Show and Tell – Momfessionals Moments
Today I’m joining Andrea at Momfessionals for her Show and Tell Tuesdays series and today we are discussing our “Momfessional Moments”. You can read my first Momfessionals Moments post from last spring here.
I think as a mom I definitely wasted a lot of time over the years stressing out over things that in the end are NOT BIG THINGS! Today I thought I would share some of my Momfessional Moments.
Flat sheets….I spent years friends frustrated that the flat sheet on my kid’s bed was often found jumbled at the bottom of the bed, hanging off the side of the bed or on the floor even. I would put it back on time and time again only to be frustrated. I mean why couldn’t they just keep the darn sheet ON THE BED?!! The bigger question I finally realized was why did I care? So I neatly folded all the top sheets and put them away. The result…a much neater and easier to make bed!
All the art! We all love it right? All the handprints made into fun animals and water color drawings of our family. My kids were always oh so proud of ALL THE ART they made and obviously it would crush them to find a piece in the trash. Let’s be honest, 4 kids X oodles of art and my house could have been easily overwhelmed. I wanted the kids to be in charge of what was the most special and worth keeping so they each received a plastic box with a lid. ONE BOX. All the school work and/or drawings they wanted to keep had to be stored in the box. If the box was too full then they were responsible for picking favorites and throwing out the rest. Items too big for the box (i.e. shadow boxes, robots made of recycled material, clay figures) we took a picture of my child holding their project and then it made an exit to the trash.
My kids sometimes sleep in their clothes for the next day. I kind of freaked out about this at first but it started when Jordan was having to get up early for sports practice and at some point I decided she was just smarter than the average girl. Carly..no excuse except she is number 4. I may even be guilty of sleeping in my workout clothes to save time in the morning these days.
I didn’t teach my kids to use washcloths. I know….if you come visit at my house you might want to bring your own soap because my kids have all rubbed our bar on their privates. Anything for less laundry right?
I have been known to show up at baseball games with a Sonic cup NOT containing a Sonic drink. (Baseball games can go on forever…don’t judge) When Jordan was about 13 she walked up, grabbed my drink and took a big swig. The look on her face was priceless and she always asked before taking a drink from then on.
Curfews are a necessary part of teenagers growing up but when my kids were seniors in high school I removed their curfew. As long as I knew where they were and they communicated with me they basically set their own curfew. I learned this from a friend who had college age children and I have to say it worked so well. Neither abused the privilege and when they left for college I wasn’t worried about them “going nuts”. Obviously there were still other boundaries but they were allowed to be in charge of their own curfew.
I believe it was Lysa Terkeurst (gosh I just wish one time I could read her name without wondering if I’m saying it right) who wrote don’t take too much credit for the good and don’t take too much credit for the bad. I love this and it is something I’ve tried to keep in mind. My kids successes are fully theirs and earned solely by them. While my values and raising may have helped them to get where they needed to be, they made the choice to make it happen. Just the same, kids are going to make bad choices and at times some that will not make you very proud. The choices are ultimately theirs to make and while it may hurt your heart to see them fail, being able to separate yourself will allow you to offer guidance and support rather than respond with anger.
I really can’t wait to read all the fun momfessional moments from all you moms with young children! This totally has me wishing I had a diary of all the things that I’ve forgotten over the years!
Dying to read more Show & Tell Tuesday posts?
Where Were You on 911, Who I Was in High School, Momfessional Moments, How I Picked My Kids Names, Favorite Family Vacation, Most Embarrassing Moment, Favorite Room, How We Met & Got Engaged, Organization, Who’s Coming to Dinner, Halloween Costumes, A Day in the Life of a Queen
See where else I may be linking today here.
I am totally with you on the art. I have an accordian file with a section for each grade. If it didn't fit in the accordian file, adios art! Thanks for the tip on the curfew. Will have to think about that as high school approaches!
I'm totally not ready for high school….I feel like I really had it somewhat easy with #1&2 and I'm a little nervous. 🙂
I really like the no curfew thing. It's a great idea to teach kid responsibility and also let them know you trust them! I hope I have that mentality when we have kids!
