Tag Archives: seasons of motherhood

The Little Things

Posted on by
2

"It's more fun when you help."

My children are learning how to cook and are at the point where they can do a lot by themselves.  They've learned a lot and are turning into pretty good cooks.  In fact, I can already tell they're both going to be better cooks than I am.  They enjoy trying new dishes and they take pride in selecting and preparing those dishes all by themselves.  

That's why I was a little surprised when my daughter asked if I was going to help this morning.  We have been trying to find an easy and yummy biscuit recipe.  I found one on-line and we modified it a little then they started mixing everything together.  I was working and continued after finding the new recipe since they seemed to have everything under control.  

Then my daughter asked if I was going to come help.  Wow!  Of course I got right up to help.  The recipe didn't take a lot of work so the biscuits were soon ready to go into the oven.  Neither daughter said anything more about it being fun when I was in the kitchen, but I could tell they were glad I had joined them.  The biscuits turned out great and a few minutes later we were at the table enjoying our freshly baked biscuits.

After breakfast I got back to work and my daughters got started with some of their school work.  They always have some work that they do on their own such as math practice or reading.  I got to thinking how when they were smaller I had to spend a lot more "hands on" time with them.  We had a lot of fun when they learned how to count or write the ABCs and when they memorized our address and phone number.  They don't need me as they as much now as they learn and I'm glad.  I want them to be self-learners as adults, so this is a good stepping stone.

As I typed away on my keyboard I thought about how much they enjoyed it when I joined them in the kitchen this morning. They didn't need me, but they wanted me.  How valuable was that?  How precious?  How fragile? 

As much as I want my children to be self-learners as adults, I want them to desire a close relationship with me as adults even more.  I got up from my work and picked up a book from my reading stack and sat down at the table where my daughter was working on math problems.  She didn't need any help, but I thought she might enjoy the silent company.  Sure enough, as I sat down she asked, "Are you joining me?"  I told her I was and got a hug in return.  That was my confirmation that I was on the right track.  It seemed like just one little thing, but maybe it wasn't so little after all.  Hhhhmmm.  That's something I'll have to think about more often.

With all the "little" things that draw our families closer and warm a parent's heart, I wish you love and joy!


A Quiet House

Posted on by
Reply

I love a quiet house.  We're a small family and I grew up in a small family, so I guess it's just what I'm used to.  I find I get my best work done early in the morning or late at night when everyone is still in bed, or has already turned in for the night.  The quietness allows my thoughts to run uninterrupted for more than five minutes at a time.  I can maintain a single train of thought all the way to completion and I can spread out all around my desk without needing to allow room for visitors.  

Somehow the quiet does not feel the same when the kids are away for the night or longer.  Even though I get plenty of work done, I miss them.  It doesn't matter that they might have been occupied or asleep had they been here at home.  It always reminds me that their days at home with me are quickly growing shorter.  It seems only yesterday that they were babies and toddlers.

Earlier today I was reminiscing with my snuggly child.  Through the years she has measured her height against mine regularly, noting each time she realized that she had grown a bit taller.  She no longer has to try to catch up to mom so much; her hands and and feet have already grown larger than mine.  It won't be long before she's as tall as I am, too.  As we sat together talking she suddenly realized that she is no longer a little girl and said that she wished that she were still a baby.  Of course she doesn't mean that, she's too busy enjoying her friends and exploring the bigger world of a being a teen.  What she really meant was that she yearned just a bit for those days when a good portion of our day was spent together reading books or playing and hugs from mom were more frequent and socially acceptable.

I miss those days, too, but I also enjoy the days we have together now.  We like working together in the kitchen.  We enjoy some of the same authors even though we don't read the books together any more.  And it's fun to discuss the possibilities that the future holds.

So although the season of rocking the children to sleep has passed and I no longer have to feed or bathe them, the closeness we feel for each other has not diminished.  Our relationship has changed and will continue as they grow up, and the love only grows stronger.  As this season prepares my children for that future date when they will be on their own, it also prepares me for that time when the house will be completely quiet.  That thought takes my breath away.

I think I will go make some noise.