Mommy Confessions: Rachel

This week I am touched to have Rachel Witt answer Mommy Confession questions. I met Rachel my first year at Texas Bible Institute while she was an RA in her second year.  I was one of the older students so having leaders younger then me was a challenge but Rachel was amongst the few young leaders that I looked up to and I still do. We served together my first summer for Discovery Camp where she not only worked in the events department she assisted in the worship team.  

After her time at TBI, she followed her call towards mission and traveled to China and Africa.  She met her husband, Jerry Witt during a missions trip to Durango where now they reside and work with the indigenous tribes.  Rachel has four kids under the age of 6, I though having three kids back to back was something but Rachel has four! Admirable for sure…I enjoyed her response and think you will too. 

Are you a Scheduled or Non-Scheduled Mom? What are the benefits and downfalls to your choice? I would say I am in between. I love to organize and plan, but being a mom of 4 and one of those completely breast feeding right now, I have to be very flexible. The benefit to me of not being “too” scheduled is that is has taught me to be less stressful. It has taught me to roll with the punches and it will all play out.

What is your biggest Mommy Pet-Peeve? The kids messing up whatever I just cleaned (luckily they are getting old enough to learn to clean up the way I like it)

Your funniest/most embarrassing “Mom/Child’ moment? My oldest is 6...she told her dad, I am going to talk to Asha (her grandma) only in Spanish today. Dad told her that was great. She said, yeah, I don't want to be weird like mommy! (we live in Mexico, so I guess I am considered weird for not speaking Spanish completely fluent) hah

Given the opportunity, what- if anything- would you do differently as a Mom? I would have started my older ones (6&5) out earlier with learning...sounds, numbers, etc. I just didn't know then of where to start. If you just have some resources it really is simple.

Do you have a secret “Mommy Confession”- something that you did/do that you are willing to share? I am not good at keeping my kids teeth brushed!!! I really need to step that up. haha

Cloth or Disposable Diapers? Disposable diapers

Did the way you were parented shape that way that you parent your own children? Definitely so! I am blessed to have had wonderful parents...my mom is the best person I have ever seen with children. It is her life. I can't imagine what kind of mom I would be without learning from my mom and dad.

What are your “non-negotiables” when it comes to your kids? I guess it would just be with discipline. They will continue to be put in the corner, or get spanked until they obey (dad is even better at this than I am)

What was your biggest fear when you found out you were going to be a Mom? For me it was the whole birthing process. Other than that my children would be the unruly ones that no one wants to be around. haha

Did you breastfeed- why/why not? Did you feel pressure to/not to? Yep, breastfed the 3 girls and am breastfeeding baby boy now. I think it is the best thing for baby. Plus, I HATE washing and boiling bottles! haha. I think it is definitely becoming a pressure in society now, as are many, many things about parenthood. Every parent is in a different situation. Our families are our own little cultures. I believe we should take advice, learn from others, but in the end it comes down to what works best in your family. Way too much mommy competition out there right now in my opinion.

Do you have a funny “labor” moment? Yes. I have had 4 c-sections. On the third I was determined to come out the other side as modest as possible. I was tired of people seeing me naked. So, when it was time to take a shower, I decided I would do it on my own. My husband was gone, my mom went out to walk and I was alone. As I got in the shower I was getting extremely lightheaded and starting to pass out. I yelled out in Spanish for someone to help me and here came the first nurse. Then she sent for another nurse to bring alcohol, then that one sent for the doctor, and on it went. By the time it was said and done, there were about 4 nurses and my doctor looking at me naked and carrying me to my bed. Epic fail 

What is your “secret” addiction or obsession? Well, when all the family is in bed and I just want to sit down and chill, I like to watch anything Kardashian (hey, I am in Mexico and the shows that come out in English are limited and I don't like watching in Spanish when I want to relax....hehe) and when I allow myself, the guilty pleasure of ice cream, chocolate syrup and peanut butter!

Mommy Confessions: Joni

I am excited to share with you today mommy confessions from my friend, Joni Watson.  I have enjoyed getting to know her and even more excited as we continue to build our friendship.  Our husbands are on the District PTA Board for the school district where are children attend.  She just moved into a new home over the summer where she has tackled some great decorating projects with the help of Pinterst! I have referred her blog to all my nurse friends and believe you would enjoy it as much as I have so stop by Nursetopia to learn from her.  

She describes herself as follows: A nurse serving the underserved. RN, MSN, MBA, OCN, wife, mom, Christ lover, shoe junkie, reader, blogger, runner, & oh, so much more.  

Labor with drugs or without drugs?

