Sunday, June 7, 2009

No title - just be forewarned this is more for me than you...

Washing the dishes this afternoon afforded me some thinking time. My day was not working out the best. The play out in my head went something like this (yes, I talk to myself in my head, but don’t worry, no one ever answers back):
After a not so good day at church today I was starting to wonder, how can we gauge our progress in this life? When we are single it’s fairly easy to check and keep ourselves on track. When we get married, our progress includes one more person. Motherhood really throws us a curve ball because we are then responsible for those precious lives in our care. How can we tell we are doing okay? Now, I’m not fishing for compliments I was really trying to figure this out. All I know is that when I walked in the door this afternoon, I was ready to quit, throw in the towel…whatever. I must be doing something wrong because things don't seem to be going right.
I know my children will never be perfect, but I have expectations – and I think they are reasonable. I expect them to be kind to their family as well as others, be respectful, courteous, eventually sit reverently in church, pick up after themselves, love their family, love their self…. If they do not reach these expectations, I’m at fault. I understand free agency but I have a responsibility to raise and teach them…show them the right road on the map, if you will. I’ve tried not to raise spoiled children but have wanted to give them opportunities that I were not available to me.
I started thinking about Kennedy being in dance. That is the only thing that I have ever really wanted so bad that I couldn’t have – we couldn’t afford it. I’m living vicariously through her. I love to watch her – she can move it with the best of them.
Fiona plays the piano quite proficiently for a 6 year old if I do say so myself. I might be biased…oh well. Recently, Fiona has started to say she wants to quit piano. Things are a bit harder as she is starting to play both hands (treble and bass clefs). It’s a lot of notes to remember for a little girl but she does it so well.
In the midst of my self inflicted anguish I thought of a conversation she and I had at the piano just yesterday. She told me, again, she just wanted to give up and that it was just getting too hard. I then told her:
“We don’t quit. There is always going to be something in life that is hard, Fiona. If you quit, you’ll never get to the good stuff. You are too special and too good to quit. I can’t let you.”
As I remembered this conversation, I had to stop and smile to myself (through tears of course). I needed my own advice. There are times I want to quit. I feel like I’m failing and quitting is the easiest thing to do. But, I know I have a Heavenly Father that echoes my advice to Fiona. I need to push through the not so good stuff to get the great stuff on the other side. Someone does think that I am too special and too good to quit.
I apologize if you find yourself at the end of this post, wishing you had never started. This is not meant to be a “woe is me post”. I just thought I’m probably not the only one out there feeling this way. Let’s face it, life gets pretty hard sometimes. Unfortunately, there are times we are going to feel like we are failing. Quitting is going to be soooooo appealing but we can’t. There’s always going to be something hard but we are all better than we think we are. We can do it (right?). I’m sure I’ll be discouraged again tomorrow, but for tonight I’ve found a bit more resolve to muster through. If I can find the will try a little harder, I think we all can.
Good luck to us all!

8 comments:

  1. All I can say is those feelings sound very familiar to me. I think they are magnified when the children are young. There were times I locked myself in my bedroom and cried my eyes out only to have some little fingers slip a note under the door. Why is it they could never let me just have a meltdown on my own? The good stuff is indeed down the road as I'm beginning to see it. I think motherhood is the hardest most rewarding thing I've ever done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great post Becky! I was having that exact conversation with my 10 year old at the piano the other day. I needed that pep talk as well. Here's to a good week ahead! Thanks for the reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is also not a woe is me comment, but after catching a cold on Friday, having to spend all day at an 11-year old day camp with said cold on Saturday and then meetings all day on Sunday while fasting and then having my two boys ask why I can't quit my bishopric job and just come home with them, quitting sounded really nice. Thanks for your thoughts. I needed the pep up.
    Ryan

    ReplyDelete
  4. As you can tell, things are still in a bit of transition around our house which has left me feeling...well, you captured it so well in your post. Should I quit? Would it matter to anyone anyway? Of course we all know the obvious answers, but it is still tempting to feel like a complete failure at times. I'm just so glad you put those feelings out there for all to read because it is stangely comforting to know that wonderful, amazing people like you (and many others) can feel down at times and wonder what the heck we are all doing! "Living the dream" is the true answer & I really am thankful for it everyday! Thanks for a good reminder!!! See you in a few days!!! YEA!!!!
    Shannon

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks Becky. I needed to hear that after my really hard week with my boys being sick.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I cry almost daily about something related to the frustrations of child rearing... The if-only I had done this or that, why did she say that or do that, why can't they get along....but then it's people like you that I come across, who have the strength enough to share with me a little and help me push forward..because I know the rewards will be great some day if I do!! LOVE YA!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Beck, I think I needed that advice too! I've kind of a long road lately and wondering when I can "quit". Thanks for the pep talk! I love you, it was great seeing you for the short time we had this past weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You are correct, Becks! There are many of us out here who have these same feelings at times. Being a parent is THE hardest thing I've ever attempted to do!! And there are most certainly days when quitting sounds like the best option I have. But it's not really the choice that brings happiness in the end. I know that doesn't make it easier, but it makes it worth it. You are truly an amazing person, who I admire greatly. You have what it takes! Just "keep on keepin' on"! Love u.

    ReplyDelete