The heavy rain was pouring down onto the saturated soil for hours, producing thumping sounds off my tilted roof. The tallest trees blew side to side like they were dancing to the sounds they were hearing. Outside was still, with no movement other than the thick rain, chilly temperatures, and gloomy skies.
My children stood with their faces pressed against the screen door as they watched the water bead off their pool. Sadly, they asked to be outside multiple times. I turned them down as the thunder rolled through and the chilly air blew off their faces, causing me to close the glass slider.
The rainy day prevented my children from being in their favorite place, the great outdoors. They weren't able to pretend, using only their minds and explore, using only their imaginations. They weren't able to swim for hours in the pool that they so desperately love. They flopped onto the floor with disappointment and hesitation of not knowing what to do next.
I offered up some suggestions...
They indulged.
We had fun.
The sad, rainy day, was turned into an indoor enjoyable exploration. We didn't need the outdoors to imagine. Instead, the indoors offered up just as much fun. We made a boat from two cardboard boxes (both kids decorated their own), then we pretended to sail the seven seas in search of treasure.
We dressed in costumes and played batman, robin, and superman fighting the joker, penguin, and the riddler.
We played Equestria Girls' battle of the bands fighting the sirens.
Puzzles were completed.
Paintings were created.
Simple, indoor fun was had.
Even though my children, who love being outdoors from sunrise to sunset, weren't able play outside, we still made the best out of the day. Likewise, they learned that they can do just as much indoors, as they can outdoors.
The rainy day that started off with a somber tone, ended with giggles, laughter (lots of laughter), and new memories being made. Because you don't only need sunshine and warm temperatures to have fun. You just need a great imagination and your family spending time together.
Some days it seems to take forever for the vibrant sun to dip below the earths horizon and darken the sky to night. But when the moon finally emerges, that's when the hours quickly pass. My house becomes eerily silent and I find myself watching the minutes tick away on the clock. On harder days, I beg for bedtime. Wishing hours away. But once that time comes, I find myself not knowing what to do with my free time. I clean, fold laundry, put toys away, but that briskly ends when you don't have other people being counterproductive.
I drop back onto an empty couch, where I sit in a semi candle lit room, reeling my head with the days memories.
I wait for the word mommy to be called in unison, and repetitively. I find my body lighter, without someone hanging off of it. My chest empty, from lack of hugs. My ears ringing, from no questions being asked.
Those few hours from their bedtime until mine, is sometimes the loneliest.
I miss their happy faces. Their excited nature. The fact that they have to tell me everything they're doing. They're thirst for wanting to know more. Their love and affection. Their creative nature. Their funny, silly ways.
They are an extension of me.
On any given day, you can't tell where my body ends and theirs begins.
Love of a family is the greatest accomplishment of all. At this point in my life, I will never be loved so much by someone, ever. I will never be the most important person in their lives, their complete center of attention, and the best person to talk to. Eventually, I will be all those opposites.
So on those "hard days," I sit at night and think about all those future times when I won't be pulled in every direction and have to provide my all everyday. Those are the times where I sit and stare at my children's monitor, or scroll through dated pictures and wonder where all this time is going. Trying to imagine a time where life will be different and of course, knowing that time will creep up without me realizing.
Until then, I will push off that time as much as humanely possible and relish in the now. Gathering all the hugs and kisses I can. Being loving and praising, even when I'm gritting my teeth. Being patient, even when I want to run away. Avoiding those "begging for bedtime" days, but most importantly, knowing that when they do happen, my children and I will still love each other more than life itself.
I made it through two pregnancies without any weird cravings. In fact, the weirdest cravings I had were tasty-cake cupcakes and steak -which both were consumed vigorously. However, I now get to experience different combinations of foods vicariously through my son's new daily diet of pickles, cheese, and ketchup. Leaving me grateful for my binge eating cupcake escapades.
Summer days are not only a beautiful occasion, with the warm air blowing in the breeze and the hot sun beating down on our winter skin, but a time for childhood freedom. A time to run wild with endless imaginations unfolding. To utilize the outdoor space with no boundaries.
As my children grow older, I want to memorize this time in space. I don't want to lose sight of the simplicity summer brings.
All the laughter... All the giggles...
We happen to live in an area where the cold lingers many months longer than the warm. Our summers are short, very short. We have to utilize all the time we have, and in our household, we make the most out of everyday. During our winter months, the temperatures hit below freezing and into the single digits weeks at a time, so as my children stand and stare out the door at the luscious snow, they are unable to indulge in it.
