I Dreamed A Dream

For some reason, that song from Les Miserable has been playing in my head over and over again! Then I got to thinking...perhaps I am absolutely "dreaming dreams". But, Fantine's lyrics are in no way similar to what I'm dreaming of (thank goodness). My life isn't hell, my hope's aren't torn apart, my God is forgiving and I believe every storm can be weathered.

Nevertheless, I dream. But, I'm not sure I can call it dreaming when I'm really wide awake because my mind won't stop thinking. Yes, the story of my nights--every night for the past six weeks. The absence of sleep and the onset of dreams.

I tried to make a mental list (why should that be so hard when my brain won't stop making lists) of all those random things that I'm dreaming about. I realized they most of them are projects. So, here's just a sampling of what's been going on in my head:

Card Table Playhouse. I've been wanting to do something like this but it wasn't until I finally started searching for ideas that I finally got a mental grasp of the project. For all you crafty moms--such a cool idea! I would love to make one for Robyn's 2nd birthday now that I own an actual card table. It's already all drawn out in my head.

Felt Foods. Another set of toys that I've always wanted. But, I can't justify paying for them! The other day I ventured out and wanted to try to make some on my own. I thought I'd try a strawberry, an oreo cookie, ravioli and crackers. The strawberries turned out okay--albeit rather small. I quit half way through the oreo cookie and thus never made it to the starches. I continue to dream about them.

Wooden Dolls. Now, these are something else that I could totally go crazy with!

Other things include a matching dress for Robyn (to match the red dress I made for our cruise). I want to make her one so we can get some formal family pictures done this Spring.

The other day Jaren and I were discussing our Dream House! Periodically we do that. Every time we talk about it, more details get added.

I look out my back window and wonder when the backyard will EVER get finished.

I had a 5 year old come over for a "trial" piano lesson. Yes, she wasn't ready for serious lessons but it was absolutely fun to just explorer music with her! Since then, the idea of running a Music Program for children ages 3-5 has also occupied a spot in my brain. So many possibilities and so much fun! In case you don't know, I LOVE this age! Crazy, but true!

But, for right now...I continue to dream. It seems that when reality just isn't all I hoped it to be, the continuous dreaming is what keeps me going. However, the sleepless nights are starting to wear on me.

Power Struggles

We always hate those nights when family time gets interrupted because of disobedience, sibling rivalry, hurt feelings and...dare I say it...all out war. It becomes much more than an interruption, but an annihilation of that sought after fun, loving family time. Yep. That about sums it up for our family. Let the power struggles begin...again.

In our home we have:

The President.
The Superhero.
The Princess. All supreme titles. All struggling for power. Not even sure where us parents fit in anymore--

The Secretary?
The Mediator?
The Judge?
The Prosecutor?
The Teacher?

As I continue my list I'm afraid we end up being all of the above and many more. It's rather exhausting. And, sometimes we feel like we've been fired, let go...replaced. Or maybe we just feel like an invisible force that CAN be ignored. We've all heard those stories about the school kids who get into a fight and the teacher tries to break it up only to get punched in the face and thrown out of the ring. I know that feeling all to well.

Usually it's the President v. Superhero. Sometimes it's the Superhero v. The Princess. And all too often, we get The Superhero v. The Superhero. That's quite the battle. Sometimes we think we have our own juvenile Hercules...
How do you influence the President without demanding? How do you control the Superhero without offending? How do you teach the innocent Princess without giving favor? And then they have to co-exist and play nice--

Gosh, being a parent is really hard...

...duh...