A Mother's Life

I have been fairly overwhelmed lately, just trying to make it through the day. There is always so much to do, and not enough time to do it. I suppose it might seem worth it if I were working on the "big" things, but lately it's just been everyday stuff that never ends. Someone posted this on facebook for Mother's Day and I've been thinking of it ever since. I would love to give credit to who wrote it, but even after an internet search, I still don't have a clue.

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting
late. I think I'll go to bed."

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches,
rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the
following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar
container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the
next morning. She then put some wet clothes into the dryer, put a load of
clothes into the wash, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked
up the newspapers strewn on the floor, picked up the game pieces left on the
table and put the telephone book back into the drawer. She watered the
plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and
wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a
textbook out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a
friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the
grocery store. She put both near her purse.

Mom then creamed her face, put
on moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and trimmed her nails. Hubby
called, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way, "she said. She
put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the
doors were locked. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out a
bedside lamp, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks in the hamper, and had a brief
conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up
the shoe rack.
She added three things to her list of things to do for tomorrow.

About that time, the hubby turned off the TV and announced to no one in
particular "I'm going to bed," and he did.

I would imagine most of you can relate. Since our house is full right now, there is a never-ending stream of work to do. Eight people to cook for, wash clothes for, clean up after, talk to, spend time with, and love. It not a bad busy, just busy. I'm sure when the house is quiet again I will miss all the chaos, and I do enjoy the family and conversations. Somedays are just hard though, and I get tired, and overwhelmed, and frustrated because there isn't enough of me to go around. A couple of days ago I texted DH in frustration and told him I needed a vacation or a maid! He agreed I could use both, but since we can't afford either, we'll just keep muddling through.

So besides cooking, cleaning, and child care, what have I been doing? I have had very small bits of time to sew, less than an hour most of the time. I'm still working on the log cabin and RRCB.

We found out DD#2 has major allergy issues. She will be starting allergy treatments for the non-food allergies, and we are trying to eliminate the foods she is allergic to from her diet. She is allergic to wheat, soy, corn, tomatoes, and bananas. At least those are the ones we know. With that many food allergies she should have the more extensive food testing done, but insurance won't pay for any more testing right now, so we'll eliminate those and see if it helps. I have been researching her allergies, and corn seems to be the hardest to eliminate. I had no idea how many things corn is in. Iodized salt has corn, as does almost every medicine, every artificial sweetener, artificial and natural flavorings, baking powder, toothpaste, vitamins, preservatives, and a host of other things. She had tried a gluten free diet before, so I am already acquainted with gluten free items, but with corn and soy allergies, she now can't eat a lot of the gluten-free things either. I ordered a couple of grain-free cookbooks, but they haven't arrived yet. I read that if you have multiple grain allergies you are often allergic to them all, so although she is still eating rice and oats right now, we may find out later that she is allergic to them too, so I'm trying to find grain-free options now. She does not have Celiac disease, she has been tested for that, these are food allergies.

DS the Younger is getting ready to graduate high school. He is talking about either moving out with a friend, or joining the Air Force. I think he and DH are going to go see a recruiter soon, so he can get some information and decide.

I spend a lot of time helping DD#3 with the grandtwins. Bathtime is all mine, and Miss S is getting quite good at giving me a bath while she gets hers :-) Both of the twins are growing and changing quickly, and I am glad I get to see so much of it.

DD#1 really wants to visit from South Africa, and we're trying to figure out how to make that happen. I would love to see her, Mr. Z and DSIL. If she does get to come, DS the Elder already said he'd fly in to see her, and then we'll have a really full house for a few days. It would be fun and crazy!

I'd love to find more time to sew, but lately time is at a premium. Right now I need to go switch the loads of laundry, unload and load the dishwasher, and possibly even get a shower myself if I don't get waylaid by something else that needs to be done. Sorry if this post is boring, no photos or anything. I think I just needed to vent. I'm happy with my life, I think I just need a day locked in my sewing room. Nothing like some sewing therapy to make things look right again.