A compliment...

I got a compliment today. It was exactly what I needed. Thank goodness for the tender mercies of the Lord. Last week we got a newborn baby boy from the hospital to foster. I was a little worried about how the kids would react to a baby, but they have been the best team since we got him. Dustin hold hims and talks about how much he loves babies. "I just loooove babies," he coos. "Boy babies, girl babies...all kinds of babies!" And Audrey is a little mommy and worries about him constantly. So far, he has been an adorable little baby, and sleeps and eats well. But he is a newborn, (10 days old today) and a newborn = no sleep. If I ever said I was exhausted before, I lied. A 3-year-old, a 2-year-old, and a newborn is a whole new level of zombie-like behavior I didn't even know I was capable of. The first weekend we had him, my best friend was in town from Phoenix for a funeral, and I got to stay up late for girls nights, go to movies, and help a little with the funeral. Thank goodness she was here, because she stayed up with me when the baby had his days and nights mixed up, and helped me with the kiddos. But, it also meant I was on the go non-stop for 4 days, and up all night. I got so tired I got myself sick. Then Audrey got sick, then the baby got sick, but thankfully, Dustin and Tim have been just fine!

This all brings me to today, and the compliment that made my day. After finding out this morning that the baby has an ear infection, I picked up Dustin from his Valentine party at pre-school and drove to Wal-mart to pick up the prescription. I was feeling inadequate, and sick, and wondering if I was going to get a shower today. And then Dustin spilled his red berry smoothie all over the back seat (I was so far into zombie mode that I didn't even care). I pulled into the parking lot and unloaded everyone and started walking to the front. Dustin took Audrey's hand to cross the road, and then grabbed onto my hand. They were chatting to me about puddles and Valentines. When we got to the front, a sweet little old lady came up to me and said, "You must be a patient and loving mother to have such good and beautiful children."
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I was so shocked and grateful. Not many people compliment mothering. It's usually the opposite. Granted, she caught me at a good moment, and I definitely am not patient and loving all the time. But it restored faith in myself. I can do this. I may not be doing everything right, but at least I'm doing some things right ;) And every once in a great while...it shows.