I first came across Bunaglow ‘56 on Mrs. Matlock’s Alphabe Thursday link up. I loved her photos, her sense of humor and her joy of life. Since then I have found her on many blog lists, I guess that there are many who adore her. I hope you will be joining the throng of people that love her just as I have.
Please stop by her blog and share your thoughts on her wonderful post.
Life Will Get Busier
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| Grandma with my trio, the day Youngest was born. |
You know, they always said, “Life will get busier.”
Who were “they” you’re wondering?
Grandmas, aunties, middle aged women in the produce aisle.
Pretty much all the I women I knew who had older children.
And as I would haul the car seat (with Youngest in it) out of the vehicle while dropping off Eldest at school and Middlest at Playschool, I would mumble to myself that they mustn’t have known what they were talking about.Or at the very least, just didn’t remember what life was like with little ones.
How could anyone be busier than a mom with three little kids?
My life was chaos.
Busier?
It wasn’t possible.
Fast forward eight years, and here I sit with an almost 16 year old, an eleven year old and an eight year old.
Life is busy.
Every day seems to be busier than the last.
How could this be?
I no longer have to tie shoes or pour milk into sippy cups.
No one is clamoring at my leg to read a story or calling me to wipe a bum.
Yet I feel as though life has taken off and I’m in a race I didn’t train for.
As I pondered this hamster’s wheel I seem to be on.
I realized life seems more busy now, because it has grown outside the four walls of our Bungalow.
No longer is the busyness contained.
My children now have lives of their own.
Soccer tournaments in a city five hours away.
Piano lessons to be driven to.
Swimming lessons.
Conditioning.
Meeting up with friends.
Birthday parties.
The calendar is filled with their activities,
and The Agronomist and I share taxi duty.
I know… an old cliche.
But oh so very true.
With all the coming and going I didn’t like how our home was becoming
a weigh station where everyone dropped their things ate and slept.
I needed to do something.
They needed to stay home with me.
Homeschooling was sounding better and better.
I had always loved the little house on the prairie series.
Possibly moving to a remote Elk farm might do the trick.
But somehow I knew I might not be able to do this democratically.
So I decided to work within the parameters of our current
life.
life.
I haven’t mastered it quite yet.
But slowly I am realizing it is in the art of grabbing the moments.
Moments can be found if you look for them.
A cup of tea as they unwind from school.
Watching a Mythbusters together before supper.
Reading a chapter of Harry Potter out loud to her even though she can read it herself.
Saying yes to cooking some cupcakes even if it is awfully close to bedtime.
I’m holding on to the moments and trying to find opportunities for more.
Because I know these busy days will be over in another eight short years.
Instead I am trying to pause life for a moment several times each day,so that rather than feeling like I’m in a race I am ill prepared for,
I can walk the course instead…
and enjoy the scenery with my family.
xoxo,
(Visited 67 times, 1 visits today)
Dana, thanks so much for sharing your heart here! I, too, long to walk with my family, rather than race through life. We do homeschool, and having that time together as a family is one of the three main reasons we’ve chosen to do that for this season of life. But regardless, being intentional about seizing those moments is the key.
Just yesterday, I needed to run to the store in the afternoon, and my David (6 years old) asked if he could come with me. I, wanting some time alone, told him no; but I’ve regretted it ever since. Next time that situation arises, I’m definitely going to see it as an opportunity for some special one-on-one time with one of my precious sons. Live and learn, right?
Thanks for the encouraging reminder here in this post!
It crazies me everytime I remember that I just turned 27 last monday. What the heck? I was only 8 years old just yesterday! Now I’m almost THIRTY!
Dana, you always seem to hit the nail on the head. That is my life too. I am always telling my sister with her babies that it will get busier. She scoffs me. With a almost 17 yr old, 15 yr old and almost 13 yr old, I am running that race! I love it because soon they will be flying the coop {one more year when eldest is off} Sniff…so I work very little and spend my days at home organizing and being there for them, enjoying every crazy warp speed minute of it!
Hugs to you Dana!
I have been feeling the same way lately! Things just keep getting busier and busier.
Love all those pics, what a beautiful family. =)
This is perfection, sweet friend. Thank you for having Dana over today.
Also – what a treat – I spy a husband? lol
xoxo,
Tracy
Looks like so much fun. I’d be up for cupcakes before bedtime too. Your girls are beautiful!
So true…our calanders are filled with their activities over here too….but it is so awesome. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, plus I know it will come to an end.
Dana, this is beautiful. As an older woman and having gone through empty nest twice before, the best thing I can tell you is savor every second. Sleep later. It goes by fast and when they are happy in their own lives and your life is less busy there will be lots of time to savor the quiet. Only, sadly, sometimes it becomes hard to savor it then.
Gosh, what a downer comment I’m leaving you here.
How well I remember this phase, and you are right. It will pass quickly, so enjoy the moment!
And I agree with Jenny. Sometimes the empty nest thing is hard to savor. Other times, however, it’s quite lovely.
=)
Beautiful. Sweet. Touching. Thank you, Dana.
This morning I walked into my son’s bedroom to awaken him because he had overslept. There he was, 17 years old, with two teddy bears snuggled in his arms.
I stood there for a moment, photographing the image in my mind. Then I walked over to him, leaned in and kissed the top of his curly mop of hair. In a year he graduates from high school. I am choosing, like you, to savor the sweet moments before they are gone.
I had my littlest ones to myself for a few days, and it’s true. Teenagerhood is way busier and harder than the little ones. I’m going to pause myself. Thanks, Dana and JDaniel’s Mom.
I am still in the little kid phase. I will take your advice to heart and enjoy my kiddos while they are still somewhat contained. 🙂
I love that. Kids grow up entirely too fast and we need to seize those moments as a family. I am finding the house doesn’t need to be cleaned every day…it is okay to play. I have begun changing my priorities and am looking forward to summer fun…without a lot of interruptions!
As a mom of 5, 25 to 11 – I can say that when they the younger 4 were U12, life was a piece of cake. There are bedtimes and naptimes to diffuse ill-temperedness. And, they adore us. Like you said, when life moved beyond the walls of the bungelow (loved that) – life picked up speed. I don’t know if it’s so much the business of high school or the emotional intensity – but it packs a wallop at times!
My second son just graduated. I feel like a person who has been in mom-olympic training and now I am swimming against 5th graders – it is so much easier with my 10, 13, and 16 year old. Whew!
8 more years! LOL – I so get that! Walk it, savor it, hug it!
Thanks for the opportunity to visit here today JDaniel4’sMom. It made me sit back and think about how I want our summer to unfold. Thanks for being such a wonderful host!
Dana
what a great post! How touching! They grow up so quickly it’s so important to appreciate those moments. Great advice!
-Samantha
http://www.KreativeKaring.com
This made me teary eyed Dana!!! You have such a way with words!! hugs, cathy
I love this series, JD.
Because it lets me know more about the bloggers I follow.
What an opportunity you’ve created here.
In writing about Pausing for life, you’ve allowed us to Pause for our life.
Thank you.