On the internet, I came across a picture of a woman looking down at her young child with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. The postcard said, "Son, you're making it difficult for me to be the mother I always imagined I'd be." This made me smile because it is how I often feel!
Hi, I am Kristin Paxton. I've lived in this ward for 4 years and I am a mother of 3 young children. My daughter Makayla is 6 years old and her 2 little brothers follow behind. Sterling is 3.5 and Lincoln just turned 2. This is an awesome stage of life for me right now.
I have been married almost 11 years and had been a full time working mom until this past year. So I was juggling 3 kids, a home, a husband, a church calling, and a full time job teaching school in Granite School District. My husband is self-employed doing internet marketing, and his business started improving, so we took a chance and had me quit teaching one year ago. We have been really blessed and haven't even missed the income that I brought home, although we do miss the insurance! School teachers in Granite District have great insurance.
So anyways, I have really been able to be there for my kids during the past 14 months. I am there to do anything and everything with them starting in the morning until we tuck them into bed at night. I dress them, bathe them, feed them, read to them, do homework with my daughter, do flash cards with my son, shuffle my daughter to school and back, and play with my kids. I wished I was a better cook and enjoyed creating dishes more, but it is not one of my favorite things to do. I don't really care for laundry or mopping either, but some things you just gotta do. I am not the best housekeeper either. My husband thinks I keep way too many things and refers to me as a packrat. I think it's good to invite people over because it gives me motivation to clean my house.
I have to say though, this is a wonderful chapter of my life! It is a blast interacting with my kids! They are at a very cute stage right now. My daughter Makayla is really into fantasy and enjoys creating art and making up games like she and her brother are pirates, or using grocery bags as parachutes, or Power Rangers, trying to defend the tiger, which is our cat.
My middle child Sterling has been saying some very cute things lately. I asked him to pick up something in the back seat of our car and he replied, "Sure, I'm happy to help you Mom!" So adorable!! Also last week when Makayla came home from school, Sterling announced, "Makayla, it's nice to see you here!"
I also just looooove when my baby, Lincoln, who is now 2, gives me hugs. I'm holding him and he basically wraps both of his arms around my head and puts me in a head-lock. I really cherish those moments when he bear-hugs me since it's not all that often. He has also been saying, "Day do Mama!" lately (Thank you Mama!).
I would have to say, this is the funnest stage of my life so far. I am really enjoying my kids and their personalities and creations and the funny things they do and say. I love that my husband is able to work from a home office. That is just so cool to not have to worry about him commuting and we get to see him a lot.
In the morning I get up and have some 'me time' at the gym for an hour, so before the rest of my family wakes up, I am able to do what ladies do best, chit-chat while working out, and that is something I really look forward to. It's good for my emotional health as well.
I know that I am enjoying this stage of my life so much, because the church is in our family's lives. Going to church and having family prayers is important to us. I am so glad to have the gospel as a central part of our family.
Last October Conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk called, "Enjoy the Moment." His wife and him bike ride sometimes and he will ask her to race. She always responds, "Dieter, it's not a race, it's a journey, just enjoy the moment!" He doesn't go bike riding with his wife because he's excited about finishing. He goes because the experience of being with her is sweet and enjoyable.
Sometimes in life we become so focused on the finish line, that we forget to find joy in the journey. Doesn't it seem silly to spoil sweet and joyful experiences because we are constantly waiting for the moment when they will end, or what's next? I often remind myself that my kids will only be young once, so I need to let them be little and enjoy it!
We shouldn't wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available--all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in reflecting it after. Psalms 118:24 says "This is the day which the Lord hath made...Rejoice and be glad in it."
On our wall, we have a piece of artwork that says, "Life is ALL about making memories." Our family truly believes that. We try to do many fun things with our family. Some of our favorite things to do right now are go to the arcades, the Zoo, Lagoon, go camping, and to Clark Planetarium. Sometimes just a simple trip to the park or the backyard is very enjoyable.
This is such a fun stage in my life and I hope my children look back and have great memories of their childhood. This is one of my favorite poems:
Babies Don't Keep
I hope that my child, looking back on today,
Will remember a mother who had time to play.
Because children grow up while you're not looking.
There are years ahead for cleaning and cooking.
So, quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.
I want you to know that I am thankful for my family and for the gospel both in my life. They make life so much better! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
