Two weeks ago I wrote a diary with this same title; it celebrated our family's acquisition of two new computers and a wireless network. I wrote my diary, and then hubby CSK and I sat down next to each other with our his-and-hers laptops and blogged away, posting comments and replying to the many Kossacks who joined the party. It was a blast!
I liked the title of the diary so much that I didn't want to retire it; I decided a second edition was in order, and I might make it a regular event. This week's theme: What I Learned on Christmas Vacation.
We spent Christmas week driving hither and yon across Texas and Oklahoma visting all manner of family. When we weren't riding in a car, we were hanging out at relatives' homes, opening presents, eating snacks, drinking tasty beverages, and talking about everything from potty training to my father's Christmas day sermon against homophobia to the war in Iraq. Oh, and of course, we also passed time watching small children play, run, scream, laugh, and scatter toys across every available inch of living space.
As hectic as it was, it was good to be away from home and take a break from our usual routine. While away, I couldn't occupy myself with the dozens of chores that distract me and stress me when we're at home. I couldn't grade papers, fold laundry, or go food shopping. All I could do was talk to my husband, catch up with my family, and play with our two boys and their cousins.
About two days into the trip, I was watching our two boys (they were wonderful all week), and I thought, "You know, we are so blessed to have such smart, handsome, sweet children." I realized that lately I've been losing track of how delightful they can be. I've been so busy at work and at home that I haven't been stopping to smell the roses--the roses being my children, of course. So, right there, I decided I'd try to change that in 2007. I'd slow down a bit so I could enjoy the many, many beautiful moments my children create any given day.
Once we hit the Carolinas, we were back into our busy life as working parents of two active boys. All week, I've been tempted to let chores and work obligations and various other worries command all my attention. But, I've also been making a concerted effort to remember the lesson learned on vacation and I've savored the time with my children. It's been a good week.
However, today was a pretty hectic day and my resolve was put to the test. I was just wrapping up instruction with my second period students when my cell phone rang. It was the director of my youngest son's daycare. She informed me that his eyes had been oozing goo all morning and they suspected pink eye. She needed me to come get him ASAP.
For the next thirty minutes, I scrambled around finding coworkers to cover my class, scribbled up lesson plans on the board, and leveled veiled threats at my third period class to BE GOOD. I was VERY agitated--all I could think about was the severe inconvenience of being called away from work so suddenly and the huge piles of work on my desk. When I walked out of the school, it was pouring down rain and I didn't have my umbrella. Ugh!
By 11:15, I was at the daycare picking up my son, still a mite irked at the situation. The little one was happy to see me and gave me lots of hugs and kisses. His teacher gave him a to go plate of pineapples and fish sticks. Once we got home, he sat down at the kitchen table to eat. He started dipping his fish into his juice cup, and I said, "I have something better for dipping." I squirted a mound of ketchup onto his plate. He thoughtfully stuck the fish stick into the ketchup, tasted it, and smiled.
He was getting pretty cranky, so I decided it was time for his nap. I took him upstairs. He wanted me to lay down with him. I sighed, still a bit irritated, but lay down next to him anyway. He put his arms around my neck and pulled me close; we were face to face. He prompty fell asleep. As I lay there, his tiny hands clasped around my neck while he breathed sweet ketchup breaths on my cheek, I thought, "OK. This was worth leaving work!" And, again, I reminded myself of the lesson I'd learned while on vacation: whatever else is going on, enjoy your time with your children.