Peace in Vacuming

I love to vacuum. At least I think I do. I will vacuum the downstairs at least 3 times a week and the upstairs 1 to 2 times a week. Why? Good question. As I was vacuuming Friday, the 3rd time this week, I was thinking about why I vacuum so much. I realize part of it is due to the fact that I have a busy house filled with a husband, 2 children and a dog and all of their "stuff". Generally when I see something on the floor I get the "Ugh, all my floors are dirty I need to vacuum" kind of feeling. However I love my vacuum. I love that it is bagless and that I can see all the dirt in the container when I'm done. A little instant gratification, I suppose. My children laugh at me because not only do I vacuum the floors but the walls, furniture, the stove and I have even been known to vacuum the inside of the mircowave.

While I was thinking of all of these reasons that I love to vacuum, and was moving closer to the Dining Room where my children were sitting at the table doing puzzles and bickering over something monumental I'm sure, I realized that when I vacuum and get lost in the humming noise the vacuum makes I no longer here the bickering of my girls and instead of the dog being at my feet she keeps a safe distance. Even when in the Dining Room, vacuuming around the chairs of my children they recognize I'm completing a task and don't even bother to try to involve me in their dispute via tattling on each other. They just let me coast on through.

Hmmm...so maybe the peace I get from vacuuming is the core of my love for this activity:)

Conversations

There have been a lot of conversations occurring in my house lately. Uncommon...No? Interesting ...Oh Yes! For those of you that are my friends on Facebook you may have read some recent posts about these conversations.

I suppose with a 4 and 6 year-old it should not be surprising when thoughts that are streaming through their minds are constantly coming out of their mouths. They haven't quite grown into their filters yet. Honestly some days I wonder if they may stay filterless for their life. Each day brings new thoughts and new experiences, which lead to new questions.

On an average Tuesday evening we were sitting together, just hanging out. Ainsley and I on the couch and Brad in the chair, Kaylee was in the other room. The conversation begins:

Ainsley: Mommy, do I pee out of my woo-woo?
Me: No, it's called your vagina.
Ainsley: Vagina?
Me: Yes

Ainsley begins saying vagina over and over and over again.

Ainsley: Mommy, how does God make a vagina?

At this point I look at Brad because I'm at a loss for words on how to actually answer this.

Brad jumps in and explains to Ainsley that when you are first in your Mommy's tummy you are really tiny and as you grow your vagina grows with you.

Kaylee comes in the room and Ainsley (with lots of excitement in her voice) says "Hey Kaylee, guess what!! When you are in your Mommy's tummy and you grow your vagina grows with you!"

Kaylee: That's enough Vagina talk.
Ainsley: Do boys pee out their vagina?
Me: No, boys have a penis.
Ainsley: (With more excitement) Hey Kaylee, boys have a penis.
Kaylee: I call them wieners.
Ainsley: Well there are wiener dogs.

So the biology discussion passes and I'm still feeling like I am having a surreal, this can't be my life, actual moment. At one point I was hiding in my shirt because I was laughing so hard.

We finally regrouped ourselves. Kaylee and I now on the couch, Brad still in the chair and Ainsley hanging upside down over the ottoman. A commercial for a show on Food Network titled Bitchen Kitchen comes on. Kaylee says: I can't believe that the lady has a show with that word in the title. Instead of saying something like "I know, it's weird." and letting it go. Brad decides to say: Bitchen really isn't a bad word.

This perks up Ainsleys, upside down ears, up and she says "What's Bitchen?" "Daddy, what's bitchen?" So Brad explains what it means and that it has "Bitch" as part of the word and that it's not a nice word so that's why we shouldn't say those words.

I quickly reinforce it by telling the girls if they say those words at school they will surely go straight to red:).

Ahhhh, yes sweet little conversations that have been taking place at our house. Can't wait to see what questions we can conquer tomorrow with more conversations.

What I have learned (so far).

Here we are in 2012. A whole new year, with new possibilities of things big and small, happy and sad, clear and clear as mud and all of the possibilities that come with a beginning. Ironically these are things we reflect on when something, like a year, comes to an end.

As I look ahead to things that will be this year I think of the lessons I will learn, or maybe re-learn. I reflect on lessons that I have already learned. Many of these lessons that have been taught since becoming a Mom. This year will mark the 7 year anniversary of holding that title. Some of these lessons I may have already knew, but never really understood in the way that I do now.

I have learned that:

It’s ok, and normal, if some days we feel sad, tired or maybe have just hit our limit.

Even if those around us are happy and showing us love and support.

Some days we need someone to take us by the hand and guide us,

or point us in the right direction,

or just hold us and give us a place to rest our head.

I’ve learned that when we work together

we can do great things.

Although some days we need to try to figure things out for ourselves.

Either working together or alone it’s always nice to have someone there to share your victories and defeats with.

I’ve learned that blankies can make things all better, or worse if they are misplaced.

You don’t have to speak words to show or feel love.

I have learned that some days we get lost in our own world and may even feel it’s weight upon our shoulders.

Some days we may even feel that we are getting pulled along without feeling any control.

I have learned that some days it’s nice to take a ride,

and when that ride is over it’s nice to have some help to get off safely.

I have learned that some days you need to be silly.

Some days you pay for the late nights and look a little like Gary Busey.

No matter the day it’s important to stop and smell the flowers because this world of ours is always changing.

We should take the time to not only smell the flowers but explore all the world has to offer, and maybe even catch a bug.

Fashion is in the eye of the beholder.

Some days that fashion statement needs to say “I’m a princess!”.

Some days we have to do things we don’t want to do and shouldn’t be afraid to let others know.

It’s good to feel some independence, even if that independence can get a bit messy.

It’s always a great day when you can lick the batter,

and eat some cake too.

Strength, loyalty and beauty can be passed through generations.

Some days the world looks better upside down and

other days it looks better standing-up straight as you are ready to dive right in.

Some days we like to offer our advice and suggestions and

other days we want to listen and learn.

We shouldn’t let bumps in the road stop us from doing what we love.

Trophies make all the hard work worth it.

Days can be amazing when one of your biggest fans is there to not only cheer you on but coach you along the way.

It’s nice to see the view from the top.

It’s also nice to get the view from up close.

Sometimes we can cause our view to become a little skewed.

No matter your day, your feeling or your view the important thing is the people who surround you.

Support you and love you.

Teach you things.

Take the time to sit with you and spend time with you.

Before you know it babies are going to school.

Time just runs right by.

Whatever your lessons may be this year may they be good lessons, even if they are lessons you have already had.