This is sure how I feel lately. Some days my brain feels like it is going to explode. Having three kids in three different schools, means three times the paperwork, three different schedules, and three times the clutter in my house. Then we have football schedule (x3), what day am I suppose to bring the snack and juice again? And sometimes if I am real lucky two different sporting events overlap. At the beginning of this month, my two older boys were finishing up basketball while football had already begun. Then add to the mix two boys in braces, one boy in tutoring, tons of homework due, laundry, dirty house, etc…

Calgon take me away.

I had one mother look at me and ask, “Laurel how do you do it all with these three boys?” First of all I feel guilty because I only have three, I have a girlfriend who has 10 kids and Mothering seems to be her spiritual gift. I really wanted to respond, well we all pitch in at home so every thing is completed and I cook healthy meals for my family despite our schedule.

In reality I looked at her and said, “I really don’t know, all I know is my house is a mess and I fed my kids healthy mac and cheese as we ran out the door. By the way I love visitors, but when you come to sit down just move the piles of laundry on the couch to your side.” I have given up trying to have the “perfect home,” my friend of 10 kids taught me that. But I still feel like I fail the Proverbs 31 woman terribly.

Now don’t preach to me about organization, because I have read tons of books about it and I have improved, but I have not arrived. I love my google calendar that emails me appointment reminders. And I do try to plan meals every two weeks, but our family is famous for throwing dinner plans out because plans change.

Somewhere in the mix I read tons of books — travel to far away places— for review; I write — my creative outlet — for hire on the side, and at least once a week I try to catch up on laundry and house cleaning. Why do people never show up on those days? Oh yeah, and I blog.

So how do I do it?

* I gave up perfection.

* I plan ahead to the best of my ability but know plans change.

* Someone may appear to do things better than me (motherhood, housekeeping, etc..) but I know I am doing the best I can.

* I do something I enjoy at least once a week (like blog, read, or work on my writing).

* But most of all I place God first and give up the guilt of not being the perfect Proverbs 31 woman.

I know I will miss these crazy days, but for right now I am relying heavily on God’s guidance and peace.

I think Zephaniah 3:17 is my favorite life verse because God reminds me he will save me, when I go spinning off track, he will quiet me when craziness seems to swirl around me, but most of all (and despite all of my failures) he will rejoice over me.

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”~ Zephaniah 3:17

So what about you? How do you survive being a mother, a grandmother, a primary care giver?

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Announcement:

Have I mentioned there a giveaway beginning September 1st? Stay tuned for more details. Tons of free stuff.