I have a bit of a confession to admit to you… when you come into the preschool each day pushing your strollers, carrying your toddlers, dropping off those little preschoolers… I feel a tinge of jealousy. With all of my littles in elementary and middle school, I have entered a new phase of motherhood. Do you know when it really hit me? As we were making the trek back from the lake this past week, I looked to the back of the van and realized that it was… quiet. Seriously. There was no crying or whining or anyone needing their binky or a diaper change. It was nice. But, it also hit me like a ton of bricks: I no longer have little ones. They need me as much as they ever did but, in a different way. Gone are these days:
No, I’m not bragging. And, those were some tough times that I remember well. I remember when I took this picture. I was close to tears out of frustration and exhaustion. We had pulled the van over because the girls really wanted to sit together.
So, Aaron carefully pulled out the car seats and re-installed them so that they could be in the back together. We loved the idea of our three little girls wanting to be together.
It was all fine and dandy until he got back on the road and all heck broke loose!
Do I remember why they were screaming and crying? No.
But I do remember mentally thinking in my head that I had a choice: I could choose to get mad and upset and yell (which would ruin my day and everyone else’s) or I could choose to view the situation with a different perspective: a perspective from a mom who brought three precious little, strong-headed girls into the world and knows that they are going to get tired and fight at times and that those moments rarely last long, a mom who knew that this was a phase of life that would be gone quickly.
So, I chose that perspective. I smiled to myself, grabbed my camera, and captured the moment.
Perspective. It is everything.
I teach a couple teacher education courses at Avila and at the end of each class, I like to share this. Have you seen it? Click on the link to read it.
PERCEPTION It’s funny how sometimes we miss the beauty that is all around us.
Remember this guy?
Yep, Ferris Buehler. He said (and I quote) : “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and take a look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
As a society, we are often in a hurry: rushing to make it to appointments, rushing to be on time, stressing about getting our littles potty trained, ready to get through the terrible twos, and on and on.
I’m not going to say it… you know, that thing you hear all the time… “someday you will miss this.” I loved every moment (well, maybe not every) of my girls being little but I also love watching them grow and change and the things that come with it. (Kids who can do their own laundry, who ask deep questions about life, who run 5k’s with you, etc)
So, while this time of year tends to get hectic and stressful as we begin feeling a bit ready to send the kids back to school, I challenge you to slow down and look for the beauty that is all around you.
Embrace every moment, slow down, and look for the beauty in your life.
Aldersgate Preschool 