Just Write {61}

November 12, 2012

This morning we tag-teamed the routine. Has she had breakfast? Where are the boots? On Saturday it was 65 degrees and this morning there was snow on the ground. Still is. I’ll take Miles to school, you take Asher and Elsie to daycare. I’ll start the van.

I tromped down the walk to the van with my boots unzipped, slipping too much at my heels but you hurry in Minnesota, to start the car and rush back in. Asher was suddenly behind me. It’s not time to go, honey. You need to go back in, it’s too cold. I’m just starting the van to warm it up.

I know! 

He loves snow so much.

Okay then. Please go inside. 

I have everything I need, Mommy. He said this while his Spiderman boots flicked snow up on the cuffs of his pants. I have mittens and a hat and boots, so that’s all I need. 

Yeah, that’s true. 

The wind was whipping snow off the roof and catching our breath, so we ran back inside. Miles, do you have your backpack, let’s go. Why don’t you have your shoes on yet? I looked around and I know that these are some of the best years because they still want to be with us. They still think we know a lot and they still strive to listen and it’s not so hard for them anymore. Well, Elsie Jane, she isn’t striving quite yet but here’s to hoping she will.

I miss them more when we’re apart and I appreciate them more when we’re together, when I remember all of this. That we’re in this sweet spot every time we’re in a new season. All the different phases feel so good amidst all the chaos. It’s easy to remember if I just keep my head up, not looking so much at my navel or a screen.

Tonight I joked with the boys as I scolded them for something. I was pretending to give them a big speech, like a lecture and I added, because we don’t talk to each other that way in our family. In our family (here is where I changed my voice to a pretend loud and preach-y one, like a professor getting very upset) WE ARE ALL ABOUT LOVE AND WE ARE ALL ABOUT BELONGING.

We laughed at my antics (which is another thing I know my kids won’t always do–insert eye roll) and then Miles said, Yeah Mommy, we will always belong here no matter what we do.

My insides twisted in the best possible way and I went all numb in the arms and legs because if there’s one thing I want them to always know for sure, it’s that. Yes, Miles. That’s exactly right. Don’t forget, okay? 

I won’t. He was hopping around then, doing some sort of strange dip to the ground and popping back up and poking at his brother with a light saber, who started to whine and tattle. Hey, hey stop it now, I said and then I told Elsie it was time for bed. She shook her head back and forth hard and started to have a fit.

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This is the 61st installment of Just Write, an exercise in free writing your ordinary and extraordinary moments. {Please see the details here.} I would love to read your freely written words so join me and link up below. You can add the url of your post at any time. Just be sure it’s a link to your Just Write post, not to your main page, and please don’t link to posts that are not written in the spirit of capturing moments–like lists or sponsored posts. Then please link back to this post in your post so people know where to go if they’d like to join in. (Any links not following those two guidelines will be deleted.)

Also. Please take a moment to visit someone else who has linked up! It’s a really good way to meet new writers and get inspired by the meaning behind their moments. Word? Thank you!



{ 18 comments }

Gianna November 12, 2012 at 10:09 pm

I am right exactly where you are. I can lecture, I can fake lecture, I can choose to giggle, I can choose to be stern. I love it! You’ve got it, Dude!
Gianna recently posted..Wrong Way

Sherry November 12, 2012 at 10:25 pm

These “Just Write” posts are my favorite…maybe because I can relate so well. It’s so easy to rush rush rush and harp harp harp but it’s WONDERFUL if you just stop and enjoy, actually ENJOY. Thanks again for the reminder that this is what we should be doing at this stage in their lives.

