LISH: "Thanks Mom...not very much"

Jun 17, 2008

"Thanks Mom...not very much"

It all started a few months ago...during mealtime, one kid would thank me for fixing the food. The others would pipe up and express similar gratitude. I was happy that they took the time to thank my efforts. The next day the same thing happened. And the next day. Some days (spaghetti) the praise was enthusiastic, others (salmon asparagus bake), not so much.
I think Dirk must have given the kids a grand lecture on the time and energy required to feed seven mouths: I want you all to tell your mom 'thank you' every time she puts food in front of you.
I never ruined the moment by asking if Dad had put them up to it. I just pretended that my efforts were being positively acknowledged. It almost turned into a game to see who would remember to say 'thank you' first.
Then the tactics changed. It must have been a particularly healthy week (quinoa and mustard greens) because the praise for my menus began sagging in sincerity--a long, toneless 'thank you' accompanied with humphing and pouting lips. Undaunted, I still returned with a big 'you're welcome!' and expected compliance in cleaning their plates.
One day (it may have been veggie mexi-pasta) I was prepared for the usual droning of insincerity. Instead, Mathew said (a little too brightly): 'Thanks Mom!' followed by, 'Not very much' under his breath. Everyone snickered and copied him. We were all laughing through the meal. And the phrase has stuck.
Now, even on the best of days (pizza), 'not very much' always follows the thanks--as the family joke. I'm worried that Emma will be at a primary function and offend a leader with this sincere yet paradoxical statement.
Today I was thinking about this phrase as an attitude towards life. Am I really grateful for my blessings--or do I just mimic the prayer that I said last night? Am I just waiting for life to be delicious before I show heart-felt appreciation? Am I stuck in the blandness of the everyday giving only menial praise? The same could be said of trials--why is it that only after the panic from something unpleasant I feel humbled to pray sincerely and frequently? why is the flesh so weak? the natural man so easily in the forefront?
I guess I have to answer this for myself and try harder every day. I like Pres. Iring's information: Look every day for the hand of the Lord in your life. Better yet, record it daily. I do have a daily reminder to do better--almost three times a day: My kids and their palettes.

9 comments:

Jandy Lou said...: Hey Kristy...great blog! I love ya!!!; 6/17/2008
aubreyannie said...: so true. why are our prayers always the most sincere when we need the Lord's help? it is just the natural man. thank goodness we have the holy ghost to help prompt us to be more spiritually aware.

this was a sweet story and peek into your lives. thank you for sharing it!; 6/17/2008
Ryan and Julianne said...: Ha, funny story! Yes...I want to know if Emma says that to her teacher or something.

Good post!; 6/18/2008
Ryan and Julianne said...: OK, what is "Breaking Dawn" that you have a countdown for?; 6/18/2008
aubreyannie said...: what?! julianne? you have not been sucked into the twilight world? oh, dear..what loveliness (and obsession) awaits you!; 6/18/2008
camille said...: Kristy, your family is darling! Are you going to Idaho Falls again any time soon. I'm leaving in 2 days and will be there for 3 weeks. It sure would be great to see you!; 6/18/2008
camille said...: OH, and I love your new blog. It's darling!; 6/18/2008
Paige said...: What a geat story! Thank you for sharing. It helps me to remember the simple things in life.; 6/18/2008
Parrylarious said...: ha ha! The joys of being the mother of or the child in a big family. Lots of laughter, lots of inside jokes, and lots of things you hope that your kids don't repeat. (We repeated every single one of them and I am sure embarassed my mother over and over again). I was kinda hoping your countdown was to our scrapbooking fest, but then I noticed that it had 40 something days, so I knew it had to be something else.; 6/19/2008

Who knows?

Julie Beck and her quality list of mothers-who-know is the buzz amongst my friends. We all listened to her talk in General Conference. We all had different reactions. One friend asked her husband to hurry and turn the TV off before the wave of guilt became too much. Another wants to know if the requisite "house of order" means every day or once a year?

My first reaction was to stand up and shout, "Good for you, Sister Beck! Tell it how it is--stop apologizing for the mold-breakers!" But then I realized that my own intentions were not as squeky clean as I would like them to be. She hit the nail on the head all right--the one that pricks my conscience. Too much clutter, not enough clean. Too many indulgences, not enough straight-and-narrow. Will my boys be rewarded or revolutionized at the MTC?

