What’s On My Mind This Friday

May 17, 2013

1. I often feel like I should be doing more – like I should get a “real” job – or like I should commit more time to blogging to really take my blog to the next level. It’s a tug of war inside of me. On one hand I want to dream big and accomplish so many of my personal goals, but on the other hand I want to cherish my time as a mother. In a world where we are hell bent on this make believe idea of doing and having it all, I often feel like I’m lacking. But deep down inside of me I know the truth. Having it all means having a little bit of everything but not really having everything of everything. Am I making any sense? I just don’t ever want my personal goals to get in the way of my life goals – and finding the balance isn’t always easy. While I might want to write a book (not about decorating) or become a real deal photographer, I’m not willing to sacrifice my time with my littles – because their time as littles is fleeting. And while I’ve been wrestling with these thoughts, my friend Courtney put it all into perspective here. It was a great reminder for me that what I’m doing and how I’m doing it, really is the right decision for me.

I may never write a novel or a children’s book, may never become a photographer, but I’m pretty darn good at doing this mom thing – and in the end – that’s what they’ll remember about me anyway.

That’s me and my girl on the new swing set and look how she dressed me in polka dots! She knows me so well!

2. I’m apparently going for Mother of the Year.

Ummmm……did you see those two little words – SLUMBER PARTY?!?!?!? Yeah, I’m hosting a birthday slumber party for my almost 9 year old boy tonight. Please pray for me. My whole camp out/ cook out theme has been totally shot down because of the rain – so I’m in frantic mode as I try to re- plan the whole dang party – geesh! I’ll be so happy to see Monday morning. Follow me on instagram for sneak peeks – Carmel_ourfifthhouse.

3. The winner of the Kidecals giveaway was announced on my Facebook page!

Have a great weekend! Lots of good stuff coming next week! See you on Monday!

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I totally understand your thoughts and for me being a mom always comes first. Love the drawing. Good luck with the boys and have a great weekend.

I think we all struggle with finding the balance. As a full-time working mom, I question (literally) daily whether I should be at home with my little one. Based on that adorable polka dotted drawing- I'd say you are rocking it as a mom! Good luck with your slumber party! I will be anxiously waiting for your post on Monday to know you made it through the weekend!

Great post, Carmel! I have to say, that since quitting my "real job" I have never been happier, so you're on track with what you're doing right now and where you are focused! I too want to take my blog to another level, but it's all about balance, right?

Good luck with the sleep over – you're a brave woman! How many boys are you having??

oh you are a brave brave Mommy! and yes a slumber party totally gets you into the Mother of The Year category. Good luck!!! Maybe the rain will go away just in time.

Your Daughters picture is SO cute and good luck with the slumber party I'm sure it will be all fine in the end xx

fabulousso40s.blogspot.co.uk

Good luck and Godspeed, Carmel! I also have a boy who will be nine in two weeks. He has not asked for a slumber party and I have not offered. 😀 I think that we are going to take him and his buds to a baseball game. He has his heart set on a Nintendo DS-I know nothing about gaming…there are 3DS, 3DSXL, DS, and then each comes in different colors…I am so out of date, I still think that Duck Hunt is a grand time!

On thought number one, I am totally with you. I wrestle with myself on this topic ALL.THE.TIME. But completely agree, this moment needs to be embraced because it is fleeting.

and #2….I've done that slumber party action w/9 year old boys before. ha, ha. have fun!! The boys were great, but i did end up sleeping on the couch downstairs because there were 2 boys roaming around the house and i had this fear they were going to go outside, blah, blah, blah. 😉 I probably didn't need to sleep on the couch. Swore i wouldn't do it again, but did it again last year w/11 year old boys. Slept upstairs that time! Have fun! Your son will LOVE it that's for sure. Sorry I'm kind of babbling here. have a great weekend…

So fun and GOOD LUCK!!!

Great post! I often find myself in the same struggle as I think all mothers do. Have fun at the slumber party, 8 – 9 year old boys are so fun and goofy! I don't know if it will work but set up the tent in the house, they would get a kick out of that!

Such a neat drawing, how sweet!!

Have fun with the boys!!!

Have a great weekend!

I completely get what you are thinking about because I think the same thing ALL.THE.TIME. But, our children's need for us is fleeting and soon they will be gone and we will cherish these years – that I know for sure.

Good luck with that slumber party!
xo~Jill

I totally get it Carmel. I feel the same way at times. The world makes us want to think that choosing to stay home with our children makes you less intelligent, less accomplished. When I see how much our children love us and the time we take with them is intentional and meaningful I know that I'm honoring what God has entrusted to me. We can still accomplish those career goals or dreams we are just making sure that nothing gets in the way of what really matters. Love this post! Enjoy your weekend and the SLUMBER PARTY!!! xo Kristin

I totally understand! But you just keep on being a great mommy! That's what's important!

