You know you've been a houseparent at Gateway Woods when...

In honor of our last week as Lead Houseparents at the Cypress House, I've compiled a list of things that I have thought over the years "if you've been a houseparent..."  The list is not exhaustive and I know there are many others that could be added, but here is what I've come up with:

You can park a 15 passenger van with no sweat.

All your hygiene products have a yellow COSMTCHA sticker on them.

You dread Fridays and look forward to Mondays.

You get excited about grass that needs mowed and weeds in the flower beds.

You realize at 9PM that you need milk and eggs for breakfast in the morning - no big deal, take a stroll to the food room (as long as it isn't Monday)

You know the Nutrition Video by heart.

You find yourself dating and labeling all your food with masking tape and a Sharpie.

Organic beet juice?  Chocolate Skittles?  In mass quantities?  Why not.

Your stomach drops when you hear this go off at 3AM.

But you have a nice greenish-glow nightlight to sleep by!

You are thrilled to find something dirty: van, garage, barn, etc.  knowing it makes for good consequence work or paid jobs

While at church you can never look someone in the eye, you are constantly looking around and counting heads.

You feel like you are singing some sort of Christmas song when climbing in the van: 7 residents, 3 Suvar kids, 2 houseparents, and a wonderful much needed Assistant!

You are among the few who know how to read this:

Cabin Fever goes to a whole new level.

You look forward to August and get that sinking feeling when you think about the end of May.

You've reassured a 16-year-old inner city teen that the Amish are not out to get him and that the cows in the barn will not eat him.

You find it difficult to make a meal for less than 12 people.

And you find, despite the hurt, the exhaustion, and the tears, you can turn right around and welcome another hurting child into your home (only by the grace of God!)