I have just returned from an amazing 2 weeks away with my family in remote Canada. As I return to our life in Minnesota, I am "behind" in many things, including writing posts for this Blog!
Getting back from a trip we take every summer around the same time, I am amazed that my kids will return to school in only two weeks. I have to admit, in years past, I looked forward to the start of school. When my kids were younger, the physical care that I provided for them was more demanding and I had little time to do the things that I need to do to remain balanced and strong. When they were younger, I looked forward to the start of Pre-school and having some time for myself.
This year, my kids are 6, 8 and 10 and will go to school all day in the fall. When school starts, "my" life will return to full swing with ministry work, exercise, volunteering, sports, house projects, and social activities. I love that aspect of my life, but this year, for the first year, summer has gone way too fast for me. I wish we had more unstructured time, more time to really enjoy the true essence of my children. I do that best when we are able to hang out, my youngest on my lap, my daughter sitting next to me asking questions, my middle son playing ball of some sort. Once our fall activities start, we have little time to do that.
In the early days of parenting, I had no idea of how different each year would be. It is like every year is completely different from the last. That must be God's way of keeping us focused on today, helping us to enjoy the unique blessings of each phase of parenting.
How are you feeling this year as we approach a new school year? A new year in Mother's Day Out or Nursery school?
Posted on Saturday, August 16, 2008
by Kristen Taraszewski
filed under