PATIENCE....is a virtue.

I have a little lady who is pretty determined she can do everything. 

All by herself.

Not only is my little toddler learning all sorts of new talents, I am having to fine tune some skills of my own.

Namely, PATIENCE.

Here we are in Walmart.  Don't you even think of touching the cart to help me, Mom.  I can't see where I'm going, but I WILL push this cart.  By myself. 

Just look at that face- she is all business.

She's got the car seat covered, too.  So she thinks.  Absolutely under no circumstance should any assistance be offered until she has exhausted all possible options of clicking the harness.  All. by. herself.   

But here, HERE is the ultimate test of patience.  This little event was another casualty of mom-is-side tracked-with-packing.  Try not to cry out in horror.  Gasp in utter disbelief.  

That is the drum of my washer.

That is brown paint.

That is brown paint in the drum of my washer.

That is mom nearly blowing up.  Nearly.  It took all I could muster not to come apart at the seams.  Ty knew I was less than thrilled about the fact that he and Lexi loaded my washer with buckets of paint with a lid that wasn't on tight.  But at least I didn't lose it entirely.


Hopefully, the two cycles of "washing machine clean" did the trick.  If not, I will have brown sheets here in a bit. 

I'm working on my virtues.  Patience is coming one little meltdown at a time.

Something Other Than Moving

It seems all I think about is packing and moving and everything associated with it.  So, I'm going to divert my attention a bit and post some pictures.

One of the challenges of parenting is allowing your children to have opportunities to stretch and grow, yet knowing where to draw the line on some things. 

Um, ya.  Don't look at me.  I haven't figured it out yet.  

A great example of this was the other night when Kenna was devastated (drama, severe drama) I wouldn't just whip out my checkbook and buy her something at the Book Fair at school.  What kind of mother am I?! Child abuse!  She suddenly became bound and determined to find a way to earn some quick money.  While I was working on dinner, she marched herself right out to the shed and pulled out the lawn mower. 

I'll insert here a little honest insight into a Mom's mind.  My thoughts: "The mower is bigger than she is.  She can't start the mower.  She'll make a mess of the yard.  I'll have to intervene.  I'm working on dinner!  Not right now!"  Yep, pure honesty my friends.  Nothing to brag about, I admit.  But, at the same time I realized I don't want to put a damper on my child showing a little go-gettem.  So I cringed a little, gritted my teeth, pushed aside my first thoughts and let her have at it.  Here is my determined little lady:

 I really just had to let go of the parts of the lawn getting missed and not go out to try and micromanage the mowing of the lawn.  Besides, all I'll get in return is a firm, "I know how to do it, Mom!"  It's the same thing when the dishwasher gets loaded.  I have to restrain when it doesn't get loaded the way I do it.  Hold back, Britt.  Let them learn!  AAAAH!  Sometimes I can't help it and I just HAVE to reload when they aren't looking!  Another confession.  Whether you wanted it or not.

Speaking of sheer determination, here is my little Ty Man who is trying to learn a new skill of his own:  pumping.  Yes, it's always a great day when your child finally learns how to pump their legs to keep themselves going on the swing.  I couldn't help but giggle watching Ty giving it his all to try and keep it going.  Out, in, out, in.....I can do it, I can do it, I can do it!

 
The look on his face is absolutely priceless.  It's hard work being a kid, you know.

It's hard work being a mom letting your kids be kids, you know.

We just have to keep growing together, I guess.