Applicant #44: Amy Allen

Amy Allen is a mom from Maple Valley.

My video application:

A bit about me:

I am Amy. I am a stay at home mom to six children. Six awesome, love-able, frustrating, wonderful, tear-my-hair out children ages 14 down to 3!

When people ask me how I do it, I tell them that I'm a little bit kooky. But I started that way, the children didn't make me that way. It's the only thing I can figure that explains how much I love the craziness of my household and all the challenges(laundry!) that come with it!

I'm dreamin' and schemin' to be the Verity Mom because I'm well versed, or at least highly opinionated, in every topic from potty training, thumb sucking and getting your baby to sleep through the night, to having "the talk" with your children and teaching them integrity and good decision making.

But mostly I hope to share my desire that my children and your children should feel safe at home-that it is a haven from the world. So no matter what is going on at school or anywhere else, they know they can be comfortable and happy in their own home and know that open arms and lots of hugs await them.

Does this mean they get whatever they want? Heck, no! There are rules people. But rules can be taught with love and kindness.

Does this mean that I never get frustrated or mad? Heck, no again! But it means that I always aim for a home where laughter and fun are part of most everything we do.

This has been my job for 14 years and so far so good.

Of course I've done other things, like... being featured on the TLC show HomeMade simple and hosting a concert in my house, going through undergrad and graduate degrees with my husband, moving 14 times in 15 years of marriage, losing 30 pounds 6 times(after each kid), decorating on a dime, blogging at Amysspoonfulofsugar.blogspot.com, cooking for a spouse who is allergic to everything under the sun!, having dance parties in the kitchen, and making homemade bread!

But mainly I'm a mom. A tired, busy mom. Aren't we all?

My blog post:

Kate and Julia are gone. They left yesterday to go to Long Beach, Wa with their cousins. (you have to love the ocean to understand the concept of going this time of year) They will be back tomorrow. But I miss them terribly. I know the time will be short that they are away from me. But you have to understand, they are MY girls. No matter what life brings, no matter who life brings to them, they will always be MY girls.

As we got them packed yesterday, I felt this huge awareness come upon me of how short a time I really have them with me. It will feel like no time has passed before I am helping them pack for college. It will feel like no time before I walk by their room and stand in the doorway just to feel close to them again. Before I sit on their beds and smell their pillows. Before I have to pace myself from calling them everyday to see how they are doing.

And just when I have adjusted to Kate and Julia being gone, possibly being married, it will be Charlie and then Anne Marie's turn. And I will miss the way that Charlie will randomly sing in an opera voice, or the deep bellied giggle that Anne Marie lets out from time to time.

I can't even bear to contemplate Henry and Nora leaving, I haven't had them that long!

Everyone tells you how your life will change when you have a baby. Not many people mention that it's actually you that changes. That if you don't let parenthood change you, then you are missing out on the greatest opportunity for growth of your entire lifetime.

I don't want to lose my memories of my children, my life with them. I want to keep it all recorded in my mind, forever. Every little bit of it. My grandmother passed away from dementia related, stuff. I remember the first time I saw her after she really started to forget. She had to be told who I was. I hid my tears and just told her I loved her. Her short term memories were gone for the most part. But she could remember things from long ago. I know that dementia kind of runs in the family. So everytime I forget something, I panic a little. But after seeing that many of my grandma's older memories were there, I hope that the Lord will be merciful to me and let me remember a few things. Like my wedding day, and everything since then. It doesn't feel like I'm asking too much.

So I will await the arrival of my two oldest. This will not be the last time I will wait excitedly to see them. When they get off the plane to come home for Christmas. When they arrive from wherever they served their missions. When they walk out of the Bride's room, all in white. When we rush to the hospital to see them with their new babies. When at the end of my life, I hang on just a little longer so that all of my children can be there.

Really, I feel spoiled. Should one person possibly be allowed to feel this much joy? And why does so much joy make you cry? And why do my tears not taste salty? (sorry, but is it weird that they DON'T taste salty?) And will I ever NOT miss them when they leave?

I'm pretty sure that's the only curse of motherhood, having to watch time fly, and not being able to do a thing about it.

Amy