The HARDEST part of Parenting

(In the "littles" phase anyways...)

It's not the tantrums, it's not the colds, it's not the messes, it's not the lack of sleep, and no, it's not losing the precious "me" time.

The hardest part of parenting is feeling the judgment of others. 

Whether it's from a close family member or some dude in the cereal isle, it's hard to ignore the deep anxiety that ensues within when your child has a hard time in front of others. You're scared that they think you are an unfit or inadequate parent, but what's even harder is feeling like someone is judging your child; that they're bad mannered, or something is wrong with them. It's just the worst feeling, and as much as I'd love to say it's all in one's own mind thinking they're judging us when they aren't, let's be honest - they are. I've done it, especially before having my own kidlets. You've done it too I'm sure. From Facebook post sharing of self-righteous parenting do's and do not's, from a blogpost pin on Pinterest, from swimming pools to the public playground; We judge. We judge, and it's AWFUL that we do this. Unless there is some serious red flags regarding abuse that need reporting or a direct involvement with your child, we have no right to pridefully disapprove someone's parenting of their own young.

I'm not saying this is the only only reason, for there are many, why I'm somewhat of a hermit - shutting myself in with my kids, but... it's definitely one of the reasons. Staying in my own home away from public is just so much more empowering for me as a mother to raise, teach, and love my darlings the way I feel is best. I feel completely secure in how I'm helping them grow when I'm away from the judgement or perceived judgment from others.

Sometimes I think people genuinely feel that by giving advice without being asked it is doing a parent a kindness. However, I feel that parents are a lot more assertive than people give credit and if they are struggling and want advice, they will most definitely ask for it first.


Oh, and also putting jeans on a squirmy baby, that's pretty hard too... it may be a tie for that one.

Heaven's slice is training yourself to stop judging other parents and finding ways to not care about what others think of our own parenting.

Challenge Accepted!

So recently the hubs and I had an interesting meal time together ...

It was decided that we'd have to sing anything we spoke and whoever messed up first (speaking without a tune) had to go to the gas station to get a slurpee. Now though I do kinda like going to get slurpees (as I've mentioned before), the thought of having to put on socks, AND shoes, AND a coat just didn't feel like something I wanted to do at the time (I'm a little lazy...); I was in it to win it! Which, may I add was NOT an easy thing considering there was a two year old standing on her chair not eating her supper that we had to sing sternly to 'pleeeeeease sit dooooown and eat your supperrrr.' How authoritative do you think we sounded to her? I was pretty impressed though, we made it an entire 15 minutes!

Guess who won?...
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I love how immature we are.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Heaven's slice is winning!

Has anyone seen my kids?!

I swear they were on the couch a second ago....

and now they're not there...











Oh wait...

There they are!!



 (And yes, she is in the adorable cheesy grin phase and we love it!)











Heaven's slice is cream cable knit, red plaid, and camouflaging one's self.

I Want A Tophent!

Every morning my 2 year old daughter would declare this as she sat down for breakfast. I had no idea what the heck a tophent was! Through sad tears of misunderstanding and a lot of thoughts and guessings by me, I finally figured out what this word meant. A tophent is a 'Talk from the Prophet.' Honestly, I think it's a wonderful condensed version of what it is and feel that my daughter is a bit of a genius for coming up with it. You see, I had missed watching some general conference talks from the October 2015 General Conference and had been catching up by watching them on the iPad during breakfasts with her. Once I was caught up, that breakfast routine stopped, and that is when my daughter started protesting that she wanted a tophent.

I can't fully express how much I love general conferences and words from our modern day prophets through the talks they give. No matter the session, no matter the prophet giving it, I always gain something needed for my soul. Whether it's humility, gratitude, hope, peace, strength, comfort, security, ambition, motivation, or just a greater perspective, I receive it. 

I am so grateful for modern day revelation that is given through prophets of god that can give us the knowledge and insight to aid us in understanding more of Christ's teachings. To live in an era where prophets exist and can help guide us to where we desire to be is truly blessed. It's being given a flashlight in the dark night of the world.

Heaven's slice is prophets and modern-day revelation.

Love your babies.

As I interviewed my Grandma, I relayed the next question on my sheet, "What do you love the most about parenting?" Her answer: "My babies." This statement effortlessly fumbled out of her mouth quicker than any other questions I asked. I held it together as I swallowed the lump in my throat, averting the scene I was about to create.

This incident was many weeks ago, yet the thought of it still haunts my heart. That gleam on her beautifully familiar face gave way to the great genuinity of her answer. Her babies. She loved her babies. This woman bore 8 children with birthdays ranging from 26 months apart to just shy of 12 months apart. This woman had to wash cloth diapers by hand with hauled water whilst carefully managing the preparations of cows milk for her babe's feeding supplement because she wasn't able to nurse. And yet, this woman still looks back on the years she held those little bundles as her favourite cherished moments.

The words love your babies keeps whispering to me as I stare at my baby boy.

There are too many harsh commentaries from today's exhausted mother. Too many rants about how hard it is. Too many platforms encouraging negative dialogue about how babies make life difficult.
It's 1 year, really. 1 year. You have a baby 1 year. 1 year you will never have again. You'll get a toddler for 2-3 years, a child 5-6 years, teenager 6 years, an adult, well, forever. BUT, you will never have that baby again. How precious, and sadly fleeting, a phase is the baby.

