The Grass is Greener

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with a new friend and her 5 children. The children and I had a great time and look forward to spending more time with them. I look at most mothers and feel like they have it all together. I marvel at what they accomplish. I always wonder how they keep their houses clean, get their children to behavior, stay so calm, act so chipper, have gardens, work, raise their children, love their husbands, worship God, have a prayer life, go places, get to go on dates, not look like train wrecks 85% of the time, etc. You get what I mean. Mothers amaze me. This mom was no exception.

She is a Catholic homeschooling mom of 5 with a cute house, nice yard, and beautiful garden. And she didn’t look like she had been hit by a bus. She is very sweet and cheerful. There was something magical about her home. I don’t really know how to explain it. There seemed to be a lot of hope and excitement for the future there. And don’t mean the Obama Hope crap. It was a place where imaginations could run wild and dreams could come true. Maybe it was because there were 9 children in the house. Maybe it was all the beautiful icons. Maybe it was the 100 year old house speaking to me. I don’t know.

I left her house thinking I could have beautiful flower beds and a vegetable garden. That I could home school my children without having to start drinking and taking handfuls of psychotropic medications. Moms inspire me. Yesterday I was inspired by another great mom. So, the grass on the other side of her white picket fence (I’m not making this up, she has a white picket fence) looks a little greener than the grass on this side of my chain link fence.
I’m not envious or jealous. I really love seeing how other moms be moms. But it does make me wonder what other moms think when they visit our little zoo, if they think anything at all.