Bathroom Breaks, What I Know For Sure & #iPPP

This sign arrived at the perfect moment this week, 
isn't it amazing?
More details on where I got it and a giveaway coming in the next few weeks, stay tuned.

Earlier in the week, I was a mess.  I was waving the white flag.  I was giving up.  The kids were taking over the house with their not listening, their bickering, their I-never-get-to's and their why-do-I-always-have-tos.  It was too much--too much whining, too much noise, too much chaos.  I hid in the bathroom and cried.  The crazy, loud kids were standing on top of the couch cushions, which were strewn about the living room floor, claiming victory.  Chanting and cheering about their successful coups. If you are picturing a scene from The Lord of the Flies you are picturing it about right.

A friend of mine told me once about how she grew up down the street from a large, Catholic family with about 10 kids.  She said somedays she would be there playing and she would see the mother go around the corner in the kitchen and say "Oh Mary, Mother of Sweet Jesus" over and over and over.  She told me she was so confused as a kid, but now as a mom, she totally gets it. I get it too.

I wish I could tell you I was praying while I was hiding in the bathroom, but it's just not the case.  I was saying as many swear words as I could in a row, sort of an F word mantra.

My little break helped.  After five minutes of f-ing in the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face and headed out to dethrone the children.  

We went outside, we played with the dog, we explored, we focused on the good in the world.  Blue skies, trees to climb, puffy clouds that tell stories.  Running, skipping, climbing, racing.  Holding hands, piggy-back rides, bike rides, scooter rides.  

I love my children with all my heart and soul, but parenting is hard work.  I've always believed in the power of prayer, bathroom breaks and the F word with a capital F (not around the kids of course) to cope.  Fresh air helps too.  Even on the hardest, most challenging days of parenting, there are good moments, I know that for sure.

Here's what else I know for sure (this week):

• There are a lot of reasons I love my husband, and this is one of them--the moment he was sewing a skirt on Lulu's American Girl doll at Peyton's baseball game.  He and Lulu designed the skirt.  He was proud and happy to be spending time with his daughter while watching his son play ball.  I mean, right? He's amazing.

• I fell more in love with Dustin Hoffman this week too.  I'm sure you've seen this video, but watch it again or show it to a man you know.  It really is pretty incredible.  I love the honesty.

• Did you see my post about free bowling earlier in the week?  It's a sweet deal and there are no strings...it's free and it's bowling and it's fun, check.it.out.  Click here for info.

• This is a funny mash up of the "song of the summer" Blurred Lines and The Cosby Show.  

• Two things I love about summer the most: reading on the front porch to the kids and the pool.  

We just finished Where the Red Fern Grows and now we're starting the Harry Potter series.  Peyton has read all the books twice, but still sits and listen and I love that.

Almost every good memory I have as a kid revolves around a pool.  And now I get to relive it with my kids. I love pool days.

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. How do you cope on the hard days of parenthood? Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

  Please come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

I'm linking up today with my friends Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Sarah from SundaySpill.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones.  

Check them out.