In motherhood, some things don't exactly change with time, they just begin to look a bit different. I wrote the following portion of a post on my blog back in February of 2010 when my triplets were very young toddlers.

Today is one of those days for me. I like to get up a bit early and write my blog post while I have my coffee. Today, I got up at 2am, though. Yeah, that's a tad earlier than I like to rise. I was awakened by a screaming toddler. And then another one started in. They had high fevers and were pulling on their ears. I got them up, gave them medicine and fluids and cuddled with them on the couch. Megan slept through it all until about 5am. Then it started all over again.

We're headed in to the doctor's office this afternoon.

My plans for the day had once included:

Laundry

Cleaning up the kitchen

Changing crib sheets

Writing 4,000 words

Answering emails

Did I mention Laundry?

A phone call or two

Preparing some packages to mail

Running to the post office

I'm sure I would have added to that list as the day went on. But...guess how many of those things I managed to accomplish.

ZERO.

But guess what.

I'm doing exactly what God has before me for THIS day. No matter what my plans were, they had nothing to do with His plans for me. It's a gentle reminder that it's okay to set goals and make a loose plan as long as we're ready to shift when He calls.

It occurs to me that not a whole lot has changed since then. I might set my alarm clock for 5:30 or 6:00 am, but usually a triplet or two decides I'm needed before then. I might make plans with a friend to meet for coffee while the kids are at preschool, but invariably that ends up being a snow day and school is cancelled. I might schedule a hair cut or make an eye doctor's appointment for myself, but that's a sure way to find myself in the pediatrician's office with a preschooler, or even a teenager, instead.

I guess that's what happens when you're the go-to person for the little people we call our children. It's not always easy to lay aside our own agendas, and sometimes it can even conjure up feelings of despair when it seems like it will never end. From one stage to the next, the interruptions might look different, but the cost is the same. The sacrifices we're called to make as moms is the same. We have to step aside and let their needs set the schedule.

In the heat of those moments, trust me, I often feel like throwing my hands up in the air. I wonder why I ever bother agreeing to anything or ever dare to dream for a few moments to myself.

But then...a feverish pair of arms snake around my neck and a child whispers, "I love you, Mommy."

In that moment I feel equal parts grateful, loved, and blessed, mingled with touches of regret for ever wishing those moments would fade sooner rather than later.

On second thought, coffee with the girls can wait.

Nicole O'Dell, author of 21 books since 2007, founder of Choose NOW Ministries and host of Choose NOW Radio: Parent Talk and Teen Talk, and a national Christian event speaker, is dedicated to speaking messages of hope to women, families, teens, and parents. It's all about choices! Photo by Phaitoon, courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.com

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