Good luck with the sleepover! 🙂

I made the decision to stay home when my twins were born and, like you, I've had some internal struggles along the way. Deep down though, I know my 'job' is so much more rewarding and important than anything else I could ever be doing. Keep up the great work….and good luck tonight! (You'll need it! 🙂

Susan

I can totally relate!!! I've been a SAHM for the last 10 years and literally just accepted a job yesterday. This will be my first real job that I've had since before I was pregnant with my son!!! I'm nervous and excited at the same time. It's not FT, which is good because it allows me to have some time with him during the week still. Summer is definitely going to be an adjustment though!!! And how cute is that Slumber party?! We wanted to do that in the past, but a March bday is so up in the air with weather, it's hard! You have the perfect time of year!!! Enjoy & Happy Birthday to your little man =)

Carmel,
God bless you for sharing your life, your faith, and your family as you do and inspiring others to find graciousness, kindness, and humility in our daily lives. I appreciate what you do, what you offer, the love you give your family and your home. We're kindred spirits and I wish you the very best!
For those of us unable to do so, please enjoy being the mom at home, the blogger, the photographer/family documentarian, and all the other roles you inhabit for those of us working outside the home. It's a compromise – as women, we just can't have it all but it's up to us to make all of it valuable, which you do so very well. I wish I could stay home and count that blessing among the others but sadly, I can't do so. I have another role to hold for my family but I so wish I could stay home with my boy and be at all the events for my step-daughters. I'm lucky in that the place I work is family owned and they focus on family. They allow my absences for school events and when my son is unable to go to his babysitter's. I'm luckier than most.
Be confident that you are doing the best you can each day, that you have THE MOST IMPORTANT job of all and certainly the most rewarding – even if it seems more taxing some days.
Best,
Angela

Carmel,

Just to make you fell a little better, I am brand new to the blogging world. I aspire to have a blog like yours! Your blog is definitely one of my inspirations every day. I do have a full time job as a school counselor, so I am doing my blog thing in my spare time and it is tough, but it is a passion of mine so I am going to keep on keeping on! So on days that you are feeling as you described, just know that there are many more than me who find your blog to be an inspiration too!

Happy Birthday to your little guy! You are so brave for having a slumber party! We are still a few years away from that, but it will be here before we know it!
Thank you so much for sharing your heart about the work/life/blogging balance! I worked part time when I first had kids but have been a SAHM for about a year now. I constantly worry about whether I'm doing "enough"–for my kids, for planning for the future and keeping up my skills, for my hubby, for others. It's a huge balancing act! It is really comforting to know that other SAHMs feel the same way! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

~Abby =)

Oh my heck! I'm just starting over. Enjoy all the littles because one day you will look back and realize they were the bigs.

Love this post! I too have this same struggle! I love all of the positive inspiration from you and all of the others who have commented 🙂 Being a mom is the toughest, most rewarding, and important job I will ever have!

Hi there! I just had to chime in. I'm a SAHM, and blogging/DIY will hopefully (someday) help the family budget. However, I sometimes feel like it's so unrewarding – no money to speak of, no fancy job title… BUT, I wouldn't go back to work. I feel so much more connected to my kids, and my husband. I'm home to chat, and play, to cook and do homework, and take walks (and taxi!), and that feels important, BUT when my 14 year old daugther signed my mother's day card "I wouldn't want any one else to live my life along with me", I realized that's more rewarding than anything else I could do.

Sorry, I guess I'm in a sappy mood! I love you blog! And your recent posts were really touching. 🙂

i agree with your dilemma 100%. I think all of us bloggers could take it to the next level but we are juggling 5,000 other things (and mommihood is so important) and it's clear you've got your priorities in order when you get a picture from your kids like above! You do deserve the mother of the year award! Great job! (PS, and I wanna know how that slumber party went…that's just craziness)

In my eyes, your blog AND your parenting are already on the next level. You're seriously so inspiring in so many ways to me!! But I feel you on the "real" job thing & feeling like you're never doing enough–the pitfall of SAHM-hood. I know this much: you're such an amazing, hip mom to those kind kids of yours & they obviously love you to pieces. You got your priorities right, that's for sure!

(Looks like you survived the slumber party, lol!)

xoxo

So sweet – thanks for your kind words, And yes, I survived – just barely. 😉

Thank you so much Nicki!

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