By the end of the day after a
long series of running errands or really stress-filled weeks,
all the kids (and mommy) have a
bad case of crankiness.
Running errands and cleaning the house and such are just a plain necessary part of life. But, one morning I woke up and decided to dedicate my day to... a day centered around the kids! ... of course still speckled with my to-dos.
After dropping Steve off, we enjoyed a couple hours at Barnes & Noble - just anything to get out of our tiny place! Oh my, our book store is fantastic... stocked with great children's books, puppets, building block stations, train table set, and a ton of those noisy toys that you wouldn't dare bring home. We tried to clean up the books, toys, and blocks strewn everywhere - our kids are great at leaving lots of evidance of our presence! After trying to juggle changing two kids' diapers, we eventually made our way to this amazing park.
Oh it was dreamy - huge pond full of ducks that waddle right next to you, green grass and trees scattered around, big blue sky, a long wrap-around walking lane, and a few fun playgrounds. Brayden and Hailey laughed with glee as they threw those duckies every last bit of our morning snack :). As the helicopter flew loudly over, all the seagulls swarmed around us in circles overhead. The kids were all giggles - as I pushed them in the swings - until it was time to go! Noticing that we were going to be late to our city's library toddler time, we were off in the car to our next adventure. We were clapping our hands, singing, and listening to stories. Hailey was of course toddling around waving and saying hi to
everyone around. I then
tried to frantically run around gathering books to check out while at the same time
trying to keep the kiddos happy and not lost! Just then, Brayden knocked Hailey completely flat on her head twice poor girl... and the whole library heard her screams. And I felt like knocking something over too. Juggling my little girl with a bump on her head, my big tummy, a bag full of books, and trying to hold my little boy's hand, we eventually crossed the street and made it into the car seats
once again.
Well, after a fun morning of trying to live-in-the-moment, we were all once again a little cranky towards the end :). BUT, laughing with Brayden that day and feeling of his hugs that night ... I felt that day had been a success (even though the house was a current train wreck). After putting those cute kids down for the sleep they desperately needed, I scanned the family room and thought...
Someday I just might miss the puzzles scattered across the kitchen table that has crusted oatmeal. I just might miss the days when my little girl grins widely with her three teeth. I just might miss days like this. It's so important to remember to create MOMENTS where your children can enjoy being kids and where you can enjoy being a mother.
I adore this essay from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anna Quindlen (except found in my favorite book A Mother's Book of Secrets):
"Everything in all the books I once pored over is finished for me now. Penelope Leah. Berry Brazelton. Dr. Spock. The ones of sibling rivalry and sleeping through the night and early childhood education, all grown obsolete. Along with
Goodnight Moon and
Where the Wild Things Are, they are battered, spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages, dust would rise like memories... The biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make.... I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of [my children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."
So, I hope we all can remember to have moments this week getting on our hands and knees, reading books cuddled up together, and laughing out loud with our little ones... even in the midst of the craziness of the week! What matters most is that our children know- without a doubt - of our deep love for them. And what they crave most is YOU.
