A young girl I’ll call Maggie pulls out one of her Barbies. It’s one of the Disney Prince Charmings–a Prince Charming that has clearly been passed through the hands of most–if not all–of the 4 girls as he is balding (his black hair rubbed off near his forehead), missing a leg, and without his princely garments.

Maggie gives Prince Charming to me. “Here you go.”

“Uhh, thanks. Actually, I have been looking for a Prince Charming.”

“You wouldn’t care that he doesn’t have one of his legs?” Maggie asks, genuinely surprised.

“No, that wouldn’t bother me,” I respond truthfully.

“And naked?” she responds in disgust.

“Well, not until the wedding.”

I ask Maggie where my real prince charming is. She and her sisters proceed to offer up all the “available” men they can think of: several teenagers, a few married men, and their brother (I politely tell him that he can look me up in 20 years, causing him to blush).

When their list of eligible men was exhausted, I ask Maggie to look me in the eyes.

In a serious tone I tell her, “I do hope to get married some day, but even if I never do, I will continue to live each day happy.”

Her shock was obvious. At 6, she already is so ready to get married. “But that means you can’t have children!”

I fight back tears as I whisper, “I know.”

But her brain didn’t stop there, just like mine doesn’t. She delightfully gives her conclusion, “But if you had kids, you couldn’t watch us!”

I give Maggie a big hug. Yes, Maggie, I know.

As expected, I have a great respect for moms out there…especially moms of large families!  I’ve done a lot of refereeing as well a lot of “I’m not your mama so I’m not cleaning up the water you spilled/picking up the blanket you dropped/doing your chores for you.”

It’s great to have that excuse.

I was really concerned that Sunday morning was going to be a nightmare. Not the case: not only did I feel rested enough waking up at 6:15 (possibly with a little help), we actually arrived at church 10 minutes early. I don’t know how that happened.

The kids really have been great. I love seeing how they’ve matured over the years I’ve known them. The oldest two made lunch AND dinner today with little help. The “man of the house” was genuinely concerned for me, as he kept hearing me coughing and sneezing.

Coughing and sneezing? Oh, yeah. It’s spring allergy season! I’ve struggled all week to some extent, but today was the worst. I melted into the couch this afternoon, allowing my body to be used as a cushion, a jumping off point, and a sounding board. It’s awesome having five little servants to ask you to get this or that, and to have a couple kids old enough to get this or that for their younger siblings!

I’m afraid the allergy-brain is encouraging me to ramble on, sorry. Now for some funnies:

The youngest girls played baptism in the bathtub with their Barbies. Baptist style: full immersion baptism on adults.

I brought my growing cucumber plants with me, as they’re still quite portable. I’m glad I did, because the kids love them (well, except the unknown one who put their used water bottle in the container!). The youngest calls them my “flower babies.

One shall-remain-nameless child loudly whispered during the sermon, “Miss Ronnica, I have two holes in my underwear. Oh, never mind, there’s just one.”

I’ll post again tomorrow!

From this Saturday to next Saturday, I’ll be playing mom to 5 kids, ages 4 to 10.

I’ve had these kids overnight a couple of times, but at 8 days, this is obviously much longer than a simple overnight. I’ve known this family of 4 girls and a boy since the the oldest was in kindergarten, so we’re accustomed to each other. I think I’ve had a battle of the wills with at one time or another at least the oldest 4 (which I always win…at least in the end), so that’ll be nothing new.

Since next week is also the last week of tax season, I will be working my normal schedule. So I get to play not only mother but working mother to 5. I’m not sure if that makes it easier or harder for me…I think it’ll be good that we’re not spending 24/7 with each other.

I’m glad that I get to bless this family as they prepare to start a church plant in Chicago (the destination of the parents’ week-long trip). This is one of the best things about being single and childless–I have more flexibility to serve others.

The kids are so excited, and I must admit that I am too. I know it will be a lot of work, but I enjoy being with kids. There will of course be arguments to referee and talking back, but there will also be cuddles and smiles and sweet words.

What do you think the chances are that they’ll let me sleep in until my usual 8 AM (or later) wake-up time?

Side note: I have wondered what would happen to my blog if I die.  Not that I’m morbid or anything, but I’m not promised a single day more of life on this earth, so I don’t want to presume God will let me live until I’m 100.  Perhaps I should put my wishes for my blog in a will.  I’d hate for my last post to be one like this or this.  I’d hope to have something truly meaningful as my last blog words, you know?

End side note.

Yesterday was an ending because it was my last day teaching kindergarten Sunday School after 4 1/2 years.  I’ve had 5 different classes of students, each with their own style, and I’ve enjoyed each and every one of them.

I wasn’t looking to leave the kindergarten class.  While I’ve made no secret of the fact that it wasn’t my favorite age group, I was happy to be where I was needed.  I liked being in the same class year after year, as it’s something the kids look forward to after hearing their older siblings talk me up.

But one thing led to another, and I’ll now be teaching Sunday School for 5th and 6th grade girls.  I’ve asked several of the girls in that group what they would think about me being their teacher, and they loved the idea.  Always makes you feel good, because I love them too.

I actually wasn’t set on this move (I had other options) until Kids’ Camp.  Spending time with that age group reminded me of why I love it so much.  I have a few weeks before we start, but I’m already excited for it.

After 5 years of kindergarten, I’m finally graduating!

