EXHAUSTION!

I am exhausted....as in really, really, really, really, really tired. This has been a very busy "season" of life. My "Super Mom" role is stretched to maximum capacity. In my exhaustion, I am doing my best to approach everything with an attitude of thankfulness. In my exhaustion, I am doing my best not to judge others who are not spinning nearly as many plates as I am, but complain to me about their exhaustion. After all, there are Super Moms who spin way more plates than I do..and they do it with grace and humility. 

"Plates" I Spin (in no particular order):
-Wife
-Mother to 4
-Homeschooler (part-time.....my kids attend a school where they go to school 2.5 days a week and are schooled at home 2.5 days a week)
-Working part-time (10 hours a week)
-Soccer mom (including getting 4 kids to 7 soccer practices a week, 4 games on Saturdays, Team Mom for one team, etc.....)
-Cooking
-Cleaning
-Laundry
-Grocery Shopping
-Nurse to my Mom (she had open heart surgery one week ago)
-Starting a church (my husband is starting a new church in our area starting in October)
-Managing our household budget/banking
-Sister
-Friend
-Taking care of my awesome dog
-Taking son to fencing (yes...the kind with swords)
-Helping son with Cub Scouts
-Believer in Christ

A friend told me that I am in the "sandwich" generation, I have a parent who needs my care and young children who need my care. In my exhaustion, there are times when I feel like I am needed by everyone, everywhere, all at the same time. If I listed all of the smaller plates I spin for each big plate (ex: there are many subcategories of "homeschooler")...I am pretty sure I would self-combust. In my exhaustion, I also lose some details of things I do....I think it is a defense mechanism. :0)

How do I cope? I do my best to be thankful...
-I am married to an incredible man.
-I have 4 beautiful, healthy children.
-I get to have time with my kids....a gift that can never be replaced.
-I have a job.
-My kids have interests that make them happy and we can afford to put them in.
-We have food (most of which is healthy).
-I have a home to clean.
-We have plenty of clothes to wear.
-We have money to buy groceries.
-My Mom lives with us, so I can care for her....that is a gift.
-It is a huge blessing to be part of starting a new church that will bless the lives of many.
-We have money that needs to be budgeted.
-I have a brother who is loving and funny.
-I have incredible gal pals who encourage and support me.
-My dog is the best.
-Fencing may lead to a college scholarship someday.
-Cub Scouts offers wonderful opportunities for my son.
-Jesus....sustains me when...............I am exhausted.

A tip for Super Moms everywhere.....we all spin lots of "plates". There may be times when the amount of plates, and the weight of the plates, take all of our strength, energy, and focus. So, be sure to use "paper" plates....they are light weight and don't break when you drop them.

What does that mean? When Super Moms are spinning all of their plates, trying to keep everything going, don't focus on the tasks involved with each "plate" (that makes them very heavy), focus on the blessing of each plate....it makes them lighter. When you drop a plate.....when you forget to pick up snacks for the soccer team, forget to sign paperwork for school, or tell your younger son to wear a pair of your older son's underwear because you did not get to do the laundry yet (yes, this happened in our home this week)....just know it will be okay. When you use paper plates (instead of fine china) no matter how many plates you drop....they will not shatter. Pick them back up, and keep spinning. 

A true Super Mom is not someone who never drops a plate.....it is a fabulous gal who admits her limits and picks her dropped plates up off the floor and just starts spinning them again.