I didn't feel guilty enough to want to turn the TV off. But I did make a mighty mental note. What do I know? Well, I do know that I should probably get off the computer and go play a game with my kids--one with a gospel-centered theme would be preferred, right? I do know that I signed up for the gig of mother-at-home. I now know that it is harder than I thought. But I will try to do it with a smile on my face. The next time I want to crawl into my unorganized closet, pull a pile of dirty laundry over my head and hide away from responsibilties, (as LDS mothers do best) I will remember what I know: That Heavenly Father loves me. I am His child--taking care of his precious children. And I know I can do it the way He wants it done!

Emma-isms

Updated on May 23:

One of the guys working on our basement is named Chuck. He comes in and out the back door. One day Emma was at the bar, in view of the back door. Chuck walks in. Emma says, "Ooh--it's Chuck the evil sandwich-making guy--heh heh!" What?? sorry Chuck--the truly nice tape and texture guy. We all found out later that she was referring to a PBS show called Word Girl. one of the villains is the sandwich guy named Chuck.

Handing me a deflated beach ball: "Mom, could you get this blowed?"

Dirk asked Emma if she wanted some "breakust" (breakfast). We like to copy her cute words. But now she is growing out of them. She said, "It's not breakust, Dad. It's breakfussit. I mean breakfussat. I mean....cereal!"

When told to get to bed she said: "I don't want to go to bed. My toes are not tired!"

When told to find her socks: "I can't find them. They are everywhere!"

"What time it is?" and "Wert for me!"

"My hair is wiggly" Translation: my hair is in my eyes.

When sent to her room for time out, she exclaims: "This is an OUTRAGE!"

Our sprinkler guy is an interesting person; he is very trustworthy, but you might not know it by his looks: long hair, eyebrow ring, black-painted fingernails, and a lip full of chewing tobacco. He came to the door for his check; when he left, Emma asked, "Who was that?"
Mom: "The sprinkler guy."
"The sprinkle guy? I don't like the sprinkle guy. He is SO not perfect!"

She gave me a big hug and told me: "You are my best family forever and ever!"

The old stuff:

"I want some more yoranges (orange) juice"

While twirling in her nightgown: I am a "beanarella" (ballerina)

Princents=princess

Mom is ironing in front of a chic flic. Emma wants to join in, but is told to go downstairs because she is not old enough to watch the movie. Five minutes later, she comes up with, "I am older now. I grew up downstairs!"

Shouted from the upstairs window to the sprinkler guy working across the street: "Bye! I love you! Thanks for coming!"

To Dad as he is leaving for work: "Don't get any owies in the car!"

To Dad as he sits down to watch TV: "Goodnight, Dad. Don't get any owies on the chair!"

Valentine's tradition in the Lish house calls for homemade Valentine's cards. This year the boys wanted to have Avatar as their theme. Thanks to the internet, we were able to come up with some pretty cool images. My favorite was Andrew's choice: baby Appa. We punched holes by his feet, inserted a dum dum sucker, and ta da: a flying bison holding a treat on the Valentine's card. Sorry--you'll just have to imagine the final product. I haven't blogged long enough to remember that one should take pictures of the trivial; it only sinks in now that I am taking the time to type about it. oh well...maybe next year.

The real reason for my "side bar" entry is this: what happened to episode 14? We have been valiantly checking TV guide, nick.com and Avatar uploader for any tidbit about the new episode. Every Friday the information is the same: watch the new episode next week! Another week has come and gone, and still no new Avatar. Sniff. We are going through withdrawals. We are desperate to find out about Uncle Iroh--will he join up with the team? What will the Zuko--Iroh reunion be like? I need to hear Zak Tyler's laugh again.

If you think we are obsessed, I recommend watching season one and two. Or call Ryan, Rob or Mike. They will back me up and convert you to the way of the bending masters. Then you can mourn along side us for the lost ending of season three. Dirk thinks it has something do with the movie that is coming out next year--the animation rights have been tied up for some reason. Thanks a lot, M. Knight Shalmalyathingymambob. You better cast a good Aang!

Well, enough said. I'll let you know when the new episode airs. There will be much rejoicing in the land of the Lishlings.