Don't mind me...

...I am the mom of toddlers.

Don't mind me. I am the woman pushing the grocery cart whose children are literally sitting on top of one another and giggling about it.

Don't mind me. I'm the mommy who hangs her laundry out to dry just so I can feel like I am doing something while the kids splash in puddles that were previously undiscovered outside.

Don't mind the fact that when I speak to you, I often repeat my imperative sentences without even realizing I am doing so.

Don't mind me. I happen to be the one who feeds the squirrels, birds, and bunnies so that my children are entertained for 30 seconds (or if I'm lucky, 45 seconds) when the creatures arrive to eat so I can pour myself some tea without being begged or clawed for something.

Don't mind the fact that I prefer e-mail, facebook, or texting over phone conversations to avoid the inevitable meltdown, accident, or injury that commences when the phone rings.

Don't mind me. I am the parent who blushes when my child reaches out and grabs every waitress walking by just so she can recite her ever-exciting news: "Me be three in August!"

Don't mind me. I have some blood, lots of food, and plenty of snot rubbed into my shirt today, and I don't feel the need to change shirts.

Don't mind the inability to capture all four members of our family looking the same direction, let alone smiling at the same time for a family photo.

Don't mind me. I am the mom of toddlers.

This is honestly one of the moments we captured on 4th of July. No photoshop involved. :)

Do mind, however, that I take a little extra time to play in the rain and splash in the puddles on gloomy days. 

Do mind that my house looks just like yours--sprinkled with toys and sippy cups from the last seven meals.

Do mind that my children chortle and snicker at their own silliness (and mine too on occasion).

Do mind that I am more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, seeking of good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled than I was before kids (or so I hope).

And do mind that I will look more like Jesus at the end of this journey called parenthood than I did before I began it.

I am a mom.