You only get 1 year. Make the most of it. It's true, they won't remember the rockabyes, the peekaboo's, the snuggles, the late nights, the early mornings, the messes, the giggles, the kisses, but YOU will. Even 60-70 years down the road, you will still remember.

Enjoy their little fingers and toes that grab, kick, and flutter. Enjoy those soft squishy cheeks and the sound of their breath and cries that settle into your ear. Enjoy those most innocent piercing eyes that seem to peer inside your soul. Enjoy this precious fleeting phase and love your babies.

Heaven's slice is loving her baby.

Annoyances

that I secretly kinda love:


A cry in the middle of the night from one of my children. The reason why is because when it initially happens I have to guess which child it's coming from and I just get really giddy anxiously anticipating the next squirm to reveal the true culprit. It's oddly satisfying to be unsure which one of my children is calling out for some love. May be because it enforces the realization of the blessing that I have not only 1, but 2 children!  How lucky am I?!!!

Grocery shopping. It's like a 4-5 hour event with my littles, and I always go in with the intention of not having to go back for a month (never happens) due to my frugal nature, but I always enjoy the day that comes out of it. I get my baby close and my toddler to teach and have fun with. I went grocery shopping solo for the first time in a million years (k, may be only a couple) and though it was super quick and efficient, it wasn't very joyful. I cherish the conversations I get to have with my little ones staring back at me in the shopping cart; it's just a fun day.

Filling up with gas. I really don't know why this is, may be because as a teenager the local gas station was where all the socializing and cool kids were at so I still feel oober cool being there... or may be probably it's the prospect of a coke slurpee... Either way, I really like it.

The end of a cold. Let me be clear - I HATE COLDS an insane amount. When my throat hurts it's like possibly the worst psychological turmoil I can handle without divine intervention. That being said, you know the tail end of a cold where your throat is perfectly fine and wonderful and your nose is only somewhat runny? There's this brief period where your face feels like a permanent post sneeze just occurred and it feels FANTASTIC.

Toys in my bedroom. When I stumble upon some toy in my bedroom at the end of the day after the kids are asleep it's like they carved their name yet again onto another side of my heart declaring:"I was here."

A teething baby. My boy is in this stage and oh how I'm adoring it! He's a little more clingy, unhappy, drooly, and wants to eat a lot more, but there's these particular precious moments that I just love. I love the "NOM NOM" part of teething! When I go to hold or kiss him and he aggressively goes to bite me with his drooly gums on anything he can get a hold of, it just puts a big ol' smile on my face. In particular, I love it when he goes straight in for my cheek. I can't explain it, I just adore it!




Heaven's slice is seeing the rose amongst the thorns.

Every Month a New Year

A new year has commenced and I've got goals on the mind.

Over the past year or two I've noticed that there's something special about a 30 day time frame. For me, it's just short enough to keep my interest and motivation whilst also being just long enough to tackle a great feat.

Every month I am choosing 1 goal, 1 weeker, and 1 task/project to accomplish.

Goal = Something MAJOR that will be your primary focus for the month. Something like 465 things gone, memorizing something lengthy that's of great importance to you, or a certain book read...things like that.

Weeker = A 7 day daily regimen of something you want to or feel you should do, but are scared of commitment and/or too scatter brained to remember. Think things like flossing, drinking 8 glasses of water, taking only stairs for work, or getting dressed before noon... 7 days isn't overbearing, so you will probably actually do it. At the end of the 7 day trial you can then decide to take it or leave it. You have 4 weeks to squeeze in your 7 consecutive days to trial it. Once you do it you can take on another weeker for the month, or only do the 1, whatever you wish.

Task/project = Something you've been wanting to get done, but haven't for whatever reason. It's not something big, but something that does require a little time set aside.

This is your new year in a month. You're going to make it simple by having it few, but it's going to make a big impact.

Repeat for the next month.

Can you imagine what you'll be able to accomplish in 12 months!?! I just love it when productive ideas fall into my head!

With simplicity as my need and accomplishment as my desire, this progressed it's way into binder form. If you're interested, this is what I made to help me with this New Month = New Year project:

Materials

1 binder

   dividers (# depends on your personal categories)

1 plastic sleeve

1 bundle of loose sleeve paper

A list of your interests (faith, family, home, writing - limit them to what is MOST important to you) *must include Goals

Step 1 Write in alphabetical order your interests. Then write one on each tab.

Step 2 Put in the tabs with paper in between each into the binder.

Step 3 Put the plastic protecter with a page inside stating the Month on top then 'Goal', 'Weeker,' and Task/project' down the side.

Optional: Make it cute and put those Pinterest board quotes to good use!

How to use it:

You will write in your divided sections many things pertaining to the subject: wants, things to remember, any and every scribble you whimsy.

From those sections you are going to pull things you really want done and put it under your 'Goals' section.

From your 'Goals' section you are going to pull 1 hefty goal, 1 simple weeker, and 1 task/project to write on your month page that's in front of the binder. This way, your goal will be the first thing you will see every time you open the binder to jot a note down.

* Side note - Keep those month sheets so you can look over your accomplishments come the new year!

Heaven's slice is bettering yourself through goals.