Friday, September 7, 2012

Just a season


A friend of mine on Facebook posted this picture on Tuesday and it made me LAUGH. 

I have a confession to make. I see all these moms posting pictures of their kids first days of school and talk about how they cried when the dropped them off, yada yada yada.....but I find myself secretly thinking, oh my word, how magical would it be to have time to myself every.single.day of the week!?!?! 

This morning I had a LONG list of errands to run, which included several stops to stores and running in and out of places with my two children. One of these children has a voice that can sound like nails on a chalkboard is a little whiny but generally okay with running errands, especially when those errands involve going to Sonic for a limeaid. The other child is fine in the car but when he's out he wants to be crawling and putting his mouth on everything, not sitting nicely in a car or even in the Ergo sometimes. Oy. This morning was exhausting! But life is busy and there are things to be done! I know that before I know it, I will have kids in school and I will miss hauling them in and out of their car seats while running errands. Or at least I think I will right? :) 

There are so many things about this season of life that I am that are challenging. For one, maintaining my home is near impossible. I keep thinking that I just can't get anything done while my kids are awake....or sometimes even when they are sleeping. I struggle with being productive during nap time...or eating a popsicle and watching an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Mama needs a break sometimes! I have ministries that I am a part of that need my attention, friendships to maintain, projects pinned that I want to accomplish, meals to organize for sick friends and new mothers, real estate deals to do (which are a priority as they are my job!), thank you cards to write, birthday cards to send, devotional and prayer journal writing to do and I just can't help but think that I will never really be able to accomplish anything until my kids are in school. Which, by the way, is a ways off considering my youngest just turned one. 

But then I learned of a friend of a friend who lost their 4 year old daughter in a tragic accident yesterday and my heart physically aches for this family. Being the Facebook stalker that I am, I looked at the family's page and saw a picture of a 4 year old who is now resting in the arms of Jesus while her family grieves and mourns. Oh how this mother probably wishes that she could have a home messed up with barbies, legos and dollhouse furniture....how she wishes that she had a whiny 4 year old preventing her from making a phone call....how she wishes that she had laundry baskets full of pink laundry to wash, dry, fold and then put away.....how she wishes..... 

And so today I sit blogging amidst chaos in my kitchen, barkdust tracked in from Emersyn playing outside yesterday, carpet lightly stained pink from her stepping on her popsicle and then walking through the entire downstairs, and toys strewn everywhere in my living room. This is just a season. And while the OCD in me longs to have order and organization, my body and mind is just too tired at the end of the day. But that's not what matters....what matters is hearing my daughter singing to her babies in her room while she's supposed to be napping and hearing Everett use his binky as a hammer on the side of his crib while he too is supposed to be napping. I'm grateful for my messy little distractions and know that there will be a time that I'll get my house back under control and I'll have time to accomplish the things that I want to. In the meantime I'll find time here and there and do what I can. This may involve staying up late or getting up early at times but those little munchkins are worth it. 

6 comments:

Catherine Silver said...

Thank you for this reminder that these moments are fleeting. I have a 3 year old and 7 month old and lately, the naps have NOT coincided, meaning that it is a LONG day between 7am when my husband leaves, and 6:30 or 7 when he returns. I had been looking forward to the time when time would be my own, to accomplish things too. Instead, I have to remember the way he tries to pick her up, or hands her a toy, or she gets SO excited for bath time.

Melissa said...

So sad about them losing their child. What kind of accident, if i can ask that? I will be praying for them. I could cry & I don't even know them!

The Lenz Family said...

This is such an important thing to remember. My youngest had a health scare last spring, and I remember praying for her to go back to her little hurricane self. I often think of that scary weekend at the ER after dreaming of having a clean living room. The toys on the floor just don’t matter.

Unknown said...

Great post Patti. -S

KellyW said...

I am right there with you. Ryan is now in PRe-K 3 days a week from 9-2. I LOVE having the time to run errands, get groceries, eat in the quiet, and get my house together. It has come with mixed emotions. I miss him when he's gone. There are days I wish he was shopping with me or I was fixing him a pb&j for lunch, or I was reading him a nap time story. Our new routine has been good for us though. We really cherish the time we are together now. Some separation has been so good for our relationship. When I am driving and I look into my FIsher Price mirror and see an empty carseat, I get a little sad, but I know he is having fun at school. I eat up the moments when he is home.
I get sad knowing that his little brother should be in the back seat with him, helping me walk him into school, pulling the dog's fur, and flinging food all over my floors. But knowing he's with Jesus helps with the pain. I know exactly where you're coming from and yes, I do miss my little shopper...sometimes. But then I think of all the fun he is having and it makes my heart smile.

OurLittleBlessingS said...

We are in the same season of life as well. Messy house always, even after hours of cleaning, errands getting done w/ meltdowns, and me napping when they are! Youre not alone, that is for sure.

And that is so horrible to hear of your friends friend:( i cannot even imagine their pain.