A cruise ship or a dingy

Not long ago I wrote a post about sometimes wanting to quit. About how sometimes it's hard being a mom and feeling overwhelmed. The response was awesome! I had mom's telling me that I was writing what they were feeling and thanking me for being so open. Well, the other day I was on the phone with my sis-in-law discussing that post and how I thought it strange that people acted like this was a foreign thing, being honest about parenthood. I don't know how to cover up the fact that sometimes there are days I desperately want help or need a good cry. And I want to know that there are other moms out there that feel the same way. It's a must to be secure enough in your parenting to be open and honest about your failures in the process of raising your children. I have more moms ask me how I do life with 4 small kids than I can count. I just tell them it's by the grace of my God and if I didn't do it, it wouldn't get done. It's the life I've chosen and the one I've been blessed with. Sometimes it's hard to see it as a blessing when all 4 are screaming and the bigger's are fighting and asking(demanding) for stuff all at the same time. I love my kids more than life and am filled with joy from the work it takes being their mommy. There are days when I feel invisible. When I'm nothing more than an answering system...where are my shoes, what's for lunch, can I watch a movie, can we go swimming, I need a snack, can so and so come over, where are my blue shorts? And this all seems to happen when I'm on the phone ;) There is a story about a mom who felt this way, invisible. A friend gave her a book about the great cathedrals and her inscription read..."With admiration for the greatness you are building when no one sees." She read about how no one knows who built some of the most beautiful churches in the world but they've been photographed and written about about. People carefully put these structures together and now we get to enjoy their beauty. We, as moms, are building such structures in the lives of our kids. When our children are grown others will look at them and see all the hard work we put into making sure they know who they are and what they stand for. I for one want to know that other moms struggle like I do to be the best for my kids. It's harder some days but we'll just call those days 'growing pains' and say a prayer and get on with life. For me, moms that try to make their life appear all rainbows and unicorns seem unapproachable. What mom wants to hang out with another who makes it look like they never have trouble getting their kids to obey? We want to know we're not alone. As for me I'd rather be on a cruise ship with the other moms who admit to having hard days than on a dingy by myself. How about you??