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9.12.2012

SLOWING DOWN

Often times, in the middle of a challenging day with my kids, 
I wonder what in the world was I thinking having three children. 

Then there are other days, when I wonder what in the world
I would do without them in my life. 

Lately, I've been having more of those days.  

I am one of those task oriented people.  I love to check things off my "To Do List".
The more productive I am, the better I feel about myself.


In the past few months, my outlook has drastically changed. 
Even more so as of last week, when my doctor actually ordered me to SLOW DOWN.

Slowing down is hard for someone like me.
But the more I do it, the more I like it. 

Don't get me wrong now, I'm still checking things off my "To Do List",
but at the end of the day, there are always several things left on there and 
slowly but surely, I'm becoming okay with it.  

It took me a few years to realize how fast time flies. 
Now that I'm am aware of the fleeting moments I have to spend with my children,
I am trying to soak up as much of the good (and bad) as I can. 

Take my daughter, for example, she has the most beautiful hair and always has.
She has been complimented on it her whole life.  
I always wanted to fix and play with it and she would have no part of it. 
Well, since she is a BIG 5th grader now, low and behold, the girl spends 20 minutes
on her hair each morning.  Lately, I've noticed how lovely it looks when she 
comes down in the mornings and I have made sure to tell her so. 
This morning after the kids had left for school, I went upstairs to tidy up.
It looked like a salon exploded in her bathroom. 
My first instinct was to be annoyed that she left a big mess.
However, I ended up chuckling to myself because I realize 
she is growing up and this is going to become an everyday occurrence.
I might as well embrace it.


My middle child just started playing tackle football.  
Yep, he's only eight, but football is a big deal around these parts.
He's still a little guy, but he is playing quarterback.
I always think of him as my tiny, blonde, blue-eyed baby.
Last night, during their second game of the season, I watched
him out on the field, confidently calling out plays in the huddle. 
They haven't won a game yet, but I couldn't be more proud of him.
Again, growing up so fast.    


On Monday, my baby boy got ahold of his big sister's I-pod.  He was sitting at the island scrolling through her pictures. I looked up and he had a few tears running down his face. 
Now, as evidenced by this picture below, he's a pretty tough little five year old.  
Having two older siblings, he acts like he is five going on 13.  
I asked him what was wrong and he said "don't look at me".  
I finally realized he was looking at pictures of her old dog, Charlie. 
I held him in my arms while he cried his sweet little eyes out.  
Even though Charlie passed away in July, he was just now dealing with his feelings of heartache.
It was one of the sweetest and saddest things I have ever seen.
I will never forget it.  


So sorry for all the mushiness, but as I was running errands today, 
these experiences kept creeping into my thoughts and I felt compelled to write about them. 
Oh, and my husband left town with the good camera in his car, so I can't really take pictures 
of any fun projects I'm working on right now.

 This slower pace of life seems to suit me well.
How about you, do you feel like you are going a million miles an hour each day, 
or do you slow it down and enjoy and ride?

14 comments:

  1. This was really sweet. I'm having one of those "what was I thinking" days... but it's a good reminder that there are great days too.

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  2. this post totally made me cry.... now that school is back in i hustle to get things done during the day so that when my kids get off the bus, i can slow down and enjoy every moment.... it's amazing how fast it passes. i don't want to have regrets and i want my kids to remember me always there cheering them on.

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  3. What a great post! Thanks for sharing a little of your heart and your home with us today. Your right, your daughter does have beautiful hair! Lucky girl! :) Glad you are taking time to slow down and listening to your doctor, it's hard for us moms to get everything done that needs to get done on top of things we "want" to get done. Enjoy the ride girlfriend! :) Thanks for the reminder today.

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  4. Wow, that hair! I have curly hair too and hated it because I grew up in the 70s with Marcia Brady and Laurie Partridge! I was in my 30s before I learned how to let it be and enjoy it. My 12 year old would love to have curly hair but doesn't. Enjoy your slow down.

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  5. Good for you, stopping to smell the roses so to speak! Believe me, time passes so quickly with our children, in a blink of an eye they are thinking about where to go for college, so treasure every minute. Make sure to have some time to fuel you own tank doing what you love because that is important too. Thanks for sharing your sweet stories, your kids are darling!

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  6. My 5 year old baby acts like a tough guy too, but he's a little mushy on the inside still. :)

    My daughter is in 4th grade this year and still won't let me touch her hair. Such a bummer! it's down to her butt and she won't let me do anything but ponytail or "ONE braid"

    sigh. The time is flying, I know it. Seems like just yesterday my baby was potty training.

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  7. What a sweet post! I'm glad you are slowing down and carving out time for yourself. That's definitely why you are sharing more and more with your kids and noticing how they are growing up so fast. I try to live in the moment, even if it means I have a few dust bunnies or a pile of laundry to fold! You will get used to it and love it!

    XO,
    Jane

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  8. Oh man Andrea, you have me in tears over here. These raw, tell it all posts are so so good and really the human behind the writing which I love about blogging - I don't do it enough. I only have 1 child and I need to remind myself that it's okay not to get everything done that day. Some things can wait and wait and wait - they're not important. What is important are those hugs, and the smiles, and the tears - those are the things that will forever stick in our minds as memories. I often think about when I will need to handle a moment of true sadness with our daughter - and of course you don't want to have to think about that stuff but we're human and that's part of our makeup is taking the good with the bad. I want to hug your little man. Have a good night my friend.

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  9. Good for you for taking the time to be present in the lives of your kids….not always thinking about a blog post that needs to be written or your to-do list for the day. I think it's so easy to get caught up in those kinds of things and miss out on the really important parts, big and little, that make up our lives. Your poor little fella! Lucky to have his mom right there to console him!! Your older son is so cute in his uniform!! I die at the football field every night beholding all the cuteness - even though I've been forbidden from saying the FB players are "cute" :) And your daughter's hair - it's just lovely - she is so pretty! Enjoy their ages…I know you do!

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  10. I really needed to hear this today and will need to remember it in the future. I have two small boys and another baby on the way. I tell myself daily I need to slow down and cherish each and every day before these precious moments fade away. Thank you for sharing your heart with us!! Go Bluebirds! :)

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  11. Enjoy. Take my word for it they grow up way too quickly.

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  12. I try - it's hard but I try to savor these moments with my kids! Great post!

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  13. I recently came across your article and have been reading along. I want to express my admiration of your writing skill and ability to make readers read from the beginning to the end. I would like to read newer posts and to share my thoughts with you.

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I love reading each and every one of your comments!