Struggling with loads of laundry, clutter in the kitchen and chaos in your life? Stress can easily steal our joy. Trish Berg reminds us to simplify the small stuff and find Joy in the Journey.
When you first think about starting a family, you dont think about the logistics of that decision. You are all wrapped up in holding that precious little baby and the joy you will feel when he holds your finger for the first time.
But as a veteran mom with sixteen years of motherhood (and far too many inches) under my belt, I can tell you that family bedroom logistics become an integral part of your life.
When we had Hannah, it was easy to decorate her nursery. It was in Noahs Ark with an adorable wallpaper border and matching quilt and pillows. When Sydney was born, she moved into the same nursery and Hannah moved out into a big girl bed.
I was pregnant with our third child when we began renovating our old farmhouse. At one point, the wall between our master bedroom and the spare bedroom was removed and Mike and I stood in what could only be called a dream-walk-in-closet and bathroom fantasy.
But reality sunk, and we put selfish desires aside, had the builder close in the wall again, and decided we could live with our tiny, little master bedroom and normal sized closet so we could have four bedrooms for our brood.
When Colin, our only son, was born a few months later, we moved him into a brand new nursery and moved the girls, ages four and two, in together. We painted the girls room pale yellow with daisies on the walls, and they were content to share their space.
As Colin grew, we were given a bunk bed set for him from some friends who were playing musical beds of their own. It was bright red, so we painted his room to match, in a Cleveland Indians theme.
Soon after that, we moved Hannah into her own bedroom, and our house was full to the brim. Each of our three children had their own room, and life was good.
Then I became pregnant with baby number four, and the musical beds game began again. Since Hannahs room was very small, we told the kids that if the baby was a boy, he would share Colins room. If the baby was a girl, she would share Sydneys room. Well, needless to say, Colin hoped for a girl and Sydney hoped for a boy.
Riley was born, and she moved into the yellow daisy room with Sydney where she has been for nearly nine years.
Recently, we realized we had another move to make. Colin had bunk beds, and had no need for two beds being one person. Sydney and Riley were crowded and sure could use bunk beds. So yesterday, we (and by we I mean Mike) disassembled the metal bunk beds and we put all the pieces in the front yard. We spray painted them light blue, and will reassemble them in the girls room later this week.
And the music goes on.
In three years, Hannah will leave for college, and we will move one of the other girls into her bedroom. And when they all go off to college, maybe Mike and I can re-visit the walk in closet idea master bath idea. Hmmm .
When you first think about starting a family, you dont think about the bedroom logistics of that decision. But with each precious child comes a musical bed scenario, and you can only hope to dance to the music and not step on anyones toes.
I just hope I know how to keep dancing.
