notes to myself...from moms that have been there

she had a linky thing on her blog for older moms to write letters to themselves "20 years ago".
i have spent the last 30 minutes reading all the links.
and i'm a mess. (the posts combined with PMS for the first time in 18 months...NOT GOOD)
this is some of the wisdom i gained (and need to read over and over): Enjoy :-)

*Use a pizza cutter to slice your pancakes and waffles and grilled cheese. You'll save yourself about a week of your life if you do that.

*It might take you years to believe this, but the world does NOT stop spinning if your house is a mess.
*Go ahead and buy those matching dresses from Old Navy. Turns out in a few years they won't think it is so fun to be matchy-matchy.
*Don't ever feel guilty for taking a nap. I know you will feel guilty, and you will beat yourself up for it, but you are WISE to rest when you can.
*Leave Bibles out all over the house where you can read a verse or two in stolen moments. There will be seasons where you can do in-depth Bible studies and Greek translations and word studies, but this is not it, and that is ok.
*Don't bother washing that sippy cup you found under the couch after a week. Don't even open it. Throw it away immediately.

*Don't knock homeschooling until you've tried it. You're going to LOVE it.

*Don't knock public school until you've tried it. You're going to LOVE it.
*You are doing such a good job. I know it feels like you are failing in a hundred ways, but you aren't. You are loving them, showing them God, and teaching them about His world. They are going to turn into amazing kids.
*Don’t blink. This is over before you realize it. Your breath will be taken away. Every single age that your children are will be your favorite age yet….
*Earn their respect, don’t demand it. Practice what you preach as much as you are able. It is okay to push them to do their best. It is not okay to have unrealistic expectations.
*Teach them that life isn't fair. Let them lose sometimes. Don't try to always keep everything perfectly equal. Let them do without. It's okay if "everyone else does/has it" and they don't. Don't shower them with toys or the latest gadgets. Teach them delayed gratification and work ethics.
*Pray for them. And with them.
*Keep reading to them! That is one of the sweetest memories you are making, and you are growing two bookworms.Maybe I would have trusted God more, knowing that I was not exempt from the frustrating episodes in life - I wasn't God's special "pet". I would have exhibited a lot more grace in times of stress and I think I would have baked cookies more often.