I used to have more down time.
I think I’ve told you that before.
Back a few years ago when I thought I was busy – I really wasn’t. When the kids were little I thought life was pretty chaotic, and it was in its own way with formula, diapers, lack of sleep, etc… but fast forward a few years and sometimes I would give anything just to have those moments of exhaustion back. Kids grow up too fast and the next thing you know they are all in school, tearing you into multiple directions all at once. Three sets of homework, three different practices with (hopefully) different drop off and pick up times – on the same day. One child is starting subtraction; another is beginning multiplication, while the eldest is dabbling in algebra.
Add household chores, trying to keep enough food in the house to feed them so I don’t have to go shopping 3 times a week, and trying to fit in a job schedule around everything… hell I’m tired just typing it.
I’ve read different articles over the past that suggest that parents put too much on their plates and create their own cluster of unnecessary chaos. I agree and disagree with this. I know some parents that have one child in 4 different activities at a time. unnecessary? Yes. Having each kid in one or two activities though I think has benefits that outweigh any of the negatives. I for one am happy to see my children participate in organized activities that allow them to interact with other children and peers; teaching them things like teamwork, skills, punctuality, commitment, etc. It keeps idle hands out of trouble too, but I’m careful to make sure that my kids do have ample downtime to relax, explore the outdoors and do creative things.
I guess what I’m saying in my rambling post is that I’m happy that my children are thriving and are happy. I miss the past while simultaneously look forward to the future. I’m so grateful that I have this little space on the web that I’ve been able to share tiny snippets of our life for nearly 5 years now. I’ll occasionally scroll through old posts that I’m sure no one besides myself or my mother would care to look at – but it sure does make me happy.
~Melissa