Oh my stars I’m a piece of work

September 17, 2009

So. While school is generally going swimmingly, it does require all members of this household to be up and out before 7:30 am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. We have a few dilly-dalliers among us, so occasionally it makes for a bit of a harried morning.

Like this morning.

There is really nothing to say except that in the end there was me yelling at the top of my lungs, anger & frustration everywhere.

So finally, FINALLY, we get all parties squared away in the car and we successfully depart on time. Then I sense a “teachable moment” coming on and feel the overwhelming need to take advantage of the undivided attention of all occupants firmly buckled in the car and tell them how NEXT time this will not happen and THIS is how our Tuesday and Thursday mornings will commence from now on and PLEASE REPEAT BACK TO ME WHAT I JUST SAID SO I KNOW YOU HEARD ME. And then just to make sure, LET’S DO A LITTLE LISTENING COMPREHENSION:

Me: ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS, WILL WE LAY ON THE COUCH AFTER GETTING UP?

Them: No. (Much to my chagrin the response was not like the hearty “NO MA’AM!” you might hear from new Army recruits, but instead, tired “nooooo”s accompanied by rolled eyes, yawns, slumped shoulders, wandering eyes and oh-mom-blah-blah-blah-blah wheels turning in their heads which I can see on their faces.)

Me: WHEN WE GET UP ON TUESDAY & THURSDAY MORNINGS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FIRST?

Them: Brush teeth, wash face, get dressed. (blah, blah, blah…)

Me: WILL WE FUSS AND WHINE AND COMPLAIN?

Them: No. (Lots of sighs…and then, after an I-sure-hope-I’ve-waited-long-enough-to-ask-this-question pause, “Are we finished?”, or in other words, “Are you done talking so I can go back to playing my game on the iPod?”)

Me: Yes. I’m done.

And I mostly was except I had to throw in a few more things because, well, there was just a tiny bit more steam in there.

A few more moments of silence, then:

“Mom, can you turn the music on, please?”

So I punch the CD button and on comes this: Seeds of Praise, Song #6, The Mouth, Matthew 12:34. (Go ahead listen if you’d like.) If not, I’ll tell you all 10 of the words to the song:

“Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

D’oh.

Funny, I had no idea how many times this one phrase was repeated in this song. It was like a spiritual spanking. (I totally mean that in a good way.)

BUT, once I got over the blatant, neon-sign-like message from God, it did make for a good teachable moment. Because I suddenly felt the overwhelming need to take advantage of the undivided attention of all occupants firmly buckled in the car, turn off the music and blather on about conviction, repentance and then ask for forgiveness.

I dare say those children were never so happy to get to school.

Related posts:

  1. Brothers
  2. That’s My Girl!
  3. Welcome To My World
  4. The Things They Come Up With
  5. Tired

Category: Kinda Comical, My Family, My Issues, My Life

Comments

7 Responses to “Oh my stars I’m a piece of work”

  1. Lydia
    September 17th, 2009 @ 2:11 pm

    Amy, why are you not writing a book? Or are you?
    I DO NOT CARE what you say. If EVER the is an Amy fan club, I am self nominating me for presidential appointment.

  2. Amy
    September 17th, 2009 @ 2:41 pm

    “There is really nothing to say except that in the end there was me yelling at the top of my lungs, anger & frustration everywhere.”

    How many times have I been there myself??? Too many…which is both depressing and convicting.

    Two teachable moments in one car ride: yours and God’s. Amazing how God’s teachable moments come with far less anger and outburst! This was a GREAT post Aim – thanks!
    .-= Amy´s last blog ..Relevant…Am I? =-.

  3. Indy
    September 17th, 2009 @ 7:21 pm

    Not a mom yet but this happens to me ALL THE TIME in my classroom after lecturing my second graders…I felt so guilty today after one of my students asked me where to put away a magazine I gave her. I was rude and sarcastic and responded, “What do you think?” I never apologized but I gave her a chocolate instead…=/

    Always love reading your posts…I agree with Lydia and am waiting for that book to be out.
    .-= Indy´s last blog ..MIA =-.

  4. Melody
    September 17th, 2009 @ 8:54 pm

    So glad I’m not the only one who deals with this. Oh man…those CD’s playing will put you in your place in a Sunday School second! BTW, we are LOVING our CD’s you recommended from your earlier post.
    .-= Melody´s last blog ..National Blog Spot Day =-.

  5. Jen
    September 17th, 2009 @ 10:07 pm

    Oh did I have a similar morning today as well! I was running late to MOPS plus was trying to get food together that I was supposed to bring, all the while yelling at Ahnica who wasn’t doing ANYTHING wrong. I apologized to her on the car ride to church (as much as an apology that a two year old would understand). Totally there with you (and I only have 1 child so far!).

  6. Anna See
    September 18th, 2009 @ 10:39 pm

    We were late for a soccer game and I totally lost my cool. I was nuts. I asked for forgiveness, too.
    .-= Anna See´s last blog ..Quick Question =-.

  7. Carrie
    September 20th, 2009 @ 3:47 am

    Girl, I have been there, done that more times than I can count and every time I tell myself I’ll never do it again. You know, fulfilling scripture and all that (all men are liars…).

    I’m thankful for the gentle reproving hand of our heavenly Father. I’m thankful for his patience and faithfulness. Without Him, where would we be?
    .-= Carrie´s last blog ..Seker Bayram =-.