I spoke with a mother of teenagers on the phone tonight. It was nearly 6pm and she apologized for interrupting our dinner. I assured her our dinner had ended long ago and we were on our way to bath time. She seemed to pause on the phone, and then sigh with a mix of memory and longing. "I wish we had a reason to eat early at our house. I miss those days." And I knew what she meant.
Though her children still live at home, they can drive now and they have grown. They eat with their friends, at odd hours, on the run, or not at all. They have places to be, things to do, day timers of their own. They have deadlines to keep, relationships to pursue, tests to ace, things to prove. They are eager for life to begin. And their mother...well, she is watching and waiting and available. And she is preparing for the day when her babies leave the house and are on their own for real.
I don't always enjoy the life stage that I am in. But tonight, I can't get enough of it. I am breathing in his downy scent in a desperate attempt to hold on. I am watching the girls play make-believe with barbie dolls and baby bears. Their faces so soft, doughy, flawless. I am praying for their spouses, for the mothers of their spouses..women who are just like me somewhere in the world, taking care of these little ones during days that seem to go on forever.
But you know, they won't. So tonight, after a full day of play and poop, I am thankful.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
long days, short years
Todays topic:
a mother
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6 comments:
Oh, BRAVO! That was beautiful! I needed to hear that-even though mine are in the next stage after the girls and Luke-I'm happy for where they are. Today, the MOM of their future spose will be prayed for. What a grand idea. I had honestly, never thought to pray for that other Mom-just the offspring.
BTW-that picture of Luke looks like Mom!
That was so sweet.
The more I look at it -it looks like you!
i explained that saying (long days, short years) the other day to someone, and thought to myself 'that would be a good post'. i'm so glad that you wrote it, because you said beautifully what i feel all the time and not enough.
Today I compared life to an exam, (because that is one of the only things I think about). Take notes now- because it is not the cramming in the last 2 minutes that makes the grade- it is all the little things added together that make life something to talk about. Thanks for reminding us.
My daughters are at that teen and preteen stage where life is full of 'what can I do now without mom and dad?' Especially for my older daughter, the 15 year old.
What a blur the years have been, blending into one another. Seems we just came home from the hospital last month, then it was off to Kindergarten, Birthday parties, Best friends, broken hearts, and pretty soon ... a drivers license and a job.
If only we could bottle up those moments that were so frustrating, so exhausting and relive them, I'm sure they wouldn't seem so bad as time comes closer for our children to fly. I'm just, good or bad, in the first place : )
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