When Do I Get My Life Back?

     It is undeniable that having children changes your life forever. The positive changes far exceed any drawbacks one might come up with, but I think we've all been in that same boat of wondering, When do I get my life back?

     I had one of those moments this past weekend. I'm confident that being sick, my daughter being sick, a seemingly demanding nursing infant, an insanely busy week, and non-restful nights of "sleep" (if you can call it that) all were contributing to the feeling. Ironically, the selfish thought crossed my mind as we were scurrying around for church this past Sunday, only to once again leave 5 minutes late. 

     As we left late for church, feeling as though we had packed up half our house just to be gone for the next several hours, that thought entered my mind. When do I get my life back? Right now, life consists of feeding a baby, trying to keep up with the energy of a toddler, tripping over all of their stuff while trying to locate anything that resembles me pre-babies, never having even 15 seconds to use the restroom alone...you get the idea.

     For me, the question of wondering when I get my life back is a selfish one, and I realized that about as soon as I thought it. Life is right in front of me. My children and my husband bring life to what would otherwise be just an existence. Even if it is hectic, full, interrupted, and tiring, I wouldn't dare trade it. 

     A friend once told me that once she realized life was no longer (and had never been) about her, she was a much better Mom to her children who needed her. Those same words resonate deep in me, especially with two young children at home, and not much time left in the day for anything. God has brought me these two children to glorify Himself and bring joy to me, not to frustrate me or inconvenience me. 

     Children interrupt life. Period.  Tasks that should take 5 minutes may end up requiring 45. It's just the way it goes. But I'm reminded that the interruption is incredibly good and wonderful! When you're watching the (boring) news on TV, and someone comes on and says, "We interrupt this news program to bring you breaking news..." that is life with kids! Life before kids, though it was controlled, picked up, and quiet, was just the everyday news program. And then you have a child, and he/she interrupts your boring, mundane predictable life to bring you BREAKING news! 

     So when do you get your life back, you might still be wondering? It's right in front of you. It's in the backseat of your minivan. It's outside on the swing set. It's in the living room playing a game. It's at your table eating dinner with you. Thank God we are given LIFE through the lives of our children!