people. Across the street lives an older couple who loves kids. They love talking to them and even just watching them play out in the yard. A few weeks ago we came home from the store and saw this, a book box.

The kids were immediately fascinated with this colorful box and wanted to know what it was all about. I explained to my children that it was "mini library" where you can take out books that you like and return them when finished. They were all thrilled and couldn't wait to borrow some books!

Since then the kids have checked out nearly fifteen books. Our neighbor has encouraged our children to keep the books. "Free books?!" The kids think it's the greatest thing ever!

I love that my children can walk right across the street and find a "new" book in my own neighborhood! I encourage my children to read books by reading myself and reading to them. I love books! Kids books, adult books, old books, love them all! I feel as though one can not have enough books. The education learned from a variety of books is incredible. I want my children to love them as I do. I hope they never stop learning either! No matter how old there is always something else to learn, even from books. 

Fitness...

As a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom), it can be very difficult for me to stay physically active. But I do continue to try to be as active as I should and I have a good knowledge of physical fitness. I have been working very hard on still losing the baby weight from Milo. For the past month I have been exercising regularly. That Jillian Michaels can kick my booty! I have been doing one of her 45 minute workouts every other day and my goal for this week is to exercise every day! I hate working out but I know to be healthy I must make it priority.

A few weeks ago, after I finished working on the wii fit this little guy got up and tried to work out too! This is going to sound a little redundant but it's so important, our children follow our good example. At this moment in time I decided to make working out a real priority not only to be healthy myself but also to be a good example to my children and give them a sense of physical fitness.

I want to be fit and be here for my children and grandchildren one day. I know working out will help me to be here a little longer. I can not believe how much physical fitness has improved my mental and psychological well being. Mothers, I am begging you, do all you can to get some physical fitness in weekly...you have no idea how much it will help you and your family's well being! When I work out my kids are usually on their tablets or watching a movie. It's just the best way for me to get all four kids entertained and out of the of the way. I have also found that at the end of the day my sleep is more substantial as well. I sleep so much better. Exercise is also a great way for me to get a little "me" time even though working out is for me, and my family!

Four Kids and a Wedding

This weekend our family went to my husband's step sister's wedding. We traveled two and a half hours away and we stayed the night at a hotel. I tried to have a plan and to be prepare for anything. I have now learned that perhaps there is no way to be prepare for everything that comes our way.

The kids did really well the majority of the time. In the car they played their Leappads and were well behaved with no major incidents. Once we got to the hotel we all got dressed for the wedding and immediately went to the wedding. The wedding was beautiful! It was vintage with lovely soft colors, I should have taken pictures. The kids were well behaved during the ceremony as well. Baby Milo got a little chatty but nothing too embarrassing.

Following the ceremony was the reception. There was a little time between the ceremony and reception. This was where I could have made a better decision. We went to the reception and the kids played outside for a while. After the fact I think we should have stayed outside longer or went somewhere else until the reception started. Instead we went to the reception early.

The kids just wanted to run around the reception, which was not an option. We let them play on the dance floor for a little bit but the wedding cake was front and center and that made me and Brian extremely nervous! I had a bag with quiet toys for each of them to play with and they did pretty well playing at the table except Milo! Milo was determined to get down and run. I speak for myself and my husband when I say more than anything that happened this weekend this particular thing drove us insane! Holding a toddler down and in place is nearly impossible. In the middle of the baby holding craziness Bella dropped her drink all over herself, the bags and her own seat. It was frustrating to say the least. Now looking back on it we could have spent our time more wisely or even if I just brought a stroller to wheel Milo around the room in. But I did not think of everything as I thought I had at the beginning of this trip.

