Mommy’s Helper

As mothers we have to be more loyal than a boy scout, more disciplined than a drill sergeant, and more vigilant than a Navy SEAL. Having children is MORE than a full time job, it requires constant vigilance. Like a soldier on the battle field your senses are on high alert. The smallest squeak of a floor board or creak of a door could signal an emergency. A cough or a sneeze in the middle of the night could mean an early morning doctor visit. There are no lunch breaks, and no trips to the water cooler to visit with friends. You don’t even get to clock out at the end of a hard day and go home.

I recently broke up a fight between my two year old and four year old without even opening my eyes. They climbed into the bed with me before the sun came up, (naturally), and started fighting over who was going to lie next to me while I was still asleep! I didn’t even open my eyes. I simply rolled over, grabbed my two year old and placed her on my other side to separate them.

Taking your kids to the grocery store can seem more terrifying and dangerous than a juggler walking a tight rope. You have to keep a baby from screaming, a toddler from knocking over a display of soup cans and a preschooler from throwing every item made with high fructose corn syrup into your grocery cart. You have to make sure no one shoplifts candy while you are checking out AND you have to actually be able to purchase the items you need to sustain your family for another week.

Being a mother is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting on a good day. Your children don’t think twice about waking you up in the middle of the night to discuss the smallest detail of their day, or to ask for a Band-Aid for a perceived “booboo” you can’t even see.

Thankfully, when we are exhausted, out of answers and out of gas, Our Father is not. He is constant. He is watching, waiting, and hoping that we will come to Him in the still of the night to discuss the smallest details of our day and to ask Him to heal our perceived hurts.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” “For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13 NIV) Go to Him like a child and pour out your frustrations; let Him be Mommy’s Helper.

About the Author: Robin O’Bryant is a stay-at-home-mother to three daughters under five years old. Robin survives the drama and hilarity of motherhood by making fun of herself in her syndicated family humor column, Robin’s Chicks and on her blog by the same name. (www.robinschicks.com) She is represented by Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency and is currently revising her first book, a collection of non-fiction humor.