Elastigirl

For those of you who have children...or husbands who enjoy children's movies (you know who you are)...Elastigirl is from the movie "The Incredibles". This is fresh on my mind because my 3 year old is obsessed with this movie right now. The Incredibles are a family of 5 and each of them has a super power. Elastigirl is the mom and she is extremely flexible. She can be stretched in a million different directions and she always goes back to her "normal" self after saving the day by literally spreading herself thin.

I am Elastigirl...and I'm great with that. I run from bed to shower to breakfast table. From home to school to grocery store. Doctors appointments, oil changes, play dates, homework, dinner, bath and bedtime...you name it I do it. And I'm so blessed to be able to! God must have known that I would need to be Elastigirl someday.

The hardest part for Elastigirl is establishing boundaries. How far is too far? How stretched is too stretched? Even if she could...should she? I think Elastigirl's character flaw (i.e. my character flaw...it's just easier to talk about someone else) is that she doesn't established boundaries...with herself or those around her. Just because she can "save the day" doesn't mean she should. It's ok to say "no". It's ok if people are upset because they hear "no". Elastigirl doesn't love those around her any less when she tells them "no"...she's just honoring herself and who God made her to be and allowing others to be what God wanted them to be...responsible.

I am praying for Elastigirl. I want her to establishes boundaries. It will be uncomfortable at first (as all things worth anything are)...but God made Elastigirl with BOTH the ability to be flexible AND the ability to establish boundaries.

I'll end with a quote from Elastigirl:

"Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it. And if anything goes wrong, use your powers."

I'm a SAHM

I'm 3 days in to being a SAHM (stay at home mom). I can see already I have a lot to learn. So far I've worked myself silly cleaning closets, organizing drawers, reviewing our new "budget", planning "learning time" and playing with my 3 year old son (not to mention establishing routine and discipline).

Fortunately I live in a neighborhood with lots of SAHMs. They are giving me tips on transitioning from two incomes to one, entertaining kids for free, eating out inexpensively and grocery shopping on a budget. This is a whole new world for me. I've spent the last 14 years working on my career of which the last 5 I learned to balance work and being a mommy (at least making a decent attempt).

Because I'm a mom I can handle all things...right? It has been challenging the last 3 months. In summary I got laid off, spent the next 3 months aggressively job searching and interviewing, dealing with some medical concerns with my children and coming to the decision to turn down three amazing job offers and transition from career mom to stay at home mom.

In the midst of all this turmoil I can honestly say I find pockets of peace. When I take my daughter to school AND pick her up...I find peace. When my son tells me he loves me for no reason at all and we take a walk in the middle of the day...I find peace. I have to hold tight to those pockets...because life is messy. Between my husband receiving a hanging spider in the mail when he expected bird deflector caulk (long story), telling your son it is not ok to call mommy "naughty" and reminding your daughter that nice girls don't use "potty words" you have to have those "peace pockets".

What I'm already recognizing is that life is not measured by margin and revenue but by presence and sweet hugs.