Jayna @ Yankee Drawl November 12, 2012 at 10:35 pm

Oh, I love this. So much of the rushing and the busy and the scolding but the slowing down to remember to be in the moments – we’re there so often.
Jayna @ Yankee Drawl recently posted..sisters {thirty days of thankfulness ~ 6}

tracy@sellabitmum November 12, 2012 at 10:56 pm

I love the little look inside your life. Life. And dang it was COLD this morning!
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Gravel Hands Instead Of Jazz Hands

Lynda M O November 13, 2012 at 12:13 am

Your vignettes send me back to places I used to be. Now it’s all memory and dreams.
Lynda M O recently posted..Process… as per Cheyenne’s Request

Baby by the Sea November 13, 2012 at 1:58 am

In the rush of days with lost boots and un-brushed teeth (seriously, how have you not brushed yet? I said today to our eldest) it’s so important to bring humor to the moment. It’s what snaps us all back into the moment and the realization that the moment is happening and about to pass us by.
“I miss them more when we’re apart and I appreciate them more when we’re together, when I remember all of this.” So get this. Yup. I’m right there with you.

Varda (SquashedMom) November 13, 2012 at 5:08 am

Love this, love your momming, love your kids secure in knowing they will always belong and always be loved. xoxoxo
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Listen To Your Mother is back and badder than ever!

Galit Breen November 13, 2012 at 7:31 am

My fingers are crossed for your kids -and mine- to always feel this way.

Love this, you.
Galit Breen recently posted..Tell Your Story

Amy @ Never-True Tales November 13, 2012 at 8:27 am

Belonging. Yes. I believe this is one of the tenants that make successful families (with happy, secure kids) truly work.
Amy @ Never-True Tales recently posted..What matters

Jamie November 13, 2012 at 10:16 am

When I got to this part, my center rocked: ‘Yeah Mommy, we will always belong here no matter what we do.’ Because my mom just “disownded” me. She is hurting for reasons that are not my fault and hurt people hurt people so I’m just praying and praying. This whole situation has made me realize my own relentless commitment to my children, and I never felt like that was worth saying or vowing because ‘duh,’ you know? But for some people it isn’t so ‘duh.’ It’s more natural to give up and walk away or push and lash out. That’s why I am such a huge fan of your writing–you have a gift of writing the things we feel that are so natural to us that we wonder if there are really even words for them past the very, very obvious. But you have gift of saying it in a way that is just beautiful…so beautiful–like someone else wrote out loud the inside of your heart. Thank you for using your gift.

Elaine November 13, 2012 at 12:34 pm

I need to PRETEND to give big speeches more often. ;)

And yes, families are made for belonging. Thank God.
Elaine recently posted..Oh Monday…

Tricia November 13, 2012 at 12:52 pm

Love this. Am sure they will always feel this way. Whether or not they admit it is a whole other matter!
Tricia recently posted..All pee

Ann November 13, 2012 at 12:55 pm

I made-noise cried at this one. Amazing photo, amazing children, amazing writer.
Ann recently posted..Listen To Your Mother: Wake up and post on your blog, founder Ann Imig.

Kat November 13, 2012 at 2:50 pm

Well, this is just what I needed. So, thank you. :)
Kat recently posted..Cold

Adrienne November 13, 2012 at 5:03 pm

You know, I’ve had some rough times as an adult (haven’t we all!) and I don’t really have a “home” – a family to belong to…my parents are divorced, and home never held a safe feeling for me. My grown kids (25 and 22) have that – we have been blessed to be able to build that and, in the building of it, I found that I belong somewhere too. It’s very powerful. Wonderful when they “get” it so young….and it really leaves one (me!) awe struck when they hang on to it into their young adulthood! This is a beautiful post and lifted my spirits today!
Adrienne recently posted..Wistful

Michelle November 13, 2012 at 7:31 pm

The epitome of Extraordinary Ordinary and Living in the Moment! Catching glimpses of what’s most important in between Normal Chaos and tantrums:)

tracey November 14, 2012 at 10:40 am

Parenting through laughter… Why is it so hard sometimes to remember to teach through laughter? Sweet post.
tracey recently posted..An imprint

Robin November 14, 2012 at 12:04 pm

This brings back memories. Our daughter was ready to have her own apartment when she was twelve. Our son was never going to move out of our house. My kids are adults now, both married, and I am thankful that they still want to spend time with us. Sometimes, I have to remind myself to be that kind of child for my parents, now matter how old I am.

I do not miss bedtime temper tantrums, but I remember them fondly :)
Robin recently posted..Wine and Music

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