Haven

Home ... a haven from the storms of life, a place where kind words are spoken, stress evaporates and love abounds.  Right?  Right?  

Well, that's what I want it to be, but too often stress abounds, order evaporates and frustration is spoken and the house looks like it's been hit by all the storms of life at once.

I have been sick for days.  No mommy temp. has shown up to deal with the back-log.  My amazing husband has stepped into the breach and is doing all he can, but the debris of life accumulates at a pace that simply can't be managed in a few hours after work.  

So here I sit, getting better by the minute, but very conscious that I had better not do too much too fast.  The  road behind me leads to a very ugly place and I don't want to go back there any time soon.  

I know, I know, tackle the elephant one bite at a time.  I hate one bite at a time.  I want a sparkling, Donna Reed like masterpiece of a home.  But, I don't have that.  And I won't have that for ... let's be honest the flu isn't the only problem here, it's adjusting to baby #4 too ... so that means I may have a semi-handle on a few things by August and Donna Read may be attemptable in 2032.

In the meantime, even if I can't serve up a three course breakfast with a fresh pressed apron and perfectly coiffed hair, I want to do what I can with kind words and smiles.  

Maybe I can start by creating an emotional haven - a happy place - for my family.  

Wish me luck.  The swirling flotsam tends to madden me.  

Oh, oh, my blood pressure is rising.  I have been trying to write this to the background noise of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, high pitched shrieking and nine requests for snacks.  Child #2 just started singing a loud made up song about potty subjects (a no-no and he knows it) and now he wants to invite friends over ... and more squealing ... and here comes the complaining.  

And I am re-committing to making this a happy place.