Lately … I have been feeling a tug to be home more. To be quiet and still. To focus my priorities better. To have less on my plate and more in my heart.
It’s hard to juggle everything. Especially for mothers. Throw in homeschooling, church activities/responsibilities, four young children, a husband with a very demanding job, a business to run and laundry as high as my ceiling… it can really seem like too much some days and feel incredibly overwhelming.
And so I have made a promise to myself for this upcoming fall … to do a little less in the world and to focus more as my job as a mother and a wife.
I heard this poem yesterday and it really struck a chord with me. I cried when I heard the words because how true it is – how many times have I become short with my words to my girls if they didn’t tidy their room up as well as they should … or if they need an extra (25) books read to them at night … or if they are slow to put on their shoes when we are in a hurry to get out the door …
One day, I’ll just open the door and jump into the car without any delay, without a little baby on hip, without a little child’s hand to hold, with the latest VBS CD playing silly fun songs in the Suburban. And that, quite honestly makes me sad! I don’t want to rush these days! Don’t get me wrong – I don’t want to deny the growth of our family and all the beautiful memories to come, but I also want to CHERISH and ENJOY these incredible days of us all being together under one roof at one time. Even if it means two of the four climb into bed with us at night 99% of the time…
I need to make the most of the years that I have with these children of mine … and to not get caught up in the world, the schedules, the go-go-go mentality of today’s society … read this poem and tell me what you think …
“Oatmeal Kisses”
One of these days you’ll find your patience thinning with your kids and you’ll say, “Why don’t you just grow up and act your age!”
And they will…
Or, “You guys get outside and find something to do — without hurting each other And don’t slam the door!”
And they don’t.
You’ll straighten their bedrooms until it’s all neat and tidy, toys displayed on the shelf, hangers in the closet, animals caged. You’ll scold, “Now I want it to stay this way!”
And it will…
You will prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn’t had all the olives picked out and a cake with no finger traces in the icing and you’ll say,
“Now this is a meal for company.”
And you will eat it alone…
You’ll say, “I want complete privacy on the phone. No screaming, Do you hear me?” And no one will answer.
{no more fairytale make-believing}
No more plastic tablecloths stained.
No more dandelion bouquets.
No more iron-on patches.
No more wet, knotted shoelaces, muddy boots or rubber bands for ponytails.
{no more backyard pedicures}
Imagine…. a lipstick with a point,
no babysitters for New Years Eve,
washing clothes only once a week,
no PTA meetings or silly school plays where your child is a tree,
no car pools, blaring stereos or forgotten lunch money.
{no more sink baths}
No more Christmas presents made of library paste and toothpicks,
no wet oatmeal kisses, no more tooth fairy, no more giggles in the dark,
scraped knees to kiss or sticky fingers to clean.
Only a voice asking, “Why don’t you grow up?”
And the silence echoes: “I did”.
There’s plenty of time for me to stay busy, go on coffee dates, host perfect dinner parties, watch the latest chick flick or get monthly pedicures with girlfriends …. later.
But for now, this is my season of life. And I want to embrace it …
by Gigi
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