I recently read an article about embracing the seasons of your life. It seemed to hit home for me as I am finding more and more that my role is changing. I'm learning to embrace, well at least I'm trying.
We went to the park today, the kids & I. We fed the ducks, walked around the pond, and stopped to play at a few different playgrounds. When we reached the first play set the kids ran off, eager to go down the slides. And I sat down on a nearby bench where I could keep a watchful eye on them. I didn't need to be right there, they are all capable of climbing and playing without a hovering mother. It was odd to be seated while they played. Sort of a nice break, sort of heartbreaking. I reminisced in my head about a trip we had taken to that exact same park two years prior. I had an 8 month old strapped to my chest in a baby carrier while I pushed a 2 & 3 year old in a stroller around the park. I didn't dare allow Eli to get out of the stroller because he would've run. At this time we only played at parks that had a fence, so I could keep my little guy safe. My life was harder then, a lot more stressful and I never had any time to myself. I'm not sure when things changed, but suddenly everyone seems so big. They don't need me now like they once did. The season has changed.
This week we watched our kids perform in their spring programs at school. The last preschool program Breena will ever have. She has 14 days left in preschool. FOURTEEN. After that she will be considered a kindergartener. She doesn't think she needs me much these days. She wants to be so grown up & I am desperate to keep her small. This spring we took the training wheels off her bike. I knew she was ready. But when I let go of that little pink bicycle seat to let her fly solo, my eyes stung with tears. No more training wheels and no need for mom to hold her up. The season has changed.
The kids are in such a fun stage of life. They are becoming more independent and in turn we are able to really have a lot of FUN together as a family. I know wonderful adventures are ahead for us. But the season of having babies and very small children is just about passed. Soon our home will have no more diapers, no need for a stroller or sippy cups. I'll probably cry when I drop my sweet girl off at kindergarten. And it's all okay. The flowers are budding on a fresh season, it is going to be different, but beautiful in it's own way.
