Wise Words

I can really relate to several pages in the Olivia book we recently checked out of the library:

"She is good at lots of things.
She is very good at wearing people out.
She even wears herself out."

Taking care of Maggie is a full-time job . . . and lots of days a pretty good work-out!

• "Zumba" is me zooming over to catch Maggie's scoop of ice cream before it hits the newly-cleaned floor!
• "Spinning" is holding hands with Maggie and spinning around in circles to dance or play Ring around the Rosie.
• The stairs to the second story are my "stairmaster". I go up and down them many times a day to retrieve shoes we've left upstairs, toys we've left downstairs, etc. To add in some strength-training (not by choice!), Maggie often wants me to carry her up the stairs when she wants to be a "baby" or when Biscuit's barking (I don't blame her there). And then sometimes I have to pick her up because she gets half-way up the stairs and won't move!
• Hauling in as many groceries as I can at once is a necessity, so that Biscuit won't flee the house, and Maggie won't flee the driveway!
• My "circuit" is stir the pot, feed the dog, take off the marker lid . . . chop the veggies, put the dog outside, play Barbies. . . wash dishes, tell the dog to stop scratching the door, calm Maggie down. . . rinse and repeat!
• The other day I told Maggie we could play in her little pool in the backyard. I couldn't get the hose attached to the spigot tight enough, though, so I filled the pool bucket by bucket. I felt like getting in it when I was done!
  
• I get my heart rate up pushing Maggie down the street on her tricycle, and then carrying the tricycle back up the hill to our house when she wants to run back.

I am blessed to live the life I do, so I'm not complaining . . . I'm just painting a picture of a day in the life of a stay-at-home mom. As Brendon said, "It's a physical job."

On the last page of the Olivia book, Olivia & her mom are reading a bed-time story.

"When they've finished reading, Olivia's mother gives her a kiss
and says, 'You know, you really wear me out.
But I love you anyway.' "

How true. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to take a nap.