Are You Intentional?

      These last few days have had me deep in the trenches of mothering. My youngest came down with the stomach bug, which meant, schedules, outings, dates, and carpooling were thrown out the window. While I was wading in puke and “Mommy I don’t feel good,” cries; I actually welcomed it.  Recently my plate has been more than full of my goals, projects, lists, editing manuscripts, and prepping a new website. Added to this was the pressure to ensure I was on top of my responsibilities for our local MOPS group, and my new position has Community Coach for MOPS International. Let’s not forget the extra concern for my oldest and her school work while I was balancing appointments for an evaluation for my son. My plate wasn’t just full, it looked like a small version of Mount Everest.

        Gone were the list of to-dos, and in came a chance to be at rest with my daughter. As I cleaned the bedding and monitored her spew progress, it also gave me a chance to be intentional about loving her and reminded me of why I became a mommy in the first place. 
     How is it that we have a deep desire to become a mom and once the chance presents itself, we get sidetracked with our other passions and goals? Motherhood isn’t just about giving birth and keeping our little ones entertained, it’s about making them smile while we watch Diego for the hundredth time, playing war zone with my son’s action figures, and watching my oldest create her pastel masterpieces.

         Watching our children grow up can be lost in the throngs of our careers, passions, and dreams. But in the end, I don’t want to be remembered by my kids as always being on the phone or sitting behind my computer screen; I want to be remembered for the forts I helped build, taking them to the Children’s Museum, baking cookies with them and giving them my full attention when they needed me. So when Tori became ill, it was a chance to regain the ground I lost to focus on her. I turned off my computer and phone, tucked my to-do list away and focused on being fully present with my sick babe. We spent these last three days, watching movies in my bed, playing house with her Toy Story Squinkies, and making snakes with her play dough.

        Are you intentional about spending time with your kids? Do you welcome interruptions like sick days or do you find yourself saying, “Just a minute, let Mommy get this done!” I invite you to free fall back into the joy of mothering. Your to-do list can wait while you bake cookies or build a fort, and watch Diego again for the millionth time!