What made me feel worse is that I felt like everyone was watching us and that most people found us a nuisance. This reception was an adult only reception excluding family which is why we were there. Perhaps others thought we were breaking the rules and shouldn't have been there. I'm not sure that anyone actually felt cheated or irritated but that's how I felt that they must feel that way. Why do we as moms feel this way? That our kids being a little difficult means that the entire room is dissatisfied and critiquing our parental methods? The real question is why should we even care? There is only one person whose opinion we should care about and for me that is God. Not anyone else. The truth is that everyone has experienced hard times with their children; ours at this moment happened to be in a large group setting. I try to find something to learn in each situation and here is what I learned this time, #1.I hope to think ahead and be better prepared next time. #2 As I go through this world seeing parents having a difficult time I want to encourage them and help them in any way that I can.

My sister in law and mother in law were great help to us on this trip. I appreciate all they did. Truthfully as stressed out as it was to take four children to a wedding I know that the Bride and Groom appreciated it as well as the parents of the Bride. We enjoyed getting out of town and spending time with my sister in-law, daughter and boyfriend which made it all worth it. Would I do things a little differently next time? Yes, I would but we had a good time and the kids behaved well.

"I'm Sorry"

Yesterday was a good day, things were going well here in the Boltz household. I was patient, happy and in control the entire day...that is until the afternoon. Following nap time the spell of peace and calm was broken and it only took a few short minutes. All four children were talking at the same time. Milo was fussy since he just woke up from his nap and was yelling in his high chair. Lily was speaking to me about something and Eli was asking me a question. I was in the process of transitioning the children to playing with play dough. During this loud craziness I started to get frazzled. Bella runs in with one of Lily's dresses, "Lily isn't your dress beautiful?!" Instantly all of the patience that I had for the day was gone. Bella did nothing but make more noise and it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I lost it and started yelling at her. I am not proud of this embarrassing moment of ridiculous outrage and impatience. I stormed out of the room and into my own room to calm down. I obviously was not okay believing that all the patience that I had was gone. Before I realized it I allowed that impatience to get the better of me. After calming down in my room I knew what I must do, one of the most humbling things, I feel, any parent must do apologize to my own child. I approached my daughter and other children saying,"I'm sorry, mommy shouldn't have yelled at you, you did nothing wrong."

In this situation I am reminded that apologizing to my children is extremely important. It shows them that mom is sometimes wrong too. It also shows my children that it's okay to say I'm sorry especially when it is genuine. Regardless of the reasoning, my behavior was unnecessary and faulty.

I and my husband are my children's first and most prominent example. Before they learn from anyone else they learn from us. At their young age all that really matters in their life is what mommy and daddy show and expect from them. Any parent understands that just because we tell our children something doesn't mean they will understand or learn. They are not always listening but they are continuously watching. Children are very intelligent, I think that sometimes they want to see how much you believe in what you are telling them. Is the behavior you expect from them what you truly want for yourself and others? I want to be what I expect from my children, in morals and behavior I don't want to have a double standard. Even if it means saying, I'm sorry.

Spring Time!

As a stay at home mommy I love all that spring brings. More than anything I love the perfect temperature, not too hot but not too cold. The outdoors do me and the kids wonders. The fresh air,  the sunshine, and exercise, it is truly fantastic! I feel like it gives us all some much needed balance after a long winter.

 

Yesterday we walked to my parent's home (1.5 miles both ways). Above is pictured the two in the wagon I pulled the entire time and the other two walking on the side walk together.This is the best way for me, as a busy mom, to stay active. What could be better exercise than pulling nearly 50 pounds while walking? Not only do I get fit but the kids are entertained. It's a win win!

After we spent time with my folks the kids played outside in our yard. This is the best thing about spring, the kids running off their extra energy and getting out of the house. They have so much creativity and imagination being in a different setting than all that the indoors have to bring.

Today we played at the park. There are several parks in and around town and each summer I try to visit each one. The kids had a lot of fun even though it was a little windy this morning but we still enjoyed the spring weather. We live near two parks and seem to walk there at least once a week. Again great exercise and entertainment!

This year is also Eli's second year in spring soccer at our local YMCA and he loves it! Since my husband is the high school soccer coach all Eli wants is to be involved in soccer just like his dad! We're all excited for his new soccer season and how he will continue to improve.
In the Boltz household spring time equals fun time!