Are you a Mommaker?

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Today I had to go to the bank and while there I was asked about my occupation. As the list flitted through my head, you know this one….

Chauffeur … Personal Assistant … Nurse … Personal Chef … Educator … Maid … Laundress … Accountant … ok … you get the picture

…I instead picked the simplicity of saying homemaker….I mean sometimes it’s just not worth the explanation.  Later in the conversation, someone else pointed out they had accidentally written down mommaker.  We all laughed as it was corrected.

But later I was reflecting on the fact that I AM a mom-maker…and to a smaller extent, a dad-maker too.  I know my role is important but there are many days my goal is that everyone stay in one-piece until bedtime.  There are days when I am counting the years, the days, the HOURS until she or he is 18 and I can worry less and feel less responsible for their choices. (note that now I have an 18 yr old, I realize I will never NOT feel responsible and worried for my kids! never!)

But with this little typo, I am realizing that I am influencing not only MY child in her day to day life but also another, FUTURE, generation!  I am modeling behavior that my daughter will either reject or embrace when she becomes a mother.  And, so what am I modeling?

  • Am I modeling Peace amidst strife?
  • Am I modeling Joy amidst the trials?
  • Am I modeling Prayer when a decision needs to be made?
  • Am I modeling Love before everything?

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Today’s homework for the kindergartner (other than the math – please see this post lol) was to write two sentences about a picture.  The picture featured a mom caring for her sick child.  She wrote:

The boy is sick.

I like your hair.

Wha???  I tell ya, parenting her is never dull!

Living in Holland

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Yesterday, 3 of my 4 kiddos had parent teacher conferences planned.  (Yes, even the homeschooler!  Though I am blessed to have those every two weeks.  I am beyond blessed with the wonderful, Godly woman who helps me plan and implement his schoolwork.)

The bottom line is that they are all struggling, but they are progressing! PTL! And I do! But I still find myself sad.  Have you read this analogy explaining what it’s like to have a child with a disability?  Please take a moment and read it.  That’s why I am sad.  I am learning to love Holland, but I can’t help but still want to be in Italy.

I am proofing the April issue of the wonderful homeschooling magazine for which I work.  I look at the curriculum reviews and the articles and I am so excited about them.  And, then I remember that I am living in Holland and if I teach in Italian my kids not only won’t they learn, but I will frustrate them to the point they won’t want to try.

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Lord, thank you for my kids. Thank you that they keep trying even though it never comes easy to them.  Help me create an environment where they want to try.  Show me how to help them when it’s hard.  Give us joy while we are in this season!

Grammy’s Friday Night Popcorn

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This week is parent teacher conferences for my younger two’s school. So they are coming home at noon and I want to do some surprises to make it fun. Today they get a bit more screen time. Tomorrow we can’t do anything special because I have a speech therapy appt, then BOTH of their conferences and then my homeschooler’s Education specialist is coming for her monthly meeting! UGH! Definitely a good day to use the slow cooker!!

But then Wednesday, I plan to make Grammy’s Friday Night Popcorn. You know I’m not sure MY family has ever eaten it on a Friday night (LOL) but when I was a kid, Friday nights were leftover/appetizer night and once in awhile we got this treat! YUMMY!!

Grammy’s Friday Night Popcorn recipe

1 batch popped popcorn (we use 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn in our air popper)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup Karo syrup
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
Bring sugar, honey and Karo syrup to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes.

Then mix in peanut butter and vanilla.

In a large bowl, pour mixture over popcorn. Mix thoroughly.

I spread it out on wax paper to cool/dry but we used to just eat it out of the bowl when I was a kid. But I find it easier to package up after it’s cooled/dried.

Enjoy!!