I didn't have a curfew in high school. My parents knew my friends had crufews so their thinking "what are you going to do by yourself after midnight?"
We too removed curfews senior year. And I'm with you about that damn top sheet! Ha!!! I love looking at my adult kids knowing they are such good people now, we gave them all they needed to make good choices and I am so thankful they listed to us along the way, even when I didn't think they were!
i never had a curfew in highschool but i always came home at a decent time. great post and glad i found your blog through the link up 🙂
Love your advice about not taking too much credit for the good or for the bad. I will have to save that away for when I become a parent. Have a great day!!! 🙂
That last one needs to be put on a coffee mug for me to carry around. Also artwork – see my number 12. 😉
I don't have kids yet, but personally, I often sleep in my workout clothes for the next morning! It cuts down on me wimping out of working out. Great post! 🙂
I love this post for so many reasons, but the main one is because almost every single point you wrote, I can completely relate to. I just had the washcloth conversation with my oldest son before he headed back to school on Sunday. ha.
Oh my gosh, I can't even tell you how much I love this post! What is with kids and flat sheets?! That is so funny and so true. My kids frequently sleep in whatever clothes they'll wear the next day to school. They shower at night put on clean clothes…one less thing to do in the morning. I have no shame in that! And the Sonic drink!! LOL!!! That's pretty classic! I'll have to remember that trick for baseball season.
Gina || On the Daily Express
This is awesome! I love hearing the perspective of a Mom with older kids! I'm in the trenches right now with the littles and this makes me so happy! I also died laughing over the soap bars! Hahaha!
Looking back, I would have done a few thing "cooler." Like the curfew, but if I remember correctly, I think we allowed them to choose their own times senior year. I still needed to know where they were no who they were with, but for the most part, we allowed senior year to be the trial year before they left for school.
I was a little too cool on some things when my bigs were growing up I think just from being so young myself. Definitely some things I've done differently the second time around.
Oh the trenches….I really do feel like I'm kind of in the calm before the storm right now. My two bigs are out on their own and my littles are just about to hit the teenage phase + i'll be going through menopause…joy!
Baseball games…. I love the game but oh my gosh sometimes it can go on forever! Have a super week Gina!
Crazy what doesn't seem like a super big deal until they are leaving home right?
I for sure will sleep in mine if I have stayed up too late and know it will help convince me to get up!!
It's so true! I think it is really easy to get sucked in an question your parenting when kids are making bad choices. I was a kid…and I made lots of bad choices as a teenager and it was none of my parents fault. Have a super day!
I know this probably doesn't work well for every kid but it was such good fit for mine. Not to say they still didn't go a teeny bit crazy when they left for college. haha
Curse that top sheet!! It seriously drove me crazy for years!!
I lived in a small town…..oh goodness the trouble I got into after midnight. Eek
It is always tough to start letting go but my job is to prepare them all for the real world and the last thing I wanted was them going from me making all the decisions to them making all the decisions without me anywhere around. Have a super day Audrey!
Okay, I love all this, but mostly I just love the whole idea of a "momfessional." Fabulous…just like you, O Queen! 😉 Stopping by from Waiting on Wednesday!
These are fantastic points! Flat sheets are pointless until the kids make their own beds, in my opinion.Then they still aren't used! Sleeping in clothes is just genius. I love it! The curfew thing is very interesting. I'll have to mull that one over. My oldest is 14 so I still have time before it's an issue. This is my first time on your blog. It was a delight! Liking you on Facebook! Stopping by from Waiting on Wednesday.
Tomorrow I will be removing all the top sheets….THANK YOU!!!! GENIUS!
Seriously…..if I could have back all those days of putting that sucker back on!! Have a super weekend.
Isn't it fun Elizabeth?? I started a tab in the notes on my phone because I can never remember anything!!! Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks so much! The curfew thing is definitely a child by child decision I think but I really do think the transition to college "freedom" was not quite as big of a deal.