i've talked before about how hair challenged i am. i definitely started behind the curve having 3 girls in a row. how would i do all that hair? since lucy was about 2 i have attempted to french braid. i've had friends and relatives show me. i've googled it, youtubed it and whatevered it to learn how. and i could never do it. somehow it was just too difficult for my fingers to do. for the life of me i could not figure it out. i just chalked it up as another "fail" in my parenting department.
and then the other day i was doing lucy's hair and i had an epiphany. or as phoebe would say, "yightbulb!" from despicable me. do it in reverse. braid it under instead of over, like an inside out braid (what are those called?). my roommate teresa always did hers like that but i assumed it was more advanced and needed to learn regular first. well guess what? i'm lefthanded (just like teresa) and it worked! i automatically could french braid. just like that. poof. magic. i'm still a rusty beginner, but lucy proudly stepped onto the bus this morning in two matching (and pretty even if i say so) french braids. i don't think she could have fanned her tail feathers out more if she tried.
as i was talking to my sister danna about this last night (she's in town. hoorah!) i realized how simple the solution was is just like my trials in parenting lately. for 7 years i have been a mom, some days are good, some are more trying. but overall i always felt like i could keep up with the kids and get by. but this past year and half have been hard. i can't keep up with their wants and needs. they were not feeling loved. i just couldn't do it on my own anymore. i asked advice up and down the street, read books, and beat myself up mentally for not being able to be a good mom.
and then, the poof. magic. moment happened. prayer. i know right? that just sounds too simple. but i had exhausted my resources. and morning after morning and day after day i prayed for help. help to know their needs. help to make them feel loved. help for them to be happy. help to keep the house in order (which facilitates a lot of their comfort and happiness). because years and years of trying on my own and advice from others was like trying to french braid the regular way. and my fingers just can't do that. but to go straight to the source and say, "i can not do this on my own. please help me to figure it out" and then ask advice, research and get to work. i'm amazed at the difference it has made in our home.
the peace.
the happiness.
i just had to try it in reverse.
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6 comments:
You are such a good mommy! I just remember how cute you were with Lucy at practice!
I think the braid where you go under instead of over is called a dutch braid. :)
First off you are an awesome mother and don't ever feel different! Secondly, thank you for this! I think that I really needed this right now in my life. Your an awesome person Annie!!
Another lefty! I love meeting those.
I had the same epiphany a couple of days ago. I was going to murder he-who-must-not-be-named and my day was completely trashed. From out of nowhere I realized that I hadn't prayed this morning. Even if it doesn't make my kids less crazy, it gives me more patience.
P.S. I still can't french braid.
Thank you for writing this :)
i love those lightbulb moments. good job. i'm a terrible "right way" french braider, but i can bust out an inside out like the best of 'em! and i'm right handed... so what's MY problem?!? :)
Heavenly Father fixes a lot when we acutally let Him!
brilliant. thank you for this. (i go through these phases where i try to unsubscribe from the personal blogs of people i don't know in real life, but i can't ever bring myself to stop reading yours...it's so wonderful!)
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