Wait Until Life Slows Down

The other day a friend posted a meme about waiting for life to slow down. Does that happen? Is there a magical time when life slows down? I don't want to fast forward until that time and miss out on any moments, but I DO wish life would slow down occasionally. Sometimes a girl needs a rest.

Life with three kids and a husband with a non-nine-to-five job is often...interesting.

Mondays, we have Aiden's Cub Scouts. Jeff has recently volunteered to be the den leader for our youngest's Tiger den. Right now, there are only three boys in his den, but there might be more coming. We have these meetings at our house (with the exceptional of the occasionally off-sight meeting). While Jeff is entertaining and teaching these three young minds, the other two have to be entertained. Or at least kept out of the way. This is easier with the 10 year old than with the 8 year old.

Tuesdays and Thursdays we have Girls on the Run for Isabella and soccer for Riley. Girls on the Run is amazing for Isabella's physical and mental health. She practices for a 5K in November and learns about self esteem, self worth, being a good friend, a good person, etc. Soccer has been wonderful for Riley. It takes all of that after-school energy he has after keeping it together all day at school and transfers it to kicking balls into a net.

Wednesdays we have Riley's Cub Scouts (and, once a month, the whole pack meeting). Jeff takes him to a town nearby for that while the other two and I stay home and work on homework or whatever we need to do. Except for the Wednesday once a month when I also have PTO. 😏

You'd think weekends would be free, but that is when everything else happens. Family time, movie night, yardwork, getting ready for the snow, church, playdates.

The thing is, though, that even though it is so very very stressful, I wouldn't change it. Watching Aiden and his friends listen intently to Jeff while he explains to them about teamwork. Watching Riley play goalie or running down the field with the ball. Listening to Isabella tell me she got the Energy Award during practice. Listening to Riley tell me what he learned at Scouts. Being a part of my kids' school activities. Knowing they understood what they learned in Sunday school and apply it to another part of their lives. All of these are what rounds out life. This is the the best part of life.

But I still want a nap.

It Takes a Village

My village is small but mighty. It includes my kids' best friends' parents. It includes my bff that lives across the country. It includes PTO moms and Cub Scout moms and classmates' moms.

We watch each other's kids on short notice and on snow days. We give each other rides if needed. We vent and brag. We have S'mores and movie nights and wine. We make sure each other's kid isn't crying when he/she gets off the bus. We give each other preteen and middle school advice.

We check on each other. We make each other brownies and share books. We buy from each other's kids' fundraisers and make our own Scout den.

We parent each other's kids as if they were our own. They get hugs and "you know better" looks. They are loved by many.

Life is more fulfilling with a Village. Who's in yours?