When the warm weather begins to emerge, say, 50 degrees, we are outside with our sweaters donned, from daylight to sundown. Exiling all the stuffed indoor air from our lungs and inhaling the crisp new air.
This summer is different because my son is one year older. As I mentioned in my previous post, he is talking much more and has developed his own personality. Which is incredible to watch both children mesh their creative ideas and generate fun adventures.
Just the two of them (and sometimes mommy too)...
Siblings... Best friends...
They play for hours on the swing set, which my daughter has just learned how to swing herself without any assistance. My son is able to swing on the end bars, which he thinks is a huge deal.
They play in our 10x30 pool the most. I mean the most. More than in the backyard. I believe that is because my son has conquered his fear of water. Last year, he stood in the chest high water as he whined to be rescued. This year, he thrashes and splashes like a manic, while his big sister (who has never disliked water for a second of her life) has learned to swim underwater with her mask.
He drives his pink princess boogey board around like a wild boat, chasing his sister in a whirlpool...
They ride their noodles like horses and have water gun fights...
They sound just like they're supposed to -- Loud and laughing.
Making memories to last a lifetime.
I was outside the other night watering my garden with both of my children, who were both dressed in their jammies ready for bed, they begged and pleaded to swim one more time...
So they did...
Jammies and all...
That is what summer is all about. Spontaneous swimming, big wheel riding, powerwheel riding, outdoor adventure play, ninja warrior training, tree climbing, playing pretend restaurant, pretend store, roller skating, rolling down a hill, backyard woods hiking, and anything else they can conjure up...
From sun up to sun down.
No schedules or restrictions.
Just wet clothes dripping from my clothesline, waiting to dry.
Our summer days are special because they require no amount of money, just the willingness to have fun. The ability to be together as a family and enjoy everyone's company. To accept belly laughs as the norm and imagination as the forefront. To consume our meals on the patio, under the umbrella, with our bare feet and glass dishes.
This is what life's all about. Not chasing the dollar. Throwing out the schedules and the overbooking of events. Just to have limitless time and freedom to explore and discover what makes you happy. To watch children live so peacefully with simplicity and not miss out on anything.
I could forever be in my life and not regret one day. No amount of money could ever replace my time to be home and relish in the simple joys of watching my children enjoy this time of the year. Watching their faces as they accomplish something they worked so hard to achieve and watching their relationship blossom like the vegetables in our garden.
Our summer days will be etched in time forever. With each year bringing new beginnings, and thanks to our slow pace lifestyle, I could enjoy each one as they come.
Mommy blogger dilemma... My daughter took a photo from her Kindle, stopped and reviewed it, then said, "oh my followers will love this, I should post this on Instagram."
Two years have rolled by without many changes in my son's life. His development halted to a crawl, slowly passing milestones, and he continued to follow his sister's every move the way a shadow would mimic. He didn't stand out in the house, he was quiet, shy, and content taking a back seat to his sister's flamboyant personality. However, over these past few months, he has made leaps and bounds with progression. He has transformed from a baby into this beautiful, individual, little boy.
My son, now 27 months, is 100% appeased with saying no to sister. With a quiet background, my son would follow his sister's orders, doing as she stated. Now, that quiet background is filled with my daughter stating something and my son replying, "no <insert her name>, me do!" or, "no, play this." Of course, my daughter had a hard time deciphering this new person. She was used to the old one, the one we have grown to expect for the past 2 years.
Like us, she quickly and happily became adjusted.
This newer, maturer, little boy has opened doors in our lives. He no longer is an obstruction in my daughters way, he is equal to her, he is her friend.
Before, with his lack of vocabulary and his inability to vocalize what he wanted, she viewed him as a baby. She figured there wasn't any way this boy could be fun.
She quickly learned otherwise.
Once lonely days that were spent playing by herself are now encapsulated with memories being built with her brother.
He talks (so much more), he's incredibly lovable, and thoughtful just like his sister -they both would give anyone their last piece of food if someone else needed it. When he isn't playing with his cars, he can be found conjuring up trouble with his big sister, but this time, he's a helping hand with instigating the chaos.
Right now, his personality is rivaling his sister's boisterous one -With his talkative nature, comical jokes, and stage performances.
They've moved on from a one sided relationship to an engaging one.
Recently, I'm not the main focus of their lives anymore. I find myself with more time to finish my cup of coffee, instead of being asked 500 questions, or pleaded to do something fun. After breakfast, they quickly leave the table to play in their playroom. From there, while I clean up, I can hear their imaginations blooming and their interactions escalating. They pretend with their toys, or they pretend with each other. And sometimes, they can be found sitting shoulder to shoulder, with my daughter reading my son a book. Or, my daughter teaching him new preschool lessons on her Kindle.