Photo by cryptic_star

Early Morning and Late Night Babysitting!

Anyway, one way that this passion comes out is that I teach the kindergarteners at church geography when we learn about missions and the like.  They all know where Turkey is, no problem, but the use of our world map has interested them in learning about more places.

This past Sunday, a couple of boys were eagerly looking over the map and finding places that they knew.  One boy astonished me by finding Bulgaria on the map and saying, “Hey, you could go there when you’re in Turkey since it’s so close.”  I believe I’m above-average at geography, but even I only knew that Bulgaria was somewhere in Eastern Europe.

Later, they showed their childlike eagerness again and said, “Look!  We’ve found China!”

Only problem was that they were pointing at Canada, hehe.

So, I gently corrected them, told them that China was in Asia, and pointed out the big area that was Asia.  On their second try, they identified the right country.

I just love that they were excited to find the places they’ve learned about.  Later in the lesson I took some time to show all the children pictures of my past visits to Turkey so they could get an idea of what the country is liked.

Seeing the women with their hair covered, one little boy asked in all seriousness, “Are the women bald?”

Oh, to have the eagerness to learn like a child.

Photo by ToastyKen

Child: When are you going?

After Party on the Block (our Halloween alternative…helps the kids know that it’s still in the future).

Child: Are you coming back?

Yes, I’ll be coming back.

Child: How long will you be gone?

I’ll be gone for one Sunday (I’ll be gone Friday, November 6th until Saturday, November 15th).

Child: Will you go to jail?

If they put me in jail, they will get in a lot of trouble.

Child: How will you get there?

By three planes…one of which will take from now (it was about 10 AM) until dinnertime.

Child: What time of day will it be when you come back?

In the evening, I think.

That’s what the children wanted to know about my trip, what do you want to know?

Though I’ve only had the oldest 3 in my Sunday school class, Tweedle Dee 4 (4yo girl) has always been particularly attached to me.  She continued that this weekend by crawling up into my lap any chance she got.

Friday night we watched Star Wars VI, and I awed the kids with my Star Wars knowledge as they bombarded me with questions, especially about the earlier movies that they haven’t seen.  I promise I’m not a geek…I just enjoy the movies and have seen them each a few times.  I got to explain what a clone was to them…that was fun.  I even used Star Wars (again) to explain different life truths…I promise I use the Bible occasionally, too!

All Tweedle Dees went to bed without a problem, and I didn’t hear a peep out of any of them all night (though that may have been because I kept them up later than they’re used to).  The hope was that they’d sleep a little later in the morning, but I was still awoken at 6 to Tweedle Dee 5.  I was thankful that it was still dark because she was easily convinced when I told her it was still nighttime and she needed to go back to bed.  I wasn’t so lucky when Tweedle Dee 4 woke up at 6:30, but she was fine with playing in the living room by herself after I threatened her not to make noise to wake up her siblings.

After that, I was able to “sleep in” until 7, which is still slightly before my usual wake-up time.  Luckily, the youngest two were easily appeased with getting to lay in bed with me, so that gave me a little bit more rest.  Tweedle Dee 3 (6yo, and the only boy) shocked me by continuing to sleep after all the girls were awake and being typically loud children only feet from where he was sleeping.   My attempt to get some more  ZZZs while they were occupied with a movie didn’t work, because they proceeded to wake me up anytime they saw me close my eyes.

I brought them each an activity or coloring book with me, but I kept that a secret until mid-morning, only letting them know I had a surprise for each of them if they behaved.  Of course, it was strategic for me as well to give them something they can do quietly!

Everything went well until I dared to take them to the playground late Saturday morning.  Tweedle Dee 1 got blisters from the monkey bars and absolutely fell apart, causing the dominoes to continue to fall as each other child had a breakdown of their own.  Fortunately, I thought on my feet and after filling them up with food, I instituted 30-minutes of absolute silence, which allowed me and one child at a time to clean up the apartment.

Cute moments:  Around the lunch table, Tweedle Dee 1, 2, and 3 were coming up with all the phrases they knew in other languages.  Then, Tweedle Dee 3 said, “Wichita.”  I was surprised he said it, but he said that in their AWANA Sparks book, apparently a character buys a ticket to the place of my birth (I don’t actually think that’s why they go, but you never know).  That led into a discussion of Kansas, since Tweedle Dee 1 is studying The Wizard of Oz at school.  I always love sharing with eager kids about, well, anything.

So basically, it was a lot of fun, but definitely gives me a more realistic picture of what my days will be like as a mother!

There are some days I’m perfectly content with being single and loving my peaceful life.

And then there are days like today when the desire to be a mother is so overwhelming that it brings me to my knees and tears to my eyes.

I love working with the children, I truly do.  I love the special relationship I can build with them as I teach them about the Lord, have fun with them, and talk with them one-on-one.  I love how they’ll crawl all over me (the youngers) and talk to me like I’m one of them (the olders).  I love the look they give me when I pat their back or run my fingers through their hair.  I love how their eyes light up when they have a story they’re just busting to tell me or when they’re laughing at my silliness.  And I love at the end of the day, that I can point them to their parents and say, “See you next time!”

But more and more each year, these little ones remind me that I don’t get these experiences everyday.  Though I get to see many of the children grow week to week and year to year, I don’t get to be the one to guide them day and night.  I want that.

But until then, I pray Lord, make these precious moments enough.

Photo by just Luh