Tighten the reigns

As a mom, I embrace busy.  It means my kids and I are out having fun, doing things, being active, participating in life and most of the time it is a really good sign that you are loved and people want you around.  So, busy isn't my problem.  I strive for busy (mom, stop rolling your eyes).  I also am very passionate that one of my jobs as a parent is to introduce my kids to things of the world, not just my world.  Will I love if Piper shares my same obsession  love for photos and scrapbooking and one day down the road, she will have books upon books for me to gaze at of my grandchildren?  Heck yes!  Will I love if she loves football as much as her momma?  No doubt!  Will I love if she is a biochemical engineer?  Yes ma'am!  Will I love if she is a trash collector?  If she is happy and does a good job, then yes I will!  My kids are who they are and I think that, as a parent, we get the joy of watching them grow into themselves more than we "shape" who they are.  My opinion, I am sure not everyone agrees.  I want to be my kids biggest cheerleader for anything they do (even if it is a Star Wars battle in Blake's room and I can't for the life of me remember the bad guys name...you can bet your booty I will be there trying to play right alongside him because it is what he loves right now).  SO, as a wife, mommy, realtor, photographer, friend, sister, cousin, grandaughter, daughter-in-law, aunt, niece, daughter, etc. there is TOTALLY time to show my kids the world, right?!  I have my Iphone calendar, my imagination, my friends and my family and we book ourselves up.  And, for the most part, I do love it!

Until there are days upon days of crazy schedules and you are looking at the clock at 9:30 at night watching your little guy eat his Happy Meal.  Yup, it happened.  First, I want to stop and give myself a big ol' scoop of grace.  Things have been busy lately and it is the holidays and my to-dos are long and my days are short.  It happens and thankfully it is not the norm.  Yesterday, Blake had preschool, then one of his best friends, Dylan had a half day so we were able to get the boys together (they hadn't seen each other since August), then Grandpa Airplane called and wanted to see the kids for a bit and play, then we had Flashlight/"bring a friend" night at Awana.  Do you think I dared to say no to any of those awesome things?!  NO WAY!  My kids had a blast!  Preschool/one-on-one time with P - awesome, time with a bestie - awesome (even at 4), special time with Grandpa - awesome, and there is NOTHING better than another bestie, flashlights a fun snack and an open gym at night!  

reading a book by flashlight in the car...

Tristan and Blake ready for Flashlight Night!

I had every intention of leaving Grandpa Airplanes a few minutes earlier, stopping for dinner before Awana...well, if the truth be told, I had every intention of making a meal in the crockpot but the morning got away from me because I chose to spend some special time at the baby isle of Target with this one...

A decision I do not regret! 

 I have made the choice that there will occasionally be happy meals for dinner (hopefully not often at 9:30pm), friends playdates back to back, candy right after Breakfast, etc.  Sometimes, it feels good to be bad.  It feels good to live carpe diem style. 

BUT, when your craft corner starts to look like this:

Your playroom looks like this:

 

You can't find any leftovers in the fridge NOT because the meals you have prepared as of late were so wonderfully delicious the kiddos and hubby didn't leave any behind, but because you haven't cooked in three nights...

When you haven't made time to go to the gym like you should this past week, month, year...

It is time to "tighten up the reigns".  I am not entirely sure where this term comes from but it is my "go to phrase" when I realize that candy after Breakfast is quickly becoming an expectation instead of a exception, that the demands for the special rewards are far out numbering the positive actions that should be resulting in them, the bedtime routine is quickly becoming "plan b, no books tonight because we were out so late" instead of just a one-time thing.

Blake can throw a mean tantrum when he doesn't get his way and often times in the middle of our own little Lanterman WW3, Brian and I look at each other and say "time to tighten up the reigns".  We prepare ourselves for a "bending the rules fast" and get back to basics.  Back to the things we strive for in our normal, everyday life.  Things like decent bedtimes, healthy meals, a house that is picked up, and ample time for snuggles and stories before bed.  

See, it feels good to do all of that fun stuff and live life to the fullest, taking advantage of the unexpected and unplanned.  I will never be the friend who is too busy to make time or do fun things, that is what LIFE is all about!  I will be the first one to say yes to an invite or try something new (mom, again with the eye rolling...you're not gonna change me ;), but it truly is a balance of both the everyday and the exciting new adventures that keeps us full, it keeps us content, and it keeps us excited.  

So, today is the start of our most recent "tighten the reigns"...it won't be the last.  There is laundry to be done, projects to be completed, work and home life to attend to and we need to get back to basics and that is what we will be doing until the next FUN comes along. 

Until then, I am off to get my normal on....quick - someone come up with something fun to do ;)