It All Comes Back
What I wish someone had said to me in the early years.
A couple of days ago, we were treated with a beautiful Saturday. What good luck! Sun, warm temps and it all landed on a weekend day with loose edges that allowed us to be outdoors and actually enjoy it!
My kids wanted nothing to do with my dreams for the day, which was surprising because I thought they were pretty even keeled. I wanted to get a coffee and some donuts and walk to the beach. I used to do that a lot before kids and then a bit when I had babies that could be pushed in a stroller. Somewhere along the way though, those rounding up the troops for those walks became more stressful than relaxing, and I stopped.
Anyway, no matter this particular weekend. I left the kids with my husband, and off I went. And it was lovely! But as I walked the final steps down the boardwalk to the pier, I realized something I wish I had known several years ago: it comes back.
“It’ being me. The things I like. The things that make me feel good and alive and whatnot. Things that feel lost forever in the thick of raising babies and little kids, when I wondered if endless crying and being pulled on was just my life now.
I’m regularly being reminded that everything is a phase, and while some of them are long, nothing lasts forever. I wish I’d had someone to tell me that then, but I still found my way and figured it out, and now I’ll preach it from the rooftops. The hard part isn’t forever!
We’re supposed to be sad when our kids grow up, but I’m here to say that the big kid years are wonderful. They become people with their own interests and personalities and life, and with it, become independent enough to let mom regain her independence. She reaches for her old interests and her personality comes back.
I came home relaxed and recharged and found my family ripping around the yard on 4-wheelers having a lovely time enjoying the weather as well. I wondered if my husband enjoyed the same epiphanies I did earlier: the big kid years are here and they’re great.
+A really good example of “it all comes back” to look forward to! And of course, it comes with some introspection that may be helpful in the now.
+I know checkered vans are not in right now, but I grew up on these and I know they’ll come back. Even if they didn’t, I love them so much.
+All dresses are still on sale at Old Navy. This ruffled mini and maxi are my two picks.
+Easter Finds: Paintable squishy eggs | my boys would love these dragon eggs | Can you go wrong with a squish mallow? | Spring themed kinetic sand | Oh hell yes to this candy.
+Easter recipes: Yum! A beet, citrus, and goat cheese salad. | Pink deviled eggs | An oldie but a goodie.