Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Mid Week Humor: The tween years...

My daughter has entered into the stage where she is beginning to periodically challenge the things that I say, just to debate with me... So much in fact, that we spent 15 minutes debating over the correct pronunciation of my real name...
As if, after 36 years, I wasn't aware of how to say my name correctly... 
And sadly, it took the whole 15 minutes for me to realize how ridiculous I was for debating this with a 7 year old in the first place...
Motherhood...
The Happy Days Blog

Monday, April 9, 2018

I yearn for a time, when the days belong to us...


Once the dust from the morning settles, I come back to an empty home. My time here, by myself, is limited -As I spend the majority of my days in constant motion, running around between two different schools, home, errands, and the studio. 

I'm so busy, but yet, not busy at all -productively speaking.

My life is centered around my children, but yet, my quality of time with them seems scarce.

During the 181 days of the school year, our lives belong to someone else. We can't just pick up and leave whenever we want or take a day to sit outside in the sunshine, without having to explain ourselves -and in most cases, provide proof. Instead, we're caught in this repetitive cycle of stress, trying to fit everything into a four hour block in the evening... 

...Trying to get our homework done, make dinner, eat dinner, clean up dinner, take baths, read stories, have a conversation about the day, go to dance and theater practice, and then, god-forbid, do something fun with just ourselves... All before going to sleep by 8:00 p.m. 

It pulls at my heart when I return home and see our kitchen table left with coloring books or activities we tried to do, before rushing out the door in the morning. 

I want so badly to hear their laughter and for them, to hear my full participation. Not only half of me, while I'm multitasking, because I'm trying to figure out how to fit in my next mandatory task.

I miss the times when I didn't have to say the words, "not today" or, "there's not enough time" or even the infamous, "hurry up."

I yearn so badly for a time when the hours belonged to us. When, we moved at our own pace and were able to take the time to breathe in the days -not hold our breath, as we sprint through the evening... 

And when, we didn't have a mental countdown (and possibly a physical countdown) until the last day of school. 

Sadly, if I'm this burnt out with school and all that it encompasses, I can't imagine how all these children are feeling...

**Anyone else feel this way? Comment below, I'd love to hear from you :)