totally ok, love. Totally and completely o.k.

love this, friend. so true--the range of emotions is astounding. and even the "coulds" probably wouldn't happen because we wouldn't realize how much a person can actually get done in a day.

oh my gosh. Jenica, this is such a fantastic post.
I think you need to blow that picture up BIG and put it on your wall to remind you that LOVE ECLIPSES ALL THINGS!

be well and um, pee free...

You are very right, very right. Through all the poo, pee, spit up, marker everywhere and the down right chaos, focusing on the big picture gets us through. We are so lucky, very, very lucky.
love you.

Alright... who did it? I'm assuming it was G. Is it bad of me to pinpoint one of your children as a likely pillow pee-er?

Hopefully you can add a new pillow to the list of things you DO have.

I read this this morning and bawled...read it again now and again- sobs. THIS is my struggle right now, that leads to many other struggles. MANY! I don't know why I think of all the things I could be instead of all the things I am...because I am many good things, here and now! It is such a struggle for me. Reminders like this bring me out of it though. It's okay...it really is!

I think I'd rather have the kiddos. Most days.

Absolutely ok. I know this up & down feeling well. So glad I found your blog via Hippy Urban Girl...

:-)

i so know this mama.
all of it.

and i see your arms wide open, heart leading the way.

i am so glad to be traveling with you on this complicated journey.

everyone is meant to be in different places at different times. just remember that your heart has led you to be where you are now, and it's a beautiful, hilarious, loving place that you have created.

love this.. so true.. so true.

I love every bit of this!

I admire your strength, your gratitude, and your ability to see light even when it feels dark.

Sending you big hugs.
Steph
xox

Such a raw, tender moment...thank you for sharing this beautiful.

Oh girl this is beautiful....and the hammock, well Ithink you know what a balm to my soul my hammock is, seeing this pic made my heart swell.

Love the shift you shared with us....

It's tough, and sometimes it suck, but in that little moments when they cuddle up right to you and tell you how much they love YOU just like you are...everything flies out the window and it is just that moment and the lovin....xx

ps: just thinking...not what you want to hear...but do you realise how many women out there envy you YOUR life!? Just sayin :-) xx

What I'd give to remember the hammock more than the peed-upon pillow.

Messy and beautiful... just the way life should be...
I love this picture.

just found your blog via swirly girl - and can so relate to this post as moments ago i just cleaned up poop in my son's room as he refuses the potty. your words resonated deeply today. thank you :) warmly, s

thank you for acknowledging that sometimes as mothers we do experience the "I could be's". I think that people looking from the outside in can easily mistake us for happy little homemakers when in fact our days are so incredibly complex, we are volleying the emotions of one or more children, we are putting others needs first, we are slacking on our own self care. "I could be" statements like yours could easily be misinterpreted as ungrateful for what you have and how you're living... but I can tell you right now... that as a mom who silently breathes those same thoughts on the toughest parenting days- I'm sitting here reading your words and thinking "thank you... thank you thank you thank you..." you took the words right out of my mouth.

Beautiful.

That helps. I was just feeling (again) like nothing is as it should be and my life is too confusing. But I have many blessings, as we all do. Thanks for sharing the good and the bad to show us all that we are in it all together!

Looking forward to seeing you at SAW again.

I LOVE this!
I just happened upon your blog, and am so happy to find another talented blogger :)
I'll be back when I get some more time.
Do come visit me sometime:)