Spring break, too much of a good thing?

I love my children!  Love, love, love them!  I am blessed beyond measure!  They are darling in every way possible.  There are just small moments though - when even the best of us are tested and tried and patience starts to wear thin.

Maybe it is just me, but when I am home with all of my little ducklings I have a hard time staying on task with my work that I have to do.  I'm not talking housework, laundry, cooking, dishes, etc.  I'm talking about my work as a REALTOR®.  I have clients and deadlines, phone calls and contracts, appointments etc and when I need to focus on my work, my children have a sixth sense about these things and come buzzing in for the most wonderful things:

"I want a hug!" "Let me read you my new story I just created." "I need a drink." "Mom, please come wipe my bottom," (my youngest). These beautiful little voices are part of my everyday life and I am honored and blessed that they are precious gifts to raise with my husband.

But when I need to be on the phone, I become the most popular person in the house and the hand signals for "just a minute", "please be quiet", and "I'll be right back" go completely unnoticed by my very astute children.  It must be a case of classic avoidance.  They see or do not see what they want and do what they want and want what they want whenever they want - especially, as it would seem, when I am on the phone... working.

There must be an invisible trigger that happens in a household or a tension in the air that causes this to erupt.
Please don't misunderstand me, I am grateful for each precious moment with my children as I know all too well those moments are disappearing with each day.

I heard a saying once that, "The days are long, but the years are short."  That is true. There will be a time when my son won't come tapping down the hall with his arms out wide looking for another hug. There will be a time when my youngest wipes himself. There will be a time when my oldest might not want to share her stories with me.  And I will cry then as I do now because they are not little babies anymore.

These are just moments that I don't want to end.  And there are other moments where I want to go in the car and take a drive all by myself - or just take a shower without anyone needing anything for a few minutes.

There is "Mom-Guilt" for expressing that I need a little break from the beautiful gifts God has blessed us with. Because I asked God for these beautiful children, it seems, at times, selfish, to want to have a moment to myself.

I carve out special time with the kiddos. And I make sure I spend time with all of them together too.  I do tend to have my cell phone around a little too often - but that is part of my livelihood.  I do make appointments with my family to keep them a priority.  I have often said, "If it is not on my calendar, it doesn't get done." And that part is so true.

My mom told me once, when I was at the end of one of my ropes, "Sometimes there is too much of a good thing." And although when she said that to me I felt like a bad mom for being overwhelmed, I realized that I'm only human and try the best I can everyday.  Some days I am able to try harder, and some days are better and easier than others.

One thing I am is grateful for my life, my family, my job and my faith.  I don't think I'd be doing as good of a job keeping my head about me if I didn't.

So as this week with the kiddos is coming to an end, I choose to be thankful for the opportunity to be with them and present with the knowledge that time is precious. May God guide me on my journey as a wife, mother & daughter.

And may God bless you.