Pumpkin Patch Reality Check

Today I took Olivia to a darling little pumpkin patch in the town next to us. I dressed her in cute clothes, and even pulled back her hair with a matching hair-tie. My energy level has taken a dive in these last week of pregnancy, so this was an accomplishment. Especially considering that yesterday I let her wear her pj's all day! Nevertheless, for today she was looking cute and picture-ready.

In my head I had visions of her frolicking around the pumpkins with a grin showing off her beautiful two year old smile. Yes, gorgeous Pinterest worthy photos would be made! The kind of photos that you frame or send to the grandparents to 'ooh and ahh' over. But then reality hit.

Reality is that my Olivia is two, and has been developing opinions of her own at a fierce rate. I'm all for her being herself, expressing her thoughts, making mistakes, and learning, but not when she's being ugly. She can be the most charming and lovely little person in the world, but after that she's demanding a snack, throwing her cup, or bossing her baby dolls. The girls got a 'tude, and isn't afraid to exercise it.

As it would happen, "The Tude" showed up just as we entered the pumpkin patch. Ignorant of this, I encouraged her to run around to discover all of the orange beauties while I took a few candid shots. After this I wanted her to look at the camera and smile. Riiiiight, Mom. Upon this instruction, the tude took over, and she would give me a millisecond side glance before turning away. More opportunities to cooperate showed that she was intentionally avoiding looking where I told her. Some swift justice was applied. It's after effects just don't make for "good" pictures. I snapped at what she was putting out (every parent needs some blackmail photos anyway, right?!), then threw in the towel.

Something about hearing my words "It's time to go." made Olivia's bones melt away; collapsing her into a heap on the gravel. My prodding her to get up produced indiscernible moans. Her hair-tie dramatically abandoned ship. Her boots began falling off for no reason. No reason other that is than she just didn't want to do what Mommy had asked. This kind of behavior is not allowed in our home, OR at the pumpkin patch. **More swift justice** Once home and looking over the photos, I decided that my favorite picture is one that captures the defiant look on her face as she gazed off into the distance...instead of Mommy's camera like instructed. It caught a glimpse of my daughter's sinful nature, and the reality that we don't always look like the pictures we see online.

With two and a half weeks to go before our littlest person is due, I'm starting to clue into the idea that God is wanting me to do a reality check of my own. I realize that I dream and think in ideals, but they are often no where close to reality. For example, in my head, the baby should come right after all of the laundry is washed and put away, the kitchen is spotless, a week's worth of meals are in the freezer, Andrew is home, and we've had a sound night's sleep. If I expect all of these things to come to pass, I'm deluding myself, not to mention setting myself up for grave disappointment. Why expect this when my current reality is that the sink is full of yesterday's dishes, sound sleep took off a couple weeks ago, and the washing machine just kissed it's last load goodbye. **It did this only after dumping 7 soaked-bath-towels-worth of water onto our floor. Not ideal. Reality is that more often than not, the product or outcome I expect doesn't look anything like how I'd imagined it.

So, what then is the solution? Find a nice gravel patch to melt onto and moan? Kick off my shoes and yank out my hairband? Maybe do a bit of moaning while making dramatic faces? While it sounds kind of fun, I know the Lord has called me to more than that.

It's time for a reality check. Time to stop comparing what appear to be other people's realities with my own, and joyfully accept what God has given me today. To be okay with pumpkin patch pictures that reveal a stinker-faced two year old, whom I dearly love, but sometimes need a break from. Time to remember that even when I do my best, I'm still going to forget something. It's time to set some reasonable expectations, and choose a right attitude regardless of the outcome.

After the washing machine died, I'm afraid I wasn't wanting to smile for any pictures. Nope. Don't even wanna look that direction. Smile? Not happening. I had laundry to do, and now I can't. This isn't fitting into my schedule very well. My need to nest is being severely held up. I'm just going to be grumpy instead of grateful for the million other things that are going well.

It's time to ask the Lord to help me set right expectations, ask Him for a right attitude when things go astray from my plans. It's also time for some action. As much fun as wallowing in some self-pity (or pumpkin patch gravel) may sound, it doesn't accomplish anything. The sink won't be emptied from that location, nor my heart and soul bettered for choosing joy in a disappointing moment.

Signing off to do some praying, tackle those dishes, and look on Craig's List for a new washing machine. I may also go find a frame for my new favorite photo. It's already been sent to the grandparents.

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2