They love to be outdoors, partaking on vast adventures or hiking trips in our backyard. They explore and find treasures everywhere their imaginations will allow. They swing on the swing set for hours, while my daughter sometimes coaxes him into American Ninja Warrior obstacles.
He was excited for her when she learned to push herself on the swing and she was excited for him when he was able to swim across the pool himself.
He cheered the loudest when my daughter hit the ball or made a play in t-ball and she is delighted when he generates a new sentence.
The best part is, she is one of his biggest supporter, as he is hers.
At nighttime, I could listen for hours from the monitor, as I hear my son sneak into his sister's room and talk about the day. She invites him in her bed to watch My Little Pony: Equestria Girls on her Kindle and he kindly obliges. Sometimes I hear, "no more ponies peas" from my son, but that is a rare occurrence. By the time I enter the room, they're both fast asleep and closely snuggled next to each other, with Equestria Girls still playing softly in the night.
The once quiet house is now filled with laughter, conversations, story telling, imaginary play, and sometimes, arguing. Memories are being documented in time right before my eyes. Each photo taken of both children will forever be saved for the future. When they sit down to flip through an old photo album to reminiscence some of their favorite times, these will be the moments they remember. These days will be the most recounted... Because, these are their happy days.
It all started 8 months ago, on a warm fall day. My daughter anxiously donned her favorite outfit and pulled her new princess backpack on her back. She was ready to go. I, nervously, took too many photos before we piled into our car to drive off to her first day of preschool.
Upon arrival, she excitedly ran to meet her friends on the front grass. All us parents talked about our expectations and our fears, while the children enjoyed playing tag.
The double doors opened...
We walked inside.
At this point, my daughter didn't know what to expect. At 4 years old, she has never been anywhere without me (other than with my parents on some rare days). I was there to help her through difficult situations, or calm her worries, fears, and anything she needed. I was her rock.
She said her goodbyes with grace and ease.
...It would appear I was more nervous than she was.
The next few days went wonderfully. She was excited and in complete aww of the idea of school.
After those few days passed, the novelty was wearing thin and she started to become more weary. She broke down and didn't want to return to school.
Sadly, she still loved the idea of school and wanted to continue, just wanted me nearby.
Being the type of parent that I was/am, there wasn't any way I was going to force my daughter to return to a situation that wasn't mandatory and made her feel this insecure. So, I devised a plan with the staff, who were absolutely wonderful and beyond helpful, to allow her the room to become secure within her environment again.
Within a month, she was back on track.
...Without a hiccup.
She was back to playing tag on that front grass again.
Fast forward 8 months later, that same walkway where she was hesitant and uneasy, she hopped and skipped her way through those double doors to her final day. She gathered with her friends and they held hands before her goodbyes, saying, "I'll see you later alligator."
Then she walked out with her class to the stage and sang her farewell songs without any hesitation or tears.
This little girl started off as a secure child within her home environment, to then be placed into a situation that wasn't familiar and created doubt. I am grateful that the preschool she attended allowed me the room to recreate an environment that worked for her, otherwise, she wouldn't have ever returned and felt the grandiose moment she experienced on graduation day.
She not only accomplished something great, she created great memories. She made friends, had parties, was invited to parties, had parades, concerts, and a great education. She also learned how to cope on her own, without mommy, and that is a lesson that will prove to be beneficial for years to come.
On the final day, her teachers gave her congratulations and commended her outstanding growth over the school year. Her teacher said she would do beautifully in kindergarten and wished her the best of luck.
My daughter felt proud and she held an ear to ear smile for the entire day.
I owe a lot to that preschool, because they were the ones who set the foundation for my daughter's future school experiences. If I would have been a parent with a sink or swim mentality, yes she would have attended school, but it wouldn't have been on her terms with a secure environment. It would have been beyond stressful, with lots of crying and agitation. Then, I believe, she would have continued to have off days and regrets. However, once my daughter was back on track, I never heard her say she didn't want to go to school. In fact, she complained that school was only 3 days a week.
When she looks back upon her days, she'll think of all the fun she had with her friends and learning... She won't think of stress and anxiety that would have been created, had she been forced to be dropped off and cry until she couldn't cry anymore.
Now, she is incredibly eager to attend kindergarten and I believe she'll do wonderfully, mainly, because she had such an amazing preschool experience.
