Today: Unedited

I recently read a book on motherhood called “Delight-Full: 31 Days to a Happier Baby and Wholehearted Motherhood”, by Kate Collins. While I found many parts of this book very helpful, other parts sounded so full of sunshine and roses that I was a bit confused (this woman has 8 children while writing this book – including twins). One thing I found extremely encouraging somehow is when the author got very real and included an appendix in the book that revealed a typical but challenging day in her life. Just knowing that although she has learned a lot as a mother (and I’m so glad she shares her tips and heart!), she also has days that go nothing as planned. She has days where she has no idea what she has done all day unless she writes it down. She feels behind and overwhelmed. In the midst of all this though, she chooses to delight in God and in her family.

So, today has felt like ‘one of those days’. I’m not feeling particularly overwhelmed right now, but I thought it might be fun to write it down and share. I just want other young moms to know that I don’t have things all together. I want anyone reading this to know that I am a mess too. But in the mess, let’s keep seeking God. Keep seeking to love our family and the people in our lives well. One day at a time.

So here is my day so far... (*times all estimated for effect :) )

12:35am: Wake up to baby crying. Feed baby and put him back to bed.

3am: Awake by being slapped in the face and having my nose ring pulled out by my 2 year old – I don’t think he even woke up until I yelled. (We were ‘camping out’ in the living room as a special treat while daddy is gone. I am reminded why I don’t let my 2 year old sleep in my bed).

6am: Feed and settle crying baby again

6:40am: 2 year old wakes and plays for a bit while I text with Jason (who is in Kenya for 2 weeks)

7:30: Baby wakes up (he slept in!). Our wonderful house-helper arrives (don’t know what I would do without her...)

8am: Clean up 2 year old’s dirty diaper. I shower while 2 year old plays in baby bathtub with toys and bubble-bath. Baby is being watched by house-helper.

8:30: Dry and dress 2 year old.

8:40: Clean up baby’s dirty diaper and put him in the bathtub.

8:50: Dry and dress baby.

8:55: Fix breakfast for the boys and myself while our house-helper goes to the market for some needed items

9:15: Quickly dress myself (still in my bathrobe and realizing that people could come by anytime)

9:17: Baby now covered in smashed bananas and oatmeal. 2 year old also spilled oatmeal on himself.

9:20: Quick cleaning of boys and then let them play while I sit down to oatmeal and hot coffee with my Bible.

9:22: Run into the other room as I hear the baby screaming. 2 year old has scratched the baby’s face with a set of keys. Examine the damage and calm baby – thankfully only a superficial wound. Tell 2 year old to sit down as he needs strongly corrected. He responds, “I pooped” (he is wearing underwear as we are in the midst of potty-training).

9:27: Clean up and change 2 year old. Discipline and talk with him about how to love and protect his brother.

9:39: Take a couple more sips of coffee.

9:40: Clean up from breakfast

10am: Put baby down for a nap

10:10: Push 2 year old in the swing and then sit down outside with my Bible and unfinished coffee.

10:15: Enjoy some time in the Word and attempt to begin a journal entry.

10:30: Neighbor comes by to chat

10:52: Head inside to finish a quick journal entry as neighbor leaves.

10:54: 2 year old yells loudly as he plays – right outside baby’s window – baby wakes up crying.

10:55: Get baby up and comfort. Call 2 year old inside.

11am: Let boys play while I write a few more sentences and then gulp down the rest of my now-cold coffee.

11:05: Try to turn off the ‘to do’ list playing in my head and instead play with the boys for a bit.

11:10: Put on some JJ Heller music and play and sing with the boys.

11:25: Change 2 year old’s underwear and shorts again as he didn’t quite make it to the toilet – thankfully only liquid this time

11:30: Feed the boys lunch (wonderful chicken fried rice that our house helper prepared) and eat

11:54: Go to change baby as another friend comes by to say hi

11:55: I yell “Come in!” and friend walks into my mess of a house – toys strewn everywhere and a lot of evidence of last night’s movie and popcorn – couch still made into a bed with pillows and blankets everywhere – lunch food on and under the table...

12pm: Someone else knocks on the door – a new friend we met a couple weeks ago is visiting Mbingo. I swallow my pride and invite her into my messy house and my now filthy boys greet her (Both now covered in food and dirt. Never-mind that they both had a bath THIS morning).

12-1pm: We have a good visit as the boys play – with a lot of interruptions to correct my 2 year old when needed and to pick up my crying 10 month old every time he falls and hits his head from trying to learn to walk (and to investigate every time he puts something in his mouth – stickers, toys, leftover popcorn from the night before...)

1:05pm: As our visitor leaves I plan to quickly put the boys down for their over-due nap.

1:10pm: 2 year old comes walking strangely into the room

“I peed again Mommy. Sorry.”

As I’m changing his shorts and underwear again he says ‘I show you’ and proceeds to take me to the back door. When he opens the door, I see the pee all over the concrete entryway.

‘It’s ok buddy – I’ll clean it up’.

‘Ok’ he says, ‘Sorry Mama’.

I put him in a diaper for his nap and suddenly realize my 10 month old is playing in the water left in the baby bathtub – now covering part of the bathroom floor.

1:15: Change said 10 month old’s diaper and entire outfit.

1:20pm: Put baby in his crib for a nap.

1:30pm: 2 year old begs to bring in his toys from outside before laying down. As I hold the door open for him, he steps right into the puddle of pee – splashing my leg. He wipes his foot off in the grass and I sigh and laugh simultaneously - I'm not sure what else to do. 

2pm: Both boys are now asleep and I am writing this instead of putting away the 4 baskets of half-folded laundry, picking up the toys all over the house, cleaning up the towels, clothes, and water all over the bathroom, feeding the chickens, or watering the outside plants...

Just so you know, this is quite the typical day at our house in Africa. If we didn’t have our dear house-helper to help me cook and shop – I’m not sure how we would survive. :-)

p.s. Don’t worry Jason – we really are doing just fine – please enjoy your time in Kenya! :-)