I love the Spring in UT. This year, I’m especially looking forward to it. May is amazing here. The tulips make me want to cry and the blossoms on the trees make me smile.
There is something about having a really, really, really long winter that makes you appreciate when the weather changes. I’ve had at least a foot, sometimes more, of snow in my yard for probably 3 months. Now, I’m not going to claim that winter is over just yet. I mean, I’ve seen it snow in JUNE in UT, but yesterday, the high was 52. I declared it a day suitable for wearing flip flops. And, I did. Good thing I got that pedicure when I went to Philadelphia.
A&K trying to find the sandbox under all that snow. They thought they might be able to move a mountain of snow. At least it kept them busy
Chandler playing with the rocks and Tonka truck.
Notice the footwear
I think the kids felt it too. Yesterday, we pulled out all the various riding objects from the garage and just ran up and down the sidewalk. Avery decided sandals were in order too, and Kyle pulled out his crocs. Raise your hand if you love/hate crocs. I love that he can get them on so fast and easy, but I also hate the smelly, black toenails and how genuinely ugly they are. But, I digress…
We were all having a grand time. It was a little windy. It was probably only about 45 degrees, but we were jacket-less and having fun. That is until Kyle almost whacked Chandler in the head with his snow shovel, and Chandler crawled through the puddle of melted snow and burst into tears all wet and muddy. Then, it kind of went downhill from there.
The kids crashed when they came inside. “I’m thirsty!” “I’m cold!” “I’m hungry!” I try to stay patient and remember….spring is just around the corner.
I ran across this quote today.
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”
-Henry David Thoreau
I needed it. Motherhood is all about the seasons. My sister and I have joked about how we hate the saying, “This isn’t my season for doing that..” But, I loved this post by the Awakened Mama. We are often too hard on ourselves thinking we should be perfect all at once. Yet, we need to be more gentle with ourselves. Accept that we are changing all the time. We are mothers in stages. We are not mothers fully finished and polished.
I need to live in this season right now. I need to accept the fact that I don’t have a lot of free time or sleep. I need to breathe in the smell of my toddlers when they have been running outside and come in dirty and yucky and looking for a warm hug and a “bouncy mama” (Kyle told me I was “really bouncy” recently….hmmm. I’m taking it as a compliment). I need to drink down the sweet hugs and kisses and love notes. I need to taste of the joy that they bring into my life. Even if it is a 5 minute moment out of an entire day. It’s hard for me to do this. I struggle when people tell me to “enjoy every moment”. I can’t do it. But, I can try. I need to resign myself to the influences that these three little people have on me. They are helping me to become the mother I need to be. I need to be grateful. I can try to accept that this is my life right now. It will pass. And just like Spring seems so revitalizing right now, one day I will long for the cold snow again. I will also long for all these little people when they become big people.
But, all in all, we’re glad to see the sun. Feel the warm-ish breeze. And wear our flip-flops again.
Bring on the sun…bring on Spring! I am right there ready with ya! 🙂
“Not polished yet”…I love this. It’s so true. With each mistake we become a wiser parent and with each failure a better and more prepared mother.
It’s really a learning curve that is attempted to be maneuvered by human beings who are learning their way just as much as the children that we are raising…so no, we aren’t polished yet, but we can get better every day. 🙂
I at least hope I’m getting better every day. Some days I think I’m taking 2 steps forward and then 3 steps back!
No, I am sure that isn’t true. Sometimes I feel the same way but we’re working against nature AND nurture. Getting out of bed and keeping it moving is more than many people can say.
The love that you have for your children is palatable and it is obvious that it is your driving force. Mistakes will be made, tears will be shed, but what you have in your heart is what makes you a great mom!
PS- And if your biggest “crazy” is hating germs and self doubt…you’re going to be ooooooooo-kay. 😉
ha! Good. You’re too nice to me. 🙂
We did the same thing today! Just went outside and ran and ran! I get crap from my husband all the time for wearing flip flops when it’s “not the season” for them. Whatevs, I say! I often have to remind myself that I will miss the days when my kids were little. Even the not so good days. And I think we could all use a little springtime. 🙂
for sure!! Glad you got to run around too!!
We’re getting that warm weather here now. The sun has been a nice change of pace.
Aww. They’re so cute cleaning up the snow.
As a Floridian stuck in the midwest for the time being I have to say I laughed at the idea of flip flops while snow is still on the ground. This is only my second winter, like ever, and the snow needs to be gone. I am ready for SPRING!
Carrie @ Just Mildly Medicated
Aww thank you so much for linking to my blog. I’m glad you enjoyed that post. I enjoyed is one too! You’re a great mom and I can relate to a lot of the things that you go through. I hope it keeps getting warmer over there, or you can always come join us in sunny Florida 😉
I wish I hadn’t been so hard on MYSELF. Remember, we didn’t even have a computer then, and as I remember it, all the Mormon Moms were pretty hard on themselves. I felt a lot of pressure to be perfect. Especially since I entered the game so late.