• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Media
  • Contact

everyday Ann

living the ordinary seeing the extraordinary

in Everyday Life, Family, Motherhood · March 6, 2018

We Are Being Watched

This past Saturday Aaron was away at a conference, so I decided to venture out for the day with all four kiddos in tow. I wasn’t sure how the events of the day would unfold or how everyone would hold up.

Started with making pancakes from scratch, getting the kids fed, the little ones changed, the baby nursed, myself ready and out the door in time for Saturday morning Confession. We were off to a great start.

I was nervous about attempting Confession flying solo with all the kids, but we made it through the line and managed to be a minimal distraction to those waiting. Next stop the library and then out for lunch. I treated the kids to ice cream sundaes after lunch for such outstanding behavior on all fronts.

We nailed it! No tears, no fights, no tantrums. We nailed it and I hope everyone was watching. I hope everyone took notice. I don’t say it to sound prideful or egotistic, but whether we realize it or not we are being watched. Our parenting being scrutinized, our reactions being judged and our family size being critiqued.

I hope they noticed how quietly everyone waited. How helpful the boys were in holding doors open and making the little ones smile. How patiently everyone sat and how joyful the sound of children’s laughter.

I hope they noticed how beautiful family life is. I hope they saw a glimpse of the truth and recognized love. That a child is not a mere inconvenience, but a gift to family, the Church, society and the world.

No one commented on the children’s grand performance, but I hope they noticed. I could try the same exact outing next week and the outcome could be completely different and I know for certain everyone would be watching. The looks, eye rolls and comments would have been shared with me.

Everyone notices when I am attempting a balancing act through the parking lot, infant carrier in one arm, pushing the grocery cart with the other and growing annoyed as the toddler continually screams wanting to get out.

When I look exhausted and overwhelmed strangers tell me that I must be busy. When the little ones are crying and I look like I am about to lose it they tell me I must have my hands full. When I pick the biggest grocery cart to accommodate for the infant carrier, toddler and a weeks worth of groceries they tell me I better not have any more kids, gasping when I say this is only half of them.

We are being watched during the good days and bad. Whether my hair is combed or curled, clothes ironed or shirt stained, kids crying or laughing. I pray in each moment I can always have a smile and remain joyful, because we are the billboards for family life and I hope the message that I am leaving is a positive one.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Previous Post: « Dressing My Littles
Next Post: Like a Lion »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Subscribe to Everyday Ann

Missed Something?

Categories

Archives

I wish I could go back in time and tell myself at I wish I could go back in time and tell myself at 23 to trust and to not worry. The journey of infertility and loss will be long and painful, but you are not forgotten. 
.
To tell myself at 25 to not lose hope, God sees you and you are incredibly loved by your Creator. To continue to pray despite the discouragement and constant heartache.
.
To tell myself at 27 that infertility does not define you. You are not less, because of what you perceive to be lacking. You are whole, complete and beautiful with or without a baby on your hip.
.
To tell myself at 30 that God's timing is not ours and He has an incredible plan. A plan to fulfill your heart's desires. A plan far greater than your timeline. The wait is never wasted.
.
#infertility #infertilityawareness #infertilityawarenessweek #havehope #momofmany #bigfamily #adoption #rainbowbabies #adoptivemom #ourstory #catholicmom #christianliving  #motherhood #catholicfamily #femininegenius #thecatholicwoman
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here's to one thousand of them.
.
#familiesdonthavetomatch #siblings #momofmany #bigfamily #adoption #adoptivemom #blessedbyadoption #infertility #rainbowbaby #thisisfamily #blacklivesaresacred #oldestandyoungest #catholicmom #catholiclife #christianliving #catholicfamily
Do you have a good morning routine? It has taken m Do you have a good morning routine? It has taken me almost six years and five kids later to establish, put into practice and recognize the importance of a good morning routine. Let this be said, it doesn’t always go perfectly or as planned, because children and motherhood are always fluid.
.
I have found that in taking the time to be intentional about the habits and routine that I do in the morning sets up the day, puts me in the right frame of mind and allows me to be better focused on the tasks ahead.
.
Writing about it on the blog today everydayann.com, link in my bio. ➡️
.
#goodmorning #morningroutine #motherhood #thisismotherhood #motherly #smallvictories #momofmany #catholiclife #catholicmom #bigfamily #femininegenius #catholicwoman #raisingsaints #blogger #catholicblogger
Joy. Do I really have it? Am I joyful during the t Joy. Do I really have it? Am I joyful during the trials and crosses, the small ones and big ones alike. The spilled milk for the third time that day, being woken up seven times in one night and piles of laundry. The uncertainty of jobs, the loss of loved ones and sickness. Through it all do I maintain joy? 
.
In those moments where I feel like it is being robbed from me, what is my response. Looking to myself is not enough and looking to the world only brings more confusion. The only answer is to look up. Look up to a God who is good. A God who loves infinitely and is forever faithful no matter what may come. To look up and remember happiness is fleeting, but true joy comes from knowing Christ. 
.
#scripture #bibleverse #reflection #joy #christianliving #motherhood #christianmom #catholiclife #catholicliving #catholicwoman #momlife #catholicmom #bissisterhood
Instagram vs reality, swipe for the live action of Instagram vs reality, swipe for the live action of trying to get five kids to take a picture.
.
This picture came after the 18 month old screamed and flailed the entire second half of Mass. I left feeling defeated and my husband reminded me that in it there is found grace.
.
#sunday #easterpeople #church #bigfamily #momlife #momofmany
#raisingsaints #catholiclife #catholicfamily #catholicmom #liturgicalliving #thisismotherhood #catholicwomen #christianliving #alleluia
Happy Easter!! He is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!! . Happy Easter!! He is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!!
.
Celebrating for the entire Octave and hoping to get a family picture by the end of it!
.
#easter #alleluia #heisrisen #easterpeople #christianliving #catholicfamily #liturgicalliving #catholiclife #catholicmom
How do you explain death to a young child. The pas How do you explain death to a young child. The passing, the permanency and the pain. All of it is empty, meaningless and morbid without the hope of the Resurrection. Without belief in the salvific act of Christ, death defeated and the hope of eternal life, our suffering is in vain and none of it makes sense. But because of faith and saving grace we know how the story ends. 
.
O death, where is your sting? 1 Corinthians  15:55
.
#hope #faith #eternallife #christwins #reflection #mysteryoffaith #resurrection #christianliving #catholiclife #catholicmom #catholicfamily
Just a short two weeks ago I sat at my mother in-l Just a short two weeks ago I sat at my mother in-law's bedside and read to her Psalm 23. Last evening God called her home. This morning as I opened the daily Mass readings there it was, Psalm 23.
.
So many words I want to say, to describe an incredible woman but for now my heart just sits with the memories, the moments and the last words spoken to me.
.
#eternalrest #gratefulforthememories #lovedones #jesusitrustinyou #family #catholicfamily
St. Joseph, pray for us. Patron of workers, father St. Joseph, pray for us. Patron of workers, fathers, families, travelers, the sick, the dying, the Universal Church, married people, unborn children, immigrants, house hunters, carpenters, expectant mothers, children. Turn to him in your need.
.
Happy Solemnity of St. Joseph! 
.
#stjoseph #domesticchurch #raisingsaints #liturgicalliving #catholiclife #catholicfamilylife #saints #catholicmom
Follow on Instagram

My Book

Footer

Subscribe to Everyday Ann

Enter your email address, would love to have you join me!

Copyright © 2021 · everyday Ann · Design by Studio Mommy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.