Have Fun with Your Challenge

I have four kids with me each morning. Piper (nearly 4), Brooks and Maggie (both turned 2 recently) and Presley. The 'older' three are actually pretty good when we go places. They listen really well when I tell them to get out of the street because they're about to get hit by a car. They're not terribly loud. They're usually willing to help me. They respond really well to bribes. If I can put Presley in the Baby Bjorn she's usually pretty content. I think she likes the constant motion, the sound of my voice and the direct contact. Despite how good they are, without fail, people always feel the need to make a comment about me and my team of bandits. Yesterday for example. I was outside playing with the kids at my parents house and some random lady walks by and yells, 'looks like you've got your hands full!' Instantly I was so annoyed. Ok, I realize I sound a little sensitive. But there's not a day that goes by that someone doesn't say that to me. Not sure why it irritates me so much, it just does. Especially when my kids are being angel children. Today someone said something that really caught me off guard. We were playing at this really fun playground and I noticed this woman who appeared to be with her daughter and grandson. She looked like a nun without the nun clothes (ok, I'm not Catholic but I've seen the movie Nunsense). She had on a big cross necklace. Her hair was dark, short and tidy. She was dressed very conservatively. She had a very calming presence. As we were leaving, I couldn't help but smile at her. She was just so peaceful looking. You know what she said to me? In a thick European accent she goes, 'have fun with your challenge'. I was totally appalled. How could a 'Sister' be so rude? I was so upset. I was thinking, 'challenge, what challenge? My kids are being so good right now.' Here I thought this woman was so nice and peaceful. I was totally irritated. We get into the car a few moments later and Brooks has the biggest meltdown ever. Screaming that his shoe fell off, that his sticker was gone.. on and on. And I thought back to what that woman said. Have fun with your challenge. Ya know, she was right. And her timing was perfect. Raising three children is a challenge. A challenge that I absolutely love (most days), but certainly a challenge. I had various other 'challenges' this morning but I kept thinking about what that woman said. Have fun with your challenge. Have fun with your challenge. Have fun with your challenge. So when things got a little hairy this morning, I didn't get frustrated. I just kept thinking.. have fun with this. My kids are only this little once. We only get one shot at it. Have fun with it. Thanks Sister.