Tag: motherhood

Sorting Out This Kindergarten Thing

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Mama

Tomorrow my one and only child starts kindergarten. . . and I just don’t know what to say about that. He, on the other hand, has plenty to say. The first words out of his mouth this morning were, “I’m so excited to start kindergarten tomorrow!”

Really? Does he have to be quite so excited about the end of my life as I know it? Okay, so that’s a bit over-dramatic, but kind of true. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for almost six years now and I have embraced everything that brings, but at 8:40 tomorrow morning everything changes.

Tomorrow I place my eager child into the hands of caring, capable people. I leave my son at a top-rated school to be well educated. I don’t have to pack lunches, I don’t have to write a preschool check, and I don’t have to do much of anything for almost eight straight hours, five days a week, for the next several months. Hmmm. . . maybe I have underestimated the situation.

Seriously, I will miss having my little one under foot, visiting the zoo, museums and other destinations during the weekdays, playing with our mommy club friends and nap time. I’ll miss the every-other-day Playdoh dates, coloring together and train track building, but maybe, just maybe. . . after I polish off a box of tissue tomorrow, I’ll be able to look on the brighter side of public education and embrace my new life as I’ll know it. I mean I’ve already joined the PTA, so I must be on my way!

photo credit: La rentrée via photopin (license)

Rocking My Mama-Made World

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Mama

Mam-Made World — All Grown Up! My son’s last day of preschool

Today I dropped off my son for his last day of preschool (and I thought the first day was tough). A quick hug, watering eyes, speedy exit and several tissues later, I finally admitted my comfortable little mama-made world was about to be rocked.

As much as I want to dig my heels into this season of life, only summer separates my son from school; which means the last five glorious, fun-filled, stay-at-home-mom years will quickly become a thing of the past. I made it through Kindergarten Roundup (though I declared it “the beginning of the end”), I made it through the paperwork, and I even made it through the screening, but today I just couldn’t hold it together. . . and yes, I’ve sufficiently soaked, dabbed and blown my way through several Kleenex just writing this little post.

The years between birth and boyhood went by so swiftly. We’re talking Lightning McQueen ka chow quick! I tried my darndest to enjoy the big and little moments, the sadness and the laughter and the sick and silly days, but I still want more. I want to rock my son (all 43 pounds and 43 inches of him) to sleep at night. I want to sing more “pretty songs” before bed. I want to read more silly stories and I want to giggle until our sides are sore. So many people told me it would be a blur, and they were right. But as for this family, I seriously believe we pulled a few Gs on our way to where we are now.

I know each day holds new adventures and the future promises loads of fun, but when you have been blessed with a sensational son, a supportive family and fabulous friends, it’s hard to believe that “Phase Two” will somehow live up to this mom’s thus far amazing life. So tonight I’ll sneak one last kiss from my sleeping child’s cheek and whisper “I love you” in his ear. I think that will be enough; yes, I know that it is plenty.

Simplifying My New Year

Posted on January 1, 2016January 2, 2016 by Mama

In bed by 1 and out by 9 — not a bad way to start my 2016. My son did decide it was time to get out of bed about 7:45, but I managed to shoo my boys out of the room, plop a cool pillow over my head and grab another hour’s sleep. When I woke, it was to bacon and breakfast burritos, nice kisses and warm new year wishes. It’s good to be me.

Unfortunately, other than leisurely enjoying a bit of the Rose Bowl Parade, my day moved pretty swiftly as I cooked and cleaned for our family Christmas 2.0. It was a nice family gathering, dinner was simple and I think we all had a good evening. . . especially my son who obviously enjoyed a whole new round of gifts.

Anyway, other than the duties that had to be done, I did manage to give some thought to my goals for this new year, since that’s apparently what one does on this day. I have noticed lately that there seems to be a trend to simplify all of one’s resolutions into one meaningful word. I gotta tell ya, I’m digging this idea because when I make a list of dos and don’ts I inevitably leave out a few good ones here and there and never know what the proper resolution etiquette might be. Does it count as a “real” resolution if it’s not on the list by January 1?

So I’ve decided that I like this new simple way of doing things so much that I’m fully embracing this approach and choosing my word for 2016 as “simplify.” (Is that cheating?) Well the way I figure it, so many things can come from simplifying my life: more time to enjoy my family, more time to enjoy the hobbies that really make me happy, more time to read a few books, more time experiencing God and more time not feeling guilty that I didn’t do the many things I put on my platter while wading through clutter and old shoes.

I plan to clean out closets, get rid of “skinny girl” clothes I haven’t worn in years, donate crafty crap that I’ll never use, say “no” to more people, file family paperwork on a regular basis, shred stuff, say yes to quiet moments, read my Bible more because it calms my Spirit, and spend more time playing childish games, reading books with and listening to my son. See, simplify.

So as I think about my goals for the coming year, I leave you with a visual interpretation of how an over-committed, complicated and cluttered life makes me feel (courtesy of my five-year old’s playtime with his newest toys). Happy New Year!

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