School days

We have started our school year; in fact we have been at it for a month already.  I didn't get any "1st day of school" pictures yet, but maybe one day soon, I will.  It's been rough settling into a routine this year.  Most of the difficulty stems from my one-year-old, who either screams at me most of the morning, regularly injures himself because of his obsession to climb everything, harasses the brother I am trying to school, or gets into; colors on; *fill in the blank*; everything in sight.

He reminds me a lot of Marcus, who was also very destructive and regularly had me in tears.  Ah, those were the days.  I don't cry much about the very colorful, broken, chaotic mess that my house is now, but this kind of curious kid makes for a hectic attempt at education for sure.

Thankfully, the addition of a gate to keep him out of the dining room and hence off of the table, and a school room with a door have been lifesavers!  I generally have to work with one of my kiddos at a time, with the door to the school room closed, so the others can entertain and keep my 1-year-old occupied.  He does stand outside the door and scream sometimes, but I have to say my older kids are really bringing some sanity to school time.

Their favorite game to play is "tear apart the couches".  Yes, it is as it sounds.  I fought this game for awhile because I actually like to sit on my couches, and I had this idea that I could keep something "nice" in my house.  But, as they say; that was so yesterday!  Conrad likes to play in the forts and tunnels his brothers build, and the ones who are on break from school really enjoy the creativity that comes from this game.

There is so much about motherhood that involves letting go, relaxing, letting go....did I mention not holding on so tightly?  This season forces me to embrace contentment at a whole new level, and to be honest, it is liberating.  I don't really have much "me time", or many "nice things" right now.  And I'm truly okay with that.  God is teaching me to rest and to be content, and while it can be a hard lesson to learn, and one that my flesh fights, I'm glad He's working in my heart.  My kids will only be little once.  I'm trying to remember that in this season.