Multiplicity

"If I could be an octowife I would, to have 8 of you." :)

In the mid 90’s a movie called “Multiplicity” came out starring Michael Keaton and Andie MacDowell. In a nutshell Michael Keaton’s character finds a way to clone himself. He does it one time, and finds that even having two of him just isn’t enough to go around. So he does this again and again and again…until finally his world spins out of control, and the inevitable Hollywood plot of “too much of a good thing” plays out. It’s a really cute movie with lots of laughs, and it really makes you think…I wonder what it would be like to clone myself.

Have you ever thought to yourself “I need two of me just to get things done around here!” Maybe you have even caught yourself saying that out loud to your kids or hubby in a frustrated moment. Looking back on my childhood now, I am amazed at how my mother worked a full time job, and ran our house as if she was a stay at home mom. For 10 hours a day she ran her own hair salon (which was wildly successful in our town), and then came home to make a hot dinner for the family. Laundry was always done, our house was always neat and tidy, she helped me with my home work and never missed any of her children’s after school activities. And when I say never, I mean NEVER! In all my life I bet my mom got to eat her dinner when it was hot maybe 10 times! She was always waiting on her family.

Now that I’m grown, and have kids of my own I can’t imagine putting in the hours she put in, and doing all she did. I wonder how many times she said in her head “If only there were more of me to go around!” I’ll bet it was a lot.

A funny thing about life is that when we are in times of total chaos, and it seems like you are the only one who can get the job done…there is a funny thing that is happening all around you that you might not be aware of…people are watching. And the seriousness of that is the people who are watching are the only people who truly matter in your life. People like your children and your spouse! The truth is that we simply can’t clone ourselves. We can only do what we are capable of. And here is a quick tip...what we are capable of varies from day to day based on what is happening around us. And even when you are giving your best to your familiy you are still going to have failures. These failures are not preventable for 1 reason…YOU ARE HUMAN!

Maybe you have so much going on right now that you just can’t get it done alone, and you still don’t have the help you need…maybe you are just to afraid to ask for help.Maybe other peoples expectations of you are just simply unrealistic. Eitherway, you need to remember that while things are crazy those who love you don’t need you to be 100% of everything 100% of the time. All you need to be is 100% of the same person 100% of the time. So you drop the ball here and there….so what! Your family doesn’t need a perfect mom or wife…they just need a cool head, that reacts the same way under pressure as they do when things are on track.

The next time you find yourself wanting to multiply yourself, I want to encourage you to take a step back, think about who it is you are pleasing, and is whatever you are working on really worth the pressure. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn't. You need to recognize the differnce between those two. Ask for some help…and sometimes, when the time is right…just let it lay for a day. More than likely it will be there for you to work on tomorrow. You don't have to be an "Octowife!" You just need to be filled with Joy, and shine brightly for those you love, and those who love you.

Oh…here is a funny link from the movie “Multiplicity.” Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vILowPrMMrM