Well, it's true. My twins just might be potty trained before they hit the age of four. I was terrified they were going to remain resistant, but persistence pays off and now BOTH of them are requesting underwear in the morning.
I may faint.
"I know you've heard it a thousand times before. But it's true - hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don't love something, then don't do it." ~ Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors. I got to watch one of his college lectures a few years back when we had satellite TV - he inspired me all over again. I think of this quote, and I'm reminded of some of the things I want to be "good" at. In no particular order:
1. Womanhood. There's a lot that goes under that mantle. As a woman with children this adds marriage, children, running a house, nutrition, etc.... being a GOOD woman takes a LOT of practice! Although I will say that what constitutes a "good woman" varies between belief structures - I know those who think you MUST sew, quilt, or otherwise do handiwork to be a "good woman" - and I don't believe that at all.
2. Writing. I don't just want to write something that they slap on the market. I want it to be GOOD.
3. The gospel. I know that seems silly, but I think it takes practice to be a Mormon. Once you think you're "there" - you probably need a dose of humble pie. I could go on but I don't want this post to be about this today.
4. Friend. I think it's an art to be a good friend.
5. Teaching. Maybe that should go under womanhood, but not all women choose to teach. There's a book we just read call
The Witch At Blackbird Pond, and I have to say I identified with the protagonist - I'd much rather teach and read and come up with unique ways of getting a principle across than do housework! Didn't mean she didn't HAVE to do housework, but she found a way to teach in her own style - that's me too. (If you haven't read it - it's a good book.)
There is only one thing I have to say about that quote that I kinda don't agree with. Just because I want to be good at womanhood doesn't mean I LOVE all the things that pertain to that part of my life. I don't love to cook. I don't love to do housework. I don't love to potty train. Obviously there are some things in life that we have to practice at whether we like it or not. We couldn't survive as a one income family if I didn't cook! But I love THEM, so I do those things anyway, and I practice so that they can enjoy me being a wife and mother - otherwise, life would be terribly unhappy. So instead of focusing on how much I dislike those things, I choose to focus on how I LOVE to have a clean house. I LOVE to have children say, "This is pretty good, Mom." I LOVE to see the excitement when my toddler runs to me and says, "Mom! I peed in the potty!"
Attitude and focus DOES make a difference!
Another point to add is.... quit beating yourself up because you aren't the best mom, the best wife, the best writer, the best cook, the best hostess, the best reader, the best teacher, etc. We all have different talents that make some things easier for us than others. And some of us need more practice... and sacrifices to the Burn Gods before we get as good as whoever it is we think we should be like. So QUIT IT! :)