Life, Faith, Home, School - Friday Reflection...

Oct. 15, 2009 - Friday Reflection...

I feel like we are getting into the school groove, and the key word in this is: flexibility!

Oh, how hard it is for me to learn this word! But OH, how necessary.

I have been feeling good, though, about having a plan....then having the wisdom (well, most of the time) to know when to deviate from it...

...when playing a game is more important than checking something off a list (and hey, they learn so much through games, too!)...

...when settling in under snuggly blankets to watch a half-hour "Thomas the Train" movie is just the thing to get Jo-Jo to sleep, and thus ensure about 2 hours of quiet lunch and school time for the older two -- even though watching TV during the weekdays is reallllly not on "the list"...

...when I'm interrupted during a period of 'me time' reading or at the computer by Jo-Jo needing me to take him potty, Baz wanting to show me a game he just made up, or Espen asking if he can do a load of laundry -- I just have to give thanks for their learning, creativity, and desire to be helpful -- and I can take a break from "my" time to be present to them, knowing it'll all even out in the end....

I was talking with my mom last week when she was over to play with the boys, and she encouraged me, "Enjoy these day -- you will miss them someday!" She and Dad are now "empty-nesters", though I think I still keep them busy enough with my little requests! -- but they do have a different amount of time just alone with each other. They are more in love than ever -- but the absence of the pitter-patter of the feet of their kids does still affect them. (I'm only two happy to loan 3 sets of feet to pitter patter around!...but its still not the same).

I try to keep that perspective in my days, when

- it's only 1:30, and seems like it should have been 5:00 hours ago. WHERE is TALLDAAAAAAD? Save me!

-cooperation is low from them or me, for whatever task we may be trying to accomplish

-this baby in my belly is kicking my ribs, and its losing its cuteness

-we're tired, cranky or hungry

Because, though I haven't experienced what my parents are going through right now, I know that someday --

- 1:30 to 5:00 will still seem long, but I don't have them to share it with...

- I will wish for them to be here, uncooperative or not, to fill my afternoon with their laughter and goofiness

-this baby won't be a baby anymore...

-I'll only be cooking for two, I can sleep whenever *I* want, and my crankiness might be from seeing them too seldom.

I know those days will come, even as I know that some days I fail to appreciate what we're going through right now. What a balance to try to strike in this life.

It's a rollercoaster, isn't it? Enjoy the ride.

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