Our New Normal...and, It's a BOY!

I'm such a creature of habit.  I don't like many disruptions of my "normal".  I don't think I was prepared for the change to my "normal" when school started.  Emma and Molly have been in school a full two weeks now.  Elementary school is no joke.  Monday through Friday, 9:15-3:45.  Homework.  Snack schedule.  Dates to remember.  PTA playdates.....and did I mention homework.  Five days a week it seems our house is non-stop.  Everyone is going in different directions.  Emma at one school, Molly at another and Tim and I at work.  Molly is only in school two days a week, but that comes with a list of responsibilities, too.  Volunteer hours, snack duty, etc.  Don't get me wrong.  I am so thankful to be able to have my girls in school and for the teachers that give of themselves daily for them!  I guess the past 5+ years I've had it pretty easy.  My normal was a little bit of preschool, not many different schedules to maintain and two little girls to raise.  I still have those two little girls to raise, but now with so much more mixed in--and I know some mom's who do three times as much as we do!  (I don't know how they do it!) 

I feel like I can barely breathe Monday through Friday from the hours of 5pm till bedtime.  Everybody's getting home, dinner needs to be started, homework needs to be completed, bags need to be packed for the next day to do it all over again....oh, and maybe we will fit in a bath....Oh......and when your kids get LICE, you need to spend an hour combing out their hair (more on that in another post). 

When I was in BSF, our Teaching Leader would describe what it is like to prepare and give her lecture every week.  She said it was like going through labor a delivery of a baby just to find out the next day that you're pregnant again.  That's what my day's have felt like since school has started.  I don't think I've ever enjoyed a weekend as much as I have these past two weekends.  Not needing to wake up the girls or change out of PJ's.  Enjoying a lazy morning as the girls slowly eat their breakfast.  Not having to remember what to pack in their bags and not worrying about if I forgot anything. 

How are the girls handling the schedule change you ask?  Wonderful!  They didn't blink an eye.  Emma is LOVING kindergarten and Molly is tolerating preschool.  They haven't skipped a beat.  I was concerned how Emma would handle the long days, but she hasn't shown any signs of fatigue...yet.  So I'm thinking it's harder on me than it is on them.  I do find myself being led to pray for them throughout the day.  I mainly pray for protection over them and for the Holy Spirit to comfort them. I guess that gives me a little sense of control when they are not with me--I know He is!

I know in a few months, this will become my "normal"...but for now, I'm just making it a day at a time.  I just don't want to mess up.  I want to BE that mom that has it all together--I'm just not there yet.  Let me just say, I'm glad ONE of my kids is still on the inside.  Haha!  He (yes, we found out it's a BOY) is taking everything he needs from me and doesn't require any extra attention.  I don't need to worry about this little one needing a bag packed or a lunch made.  My efficient little body takes care of all that for me. 

Come February when I have 3 on the outside--you'll probably never hear from me again. 

Baby Boy

Emma first day of preschool/Molly first day of preschool

A BOY! (the only time it's ever appropriate to share a photo of the goods online)

Molly so little in her class

Be sure to check back when I tell you all about how we won the war against lice (knock on wood) in our house!  It will be informative!