Tuesday, August 3, 2010

How I Became a SuperMom-In-Training . . .

I know this is going to be hard to take, but it has to be said.
Are you sitting down?
Okay good, now breathe . . . this might come as a shock . . .
I was not always the SuperMom!

Okay.
Now, once you get back into your chair we can continue.

Of course we know that NO one (with the exception of Jesus Christ Himself) is perfect. Perfection is impossible to attain, and really we shouldn't even attempt it. I am not, nor will I ever be perfect.
I'm not even 100% sure I qualify as a SuperMom to tell you the truth.

I was kinda thrown into SuperMotherHood. I'm not complaining, mind you. It was MY choice, and one that I wouldn't trade for the world.
When my husband and I met, we had both recently gotten out of really bad relationships. His ended in a divorce, and mine, while thankfully never even got to the marriage stage, ended up with me as an unwed mother at 28. With his two children and my one child, we were thrown into a family of five, literally overnight.

I had to learn real quick how to cook large meals on a tight budget. I also had to learn how to clean, do laundry, and run a household budget. Needless to say, it was VERY overwhelming.

Ronnie was working evening shifts, so that left me home alone in the evenings with a three year old to feed and put to bed. It wasn't hard, but it was lonely. I really didn't have much time with my husband in those first few months of us living together, especially since they were working a lot of overtime. The depression really set in at that time. I was not the only one suffering from it. My house, my child, and even, to some extent, my husband were experiencing my pain.

The weekends were even worse, because most weekends for the first six months, Ronnie had to work overtime on both Saturdays and Sundays. That would leave me with all the children to tend to by myself for meals and bed.

It was not a happy time for me, and my stress was taking its toll on the children.

Then I started to do something I hadn't done in a long time.
I prayed.
And God led me to a web site that would turn my life around.
(I talk about this site all the time - www.flylady.net )
The Fly Lady's web site really hit home with me.
I watched a Shiny Sink Video and cried.
The tears were cleansing and healing.
That day, I got up and I shined my sink.

Not one week later, my husband was informed that our prayers were answered - he was being moved to days.

While the overtime continued, things improved drastically in our home.
It wasn't long until we decided it was time to have a baby that was ours.

Of course, with pregnancy came hormones, and I'll admit the house really went to shambles again, but I became something. 
I became a mom that DID things.
I was involved with my daughter's pre-school, which was most important at the time.

Now, I am not only involved with my daughter's school activities, but we also have soccer, and my step-daughter has cheerleading this fall. My step son is coming to live with us and he will (possibly) have band activities to boot. 
On top of that, I will be finishing my bachelor's degree this fall.


I have jumped back on the Fly Lady's wagon of hope and my sink shines again. So do my counters, my toilet, and even my bedroom (after many years of it being a wreck - here are the results of THAT!)

But even with all this, I am unafraid.
Because I know that what I have learned from the Fly Lady is immeasurable. 
Marla Cilley has changed my life.
If you would like for her to change yours, first, go visit her web site:
www.flylady.net
Then go buy her book

I would not be the SuperMom I am without her!

5 comments:

Courtney said...

Way to go, Jen! :) I loved reading your story of how you became a SuperMom. :) I think we all have our own little story of how we evolved into who we are today. Mine is a long, drawn-out, exhausting story -- but ends happily! I would love for our kids (and US!) to get together sometime soon. It's been ages...take care, woman!

SuperMom Blues said...

I agree! We need to make plans to hang next time y'all are this way . . . or WE are THAT way! LOL

Shrinking Jeans said...

LOVE this blog post! Great writing! :)

SuperMom Blues said...

Thank you, Teri! I'm following your "new" one now, LOL!

doughraisingmom said...

It is amazing how simply good it makes us feel when we roll up our sleeves and get the job done, whether it is cleaning, laundry, or simply helping our children get a homework project on schedule. Thanks for the post.