A Once-Prepared Mommy

At one time I planned to be an excellent mother. I was going to schedule my kids' days-- have regular meals, snacks, arts & crafts time, music time, etc. I even spent a good deal of money stocking a craft box so we'd have projects to do.

That was back when my boys were four and two and Mazie was an infant. The schedule lasted a few months, our lives changed, and I never quite got that organized again. Instead, my life was scheduled for me by school, soccer practice, the baby's naps, etc. However, today I'm grateful for the once-prepared Mommy who stocked that craft box.

Yesterday after swimming lessons and a trip to the library, my kids were still bouncing off the walls, and no amount of coaxing could get them to stay outside very long. In a fit of desperation, I climbed into our storage cubby and pulled out the old craft box. It has been a few years since I've even opened the lid. I had no idea what was in there anymore. But, hooray! It was a jackpot. We found foam hearts onto which the kids glued sequins. There were Oriental Trading craft kits of Joseph and his coat of many colors, which were way too hard. We bagged the many colored pipe-cleaners and decorated his coat with glitter glue. I also found canvas purses that I bought in a dozen and made for my nieces one Christmas. There were still five left and plenty of dangly beads to put on them, so when I get some tacky glue, I can make purses for my girls.

The kids were planning more crafts for today. Dylan wants to make beaded necklaces. (Got that one covered, since beading is one of my many crafting obsessions.) Mazie found farm animal stamps and a stamp pad, which she is planning to use today. Ethan found foam shapes to glue onto his heart instead of sequins.

I remember my husband harassing me when I spent about sixty dollars buying kids craft stuff online. It seemed like such a waste of money, but now I realize that sixty bucks is a small price to pay for a few days of SANITY!