X's and Checks

Coming Home from She Speaks was a journey in itself. It's very hard to transition from this amazing mountain top experience, to back to "motherhood". I was ready to go out into the world and save souls! Empower other women! Get going for Him!

But,

The laundry was waiting patiently on me. I know it said, "Hey momma." as I looked at it overflowing from the corner of the room. Yes, I know you too have heard that voice too. Sounds a little like Oscar, from Sesame Street!

Toys were chuckling at me as I stepped over them. Literally one of them said, "VVVRRRRmmmmm, Let's make this house squeaky clean!" (Obviously, Kennedy's vacuum)

Meals awaited cooking and planning. The noodles cried out from the cabinet, "Cook me! Cook me! Cook me!"

And then, there were the fights. The cries. The groans. The complaints. The, "But SHE looked at me!" and "THAT'S M-I-N-E!"

Then there was the mommy guilt factor, letting these girly's slide on just about everything. "That's ok honey, Jesus loves you so much!" (Kiss, Kiss)

But after awhile, suddenly, something came over me. I don't know what happened. Some kind of "possession" for sure! I had enough! The mountain top was finished! And mean mommy came out!

"GIRLS!!!" I cried out to them on the top of my lungs.

Then I suddenly realized I had nothing, and I mean nothing to back up this statement. They quickly swung their little heads wondering where their nice, spirit filled mommy went to. She had disappeared very quickly!

They all three raised their eyebrows at exactly the same time like, "Ya, where are you going with that?"

After a moment of awkward silence, I sat them down. Looked at their big blue eyes that were going, "This ain't my momma, she's just gonna tell us that Jesus loves us. (Kiss, Kiss)". I knew for sure Taylor's were going to roll outta her head.

I began to ask the Lord for a system! A system that brought forth order, respect and kind sweet little girls! And so I got out three pieces of paper. Because, we get real fancy around here with discipline. No-No spoon's and paper.

And so began the check's and x's system of this household. I wanted my girl's to know that every day they have choices. A good choice and a bad choice. Every time they choose to fight, say ugly things or throw balls at my head...that is a bad choice. "X "

Every time they choose to give up for one another, share and give hugs...that's a good choice. "Checks!"

We talked through this system and the girl's were ready to go! Even the Kennyboo was saying, "I want a check!" And for the next few hours, my household became all that a woman dreams of! Quiet, Sweet, Loving and Precious little girly's who just loved Jesus (Kiss, Kiss). (Que la la music)

For a few hours.

Then something happened.

Surely another "possession" of some type! The Kennyboo was...(gasp) MOCKING me! She was prancing around the house, with a caprisun straw, putting X's on EVERYTHING. Like, the refrigerator was suddenly a "ba girl". And the door was a "ba girl". Her shoes, her blocks, you name it...they got an X!

And then I saw what every mother fears. Abusing the baby doll! This is where it starts right? Go ahead and just book me with Dr.Phil now.

She threw her doll into the corner and screamed, "Ba Girl, you get X!" And proceeded to walk her sassy hiney over to the charts and draw an "X", with the caprisun straw!

Clearly, my system has failed.

Aren't you glad that the Lord isn't keeping a tally of x's and check's for us? I am. But if you think of it, we all really do have choices each day. No, no one is keeping tabs, but we do have the choice to be kind to the grocery clerk. Or to not cut off the person driving in front of us. To answer just "one more question" sweetly. To be totally honest about things. To live the life you speak of to others at home.

Each day, we have a choice.

"For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." -Luke 6:38