Ten Things...

As many of you are well aware--because It has taken over my LIFE!!-- I have now entered the world of payroll. After eleven years. That has distinct disadvantages--no life, no free time, no clean house (oh, wait...I didn't have that to begin with)--you get the picture.

But it has distinct perks, too. And I am not just talking about the payroll part. And maybe it is just my particular job and the wonderful people that I work with, but the verbal affirmation that I have received this past week has been amazing. What we do as wives and mothers is no less amazing, but sometimes, those verbal affirmations don't get expressed to us as we do those jobs. So, in that vein--here are ten verbal affirmations that I have received this week, that I want to pass on to you, for what you do every day.

1. Your families are so lucky to have you. My job--in a nutshell--is being available to help families as they educate their children at home. YOUR families are incredibly--not lucky--BLESSED to have you. Your children are blessed. Your husband is blessed. No one else cares about your family the way you do.


2. That is a great question/excellent point. Your perspective, the things you wonder, your "what ifs", your experiences and your observations are invaluable to your family.


3. I am wowed by your awesome record keeping. I am TRULY wowed by all of your awesome record-keeping. Your blogs, your pictures, your scrapbooks, the cards you send, the schedules you juggle...I'll bet you know where all of the social security cards, immunization records, insurance information, doctors' phone numbers are--not to mention where to find the batteries, extra lightbulbs, and the warranty to the TV you bought 4 years ago!


4. I know you are overwhelmed. It will get better. This is an amazingly TOUGH job. It won't be like this forever. The kids will get older, the house will stay cleaner, the husband?--well, two out of three isn't too bad :0)


5. You are doing an excellent job! You are all doing an EXCELLENT job. Your kids are amazing, your husbands are happy, and your friends feel your love. And for some of you--you do all of this and carry a payroll job. For others of you--you do all of this with out the break of a payroll job!


6. Let me help you with this. I am actually very blessed to hear this often from people in my life. I am really bad about accepting it. You are not alone--there are people who want to help.


7. Excellent--way to think "outside of the box"--"We are problem-solvers!!!" You guys can make an entire costume out of a trashbag, masking tape, and a toilet paper tube. You make power outages fun, you make paper dolls out of candy wrappers, and manage to make dinner when all that is in the fridge is a carton of eggs, a half-eaten cantaloupe and a package of hamburger buns. Or you go to Wendy's. Either way--your family gets fed.


8. Talking to you has made me feel so much better! Your kids may not say this to you--but it is true. Your husbands may not always say this to you, but it is true for them, as well. And it is very true for me. Talking to all of you makes me feel so much better!


9. I know this is a big change for you. How is it going? Every day is a change from yesterday. Being married is a huge change from being single--having kids is a huge change from not having them. Staying home for some is a huge change and sacrifice. For others, working and balancing family is a huge change and sacrifice. How IS it going?


10. Thank you. I can't count the number of times I have heard "Thank you" this week. Thank YOU--for your concern for your families... for what you do for them...for what you give up... for what you offer...for taking this on... for going the distance...for caring so much.

Have a great weekend!