The Joys of Parenting

Having six children, I can safely say that working out side the home definitely detracts from my ability to spend time with my children and really enjoy them for the amazing little individuals they are.  It is very easy to loose patience, over look their uniqueness, and get bogged down in the day to day running of a household.
I try to take time outs, seems to happen mostly on the weekend, where I can do something fun with them. It is not always easy and the "fun" element gets deminished when we are always in a hurry to do things-rushing to the next activity.

This weekend, not unlike all our weekends, is going to be crammed full of things to do.  We have two activities on Saturday, one on Sunday, and oh, yeah- the normal mundane things like LAUNDRY (my arch nemisis) and cleaning. Cub, Boy, and Girl Scouting is time consuming but oh so much cool stuff to take the kids to and let them learn and experience new things. IF ONLY I could do scouting full time.  I think I would really be in my element then.

Evenings at my household consist of the following:
Get home around 5pm, immediately sit at the table upon entering the house and taking off our shoes.  TIME TO DO HOMEWORK and TUTORING.  This lasts HOURS, or at least it has been for the last month it seems.  The end of the first quarter fast approaches and I am praying for a little relief in second quarter. 
Out of my six children, I have four who need help, two that need LOTS of help. Alhamdullah, the joys of parenting, if only I had more time, more energy, more patience....

Sometimes I think the best way to handle things is to allow the children to take breaks.  Life isn't always studying and some of the most valuable lessons in life are not found in books.  So, I try to take them outdoors, to the horses, to the park, just in the yard-children learn best through play afterall, isn't that what research says?

Parenting is, or should be, a joyous thing that is for sure.  I think it is up to us parents to MAKE IT SO. 
Recently I watched an Eddie Murphy movie, IMAGINE THAT.  I thought it was a very nice movie and found myself wishing that all parents see it! It's all about a father-Eddie Murphy-who has lost touch with his inner child and has to learn, the hard way, that he needs to be there for his child and see her for the amazing little person she is. Very nice...It was especially nice because it was more for adults than children and it was a clean movie.  I do not recall a single second were I had to fast forward for fear the kids (and myself) would see something or hear something inappropriate.  I found myself laughing out load many times as well. We all need a good laugh.