Why small success? Because that’s the only kind I know! Even the big ones come in small steps. Here’s my paltry offering for the week.

1. Took the kids to the swimming pool. Doesn’t sound like much, but last year I was afraid to take them all swimming without another adult along. With only one adult for a one-year-old, a two-year-old, and a six-year-old who still needed a little supervision, I feared a drowning. It’s amazing what a year of maturity will do. Now the two oldest can play independently at the pool, and the two youngest are slightly less erratic and crazy.
2. Wrote an introductory letter to our sponsored child. For at least a decade we’ve sponsored a child through Unbound. We first sponsored a Guatemalan boy, then an Indian girl. Last week we received a photo of the young Honduran boy who will be our sponsor child. While our financial aid is consistent, our personal letters to the children have been infrequent – and I’m a writer! What’s with that? I’ve committed to regular communication with Dario, and we’re eager to learn more about him and his family.
3. Researched suitable reptilian/amphibian boarders. To fulfill the requirements for a Boy Scout merit badge, my son is required to make extensive, regular observations of a reptile or amphibian. I took my pet-deprived gang to a large pet store where we perused all manner of creatures, including sting-rays in the touch tank. My conditions were: (a) no animal that is likely to outlive me (b) minimal maintenance and expense (no heat lamps, filtration systems, etc.) and (c) a small living space – nothing larger than a ten-gallon tank. Conclusion: the sedentary Pac-Man frog may fit the bill. If you know some reason as to why this creature would not make a suitable pet, speak now or forever hold your peace.
   

   The only Pac-Man I know how to feed and care for.

4. I let my seven-year-old tackle big jobs to earn some cash. My daughter has her heart set on an American Girl Terrier Puppy. My typical response to these types of requests is, “Save your money.” Dissatisfied with the number of weeks it will take for her to save enough commission (we do commission, not allowance a la Dave Ramsey), she asked for opportunities to earn some extra cash. In response to her persistence and ambition, I allowed her to attempt some jobs I wouldn’t ordinarily think to ask her to tackle: cleaning some windows and the interior of our minivan. Despite her age and size, she did a darn-good job. I see the future, and it’s spelled D-E-L-E-G-A-T-I-O-N.
5. Haven’t run home crying – yet. Thanks to the generosity and support of my husband, I’m spending several days at the Catholic Writers Guild Conference Live in a neighboring state. I have never been away from all of my children overnight. While the peace, quiet, and autonomy are a wonderful respite, I miss my kids. I miss their noise, their messes, their sweet smiles and laughter, and their pudgy, dirty little hands. Despite becoming verklempt a couple of times, I’ve managed to stay put and enjoy the conference without indulging temptations to hightail it home.

That’s all I’ve got. Celebrate more small successes over at CatholicMom.com.

Have you had any small successes this week?

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