Elsa

Little girls desire little more than to be real, true princesses. Or so it seems.

This morning I watched my princess flip through Disney Roku to the same little video clips she's watched dozens of times now. Elsa singing 'Let It Go' in 25 languages, Demi Lovato belting out a not-as-good-as-the-original version, and a DIY tutorial on how to make your French braid look just like Elsa's.

Finishing a novel that just may be blogged about next, I sat and let my little Elsa impersonator do nearly painful things to my hair. Telling her in between pulls and ouches that perhaps I might buy her one of those Barbie heads that little girls can practice hairdos on. And I may, but I didn't fully mind her tangling with my hair. 

My love for the more recent Disney princess movies goes even deeper than hers. At sixteen, I was very much taken by the G-rated musical perfection of The Little Mermaid. I still have the well loved cassette tapes. This was followed by Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Wonderful, until grown-upness heaped alternate interests on my plate. And someone probably told me I should act my age...and then I did. Thank goodness I don't buy into such nonsense as acting my age anymore.

For a few seconds this morning I worried though. My little girl is not just playing Elsa. She IS Elsa at the moment. Oh gosh, what does this mean exactly? That she likes high heels and a very blond braid swung over her shoulder? That she enjoys fancy dresses and ice powers and the drama of it all?

Simply put...yes.

Frankly, while it's so adorable and entertaining, it's a little discouraging for this nearly-nerd mom to watch my
incredibly bright little girl be so much less than she is capable. I'm reasonably careful with what I offer her for toys. Blocks, tools, legos - she plays with them all. Plus she has an older brother, whom she idolizes.

However, she likes pink. She likes fancy. She LOVES drama.

I started to think back on all the things I've tried to be in my life. I'm a bit of a mix when it comes to people genres. I suspect we all truly are, although most of us lean more towards one than another. I thought about all of the proverbial outfits I've tried on. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, it is said. 

I suspect this little one will try on all kinds of hats over the years. She will choose some and I will encourage some, and people she hasn't even met yet will encourage others. All this trying on will make her who she is. Or maybe, more accurately, it will reflect who she IS.

And if she turns out to choose tiaras (literal or not so literal) over a scalpel or a computer then that's ok. As long as she's using her Gifts. By that I do mean her capital G Gifts - the ones God has given her that make her the ever so unique (and honestly, quite entertaining) person that she is. Blond wig and all.

I love her dearly and am so thankful that I have this lifetime to encourage her to be herself.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.   ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ~Ephesians 2:10 

This is not a laughing matter. Or is it?!?

I know I've said this before...

There are moments in time as a Mom you just throw up your hands and shrug your shoulders because that's all you can do...

And then you laugh. A lot.

I feel like these moments have happened to me a lot in the past few weeks. So, of course, it's only appropriate to share.

This really starts back in 1986. I was in the prime tooth pulling stage and very enthralled with the tooth fairy...who unexplainably forgot to visit me on many nights of my tooth extractions!!! 

GASP!!!

I've since given my mother massive amounts of crap about this exclaiming 'how on earth could you forget?' (You poor lazy woman!!). And her reply 'I was tired, Renae. It happened.' (She also has a reputation of head locking children to rip out their teeth. But THAT is a different blog all together).

WHAAAAAT?!?!

Fast forward to February 11, 2014. 

I'm watching my second born son as he talks to me and notice his top tooth flapping while he talks...

That right there is grounds for removal. Ready or not. (OH CRAP. I'm becoming my mother...).

15 minutes later the tooth is out!!! (I may or may not have stradled that child pinning his arms to rip out his flappy tooth.). 

He is certainly going to need therapy over that. However, he won't know that for many more years. Right now he's rejoicing at his toothless reflection in the bathroom mirror!

In case you forgot...we have four kids.

And guess what? 

That night...

I was tired.

GASP!!

We awoke to rustling & chaos. I heard the dreaded words 'the tooth fairy didn't leave me any money!!'

I sat up in bed yelling profanity. (It's true. Don't judge me.).

So, before those little feet could clomp down the hall I rushed out of bed & reached into K-Dog's dresser. I fumbled open his wallet...

[Side note: I am blind as a bat without my contacts or glasses].

I squinted to see it wasn't just a dollar bill, ripped it out of his wallet and flung the crisp money into the hallway as it landed so amazingly at the top of the staircase.

This Momma hopped back into bed pretended to be asleep & am 'awakened' to squeals of joy...'Oh, here's my money from the tooth fairy!!'

SCORE!!!!!! My stealth-like moves & quick reflexes have saved the day.

Take. That. Mom. Heh heh.

As I stagger down the stairs I overhear a conversation...

I can't be hearing it correctly. 

But then as I turn the corner I am greated by the cutest toothless smile I've ever seen holding a TEN DOLLAR BILL.

FAIL.

My life is a comedy of errors. And, I'm ok with that. I couldn't dream this stuff up if I tried. 

You know, we took our daughter to Disney last week. And let's say it together:

'It isn't a trip to Disney without a Keffer puker!!'

We were making fun of that at breakfast one morning as K-dog took a picture of the infamous urinal Benny P yacked in last year...

And then...Divalicious tossed her cookies on a BOAT to Epcot. But hey, if you're going to puke in public I'm you're girl! Nobody even knew it happened except the people sitting behind us. It did ruin a rain poncho & jacket. No more details. I'll spare your stomachs. But she did get a cute new jacket...

If you take away anything from reading today please hear this: laugh at yourself. At your kids. Take a deep breath and know each day is one more chance to show your kids that God made us to love & be joyful. There are so many moments I wish I could just freeze in my memory (puking is NOT one if them). 

We are molding our children by our behavior and how WE react to chaos. Breathe. Exhale. Take a gander at perspective. 

Or just think of me. Because certainly you aren't in as many debacles (or maybe you are!!).

Listen, I have more debacles to share but your eyes must be tired from reading. 

I'll leave you with a teaser about my Zumba class...The teacher was a cross between a gymnast and exotic dancer. She had PROPS and everything. If I thrusted my hips one more time I was going to either throw out my back or have to get down on my knees & ask for forgiveness...

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:34 MSG)