Labor *with* drugs. I'm a nurse, and this is a hot-topic even among nurses. I personally don't think you have to endure pain to understand childbirth, and medications are titrated pretty well these days so anesthesia complications to mom and baby are rare. It's my personal opinion, but one I hold near and dear. 3 kiddos, 3 epidurals, 3 fabulous deliveries. Thank you, Lord, for the wisdom and miracle that is anesthesia!!

What is the best piece of advice you could give to a new Mother?

The best piece of advice I'd give to a new mom is soak. it. up. Every bit of it. The spit stains, the coos, the sweet smell of that baby that was designed only for you, the hugs, the sleepless nights - soak it all up. Savor the moments God gives you and stop looking for life to start. We get so caught up in "oh, it will be better when..." or "I will do that when..." When is NOW. Live.

What is something you said you would NEVER do with/to your children, that you have found yourself doing?

I told myself I would never do the "I'm going to count to three" thing. I do it all the time. Yeah, yeah, all the parenting advice says don't do it. Meh. The youngest one it doesn't really work for, but my older two...well, I rarely get to two these days. Whatever works. 

Did you breastfeed- why/why not? Did you feel pressure to/not to?
I actually did not breastfeed, and yes, I felt an enormous pressure to do so. I actually tried with each of my three kiddos. *Numerous* lactation consultants and friends and nurses helped me; it just didn't work for us, and I was so stressed out the entire time. As soon as I resolved that my kids would be fine with formula and allowed myself not to breastfeed (and released the guilt I had piled upon myself), life was so much better. It was the worst with my first child and gradually became easier, but I did try with each of my kids, and I did feel guilty each time. Turns out, they are okay. Man, I stressed myself out there for a while, which doesn't make for a happy household with all those hormones trying to regulate. 

Trusting Mother

Being a mother has stretched me into corners I have never been in.  I really never thought of what kind of mom I would be or not be.  Other then saying, “If I have kids I would like 2 boys” I really did not daydream of having kids. The last couple of weeks I have felt myself residing on the edge again.  I am ready for kids to be in school so we can have a routine.  However I want to end the summer on a high note and not falling off the edge. 

Usually it is when I am feeling out of control that I get intense and feel like I cannot handle anymore.  The constant repeating myself, the constant telling kids to hurry or the constant picking up seems to be my kryptonite.  Loosing control and not trusting brings frustration.  God asks us to trust Him and to allow His control to take over.  How does this apply with me being a mom?  

Where there is love there is no fear, perfect love casts out fear, I John 4:18.  When we give up control in any area of our life fear can settle in allowing frustration to make itself at home.  Yes, even when we want the kids to pick up their toys the first time we are at control.  It is like when we want ‘more patience’ we should actually slow ourselves down so we can walk in patience. So allowing ourselves to give over control we can actually find it in trusting God.  I like what Joyce Meyer writes on this, “Instead of trying to control, I needed to learn to trust God, pray, and believe in Him. Most of all, I needed to abide in His love".

I honestly believe that love conquers all. And as whimsical it may sound I believe that love will conquer my desire for control over a clean spotless house.  Not sure if I even make sense in what I am trying to say other then I need allow love to take control, allow love to cast out all fear that comes from my own frustrations.  Being a mother is tough but being a mom is all about love.   I must and do trust that God gave me three wonderful kids because He trusted me with them! If anything this post just reminds me of the following scripture:

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

   don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

   he's the one who will keep you on track.

Don't assume that you know it all.

   Run to God!

Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)

Amen! I am encouraged to turn my control into God’s hands and I pray that you too are encouraged that Love Conquers All!

Motherhood should come with...

Linking up with Gypsy Mama's blog 5 minute Friday : Motherhood Should Come with....

• Got five minutes? Let’s write. Let’s write in shades of real and true and unscripted.

• Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not.

Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.

 Go

Love, joy, instructions, patience?  How do we fill that in? We need them all but maybe because of where I am today I would say understanding.  Understanding for each person around and affected by motherhood.  As mother we know that there is change, a growth within us towards ourselves and for those that know us.  Husbands do not seem to go through this ever so quick in your face change so we need understanding.  We need understanding on both sides, me to him and him to me.  Understanding towards the kids as we were them once, making our parents late because we thought putting a shirt on a teddy bear was important.  I do not remember trying to make my parents late on purpose or even them getting on to me to hurry so with that I have to understand that the three kids before me are not doing anything on purpose.  I do not understand motherhood yet except that I love my kids with all my heart.  I understand that this love I have for them overtakes any other emotion I may experience as ‘what happened to life before kids’ or ‘why is this hard’.  I understand that motherhood is important as I learned so much from my mother who gave me tools to keep my house together.  Even in understanding we may not understand so we just need to trust.  Who do we trust? Each other Motherhood is a full world with many parts that could use understanding in each.  Let us understand through love as love conquers all! 

Stop