Embracing the Present

"[Motherhood and Homemaking] is surely, in reality, the most important work in the world. What do ships, railways, miners, cars, government etc exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes? . . . [The homemaker's] job is the one for which all others exist"

~Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis

I came across this quote today and I liked it. It made me feel like, I don't have to move mountains every day to be a successful mother and homemaker. Keeping my loved ones fed, safe and warm? Now, that I can do.

Sometimes I am way too dramatic in my worries.

For example, recently, we've been more drawn to the T.V. than usual. In fact, a couple of times last week, after a long day of looking after seven, when the evening of my husband working the late shift began, we found ourselves staring at the Discovery channel (we just got cable - so novel) for a few rousing rounds of "Cash Cab" and "How it's Made." It turns out that my kids love these two shows and I don't mind them either.

In my mind, I berated myself. "Too much T.V.!" My inner voice shouted. "You are training your kids to be couch potatoes. When they are teenagers, they will do nothing but sit on the couch and watch T.V. every single night. And, they will be overweight. And, they will never listen to a thing you say. And, they will have no self-esteem and diabetes and no success and never get married and it will be all your fault!" My horrid perpetuater of mommy-guilt warned.

Then, the other day, a new thought occurred to me:

"What if I embraced this season of my life for what it is?"

What if I admitted that I am just a little bit tired and I cut myself some slack? What if we made a standing date for "Cash Cab" and "How it's Made" now and then when I babysit and Brian works late? What if we celebrated this event by eating toast (easy prep + less dishes + kids don't complain) for dinner and popcorn and hot chocolate for dessert? Could it be that maybe, just maybe, we won't still be parked in front of the T.V. most evenings of the week six-months from now? And, that my children will grow up well adjusted with normal lives in spite of these few weeks of brain rotting T.V. indulgence? And, maybe we will even have great memories of relaxing and watching T.V. together while their daddy worked late, later on when they have grown into vibrant successful beautiful teenagers.

For now, you may find me rocking my baby with my little ones cuddled around me. And, we might be learning "How it's Made," or seeing who is the next big winner in the "Cash Cab." Fed, safe and warm.

I'll save moving mountains for another day.