Staying put, Manly Ambition & Laundry Lines

“Our family members will carry the atmosphere we create
in our homes for the rest of their lives.” 

~Mrs. Dunwoody

Howdy-Ho from the land of imperfect Domesticity!

It is one of those days...in which reading a quote like the one emblazoned at the top of this post makes me hope that there are moments which will not include themselves in the recollections of my children. There is a depth I would love to delve into within the scope of my mothering influence, but to be honest, these days are more like making it through a triathlon than a leisurely, introspective stroll through the park.

There is a long, long line of learning stretched before me, as learning occurs through the act of living observantly. There are a few observations which have been revealed with great consistency and crystal-clear clarity in my feeble thinking. 

Here they are in no particular order:

It is better for me and my* children that staying at home is the rule, not the exception.

(* "me and my" means exactly that. this is not a filter by which I judge others. Different families can handle different types of arrangements). In the last few weeks, we have had a very few, but enough, "out of the ordinary" days that have created higher levels of whining, insubordination (perhaps too strong a word. but then again, perhaps not.) and tears that have no good reason.

 

I am a social person. I love to have 'plans'. In the past few years, as "I" have been living life under the umbrella of "We", it has been made plain to me that each of my children thrive when their day is predictable in schedule (wake up, play, lunch, nap, play, dinner, sleep) but wide open in terms of imaginative play during the day. To be constantly rushing to go do 'fun' or even 'educational' things just tires us out, and I am no longer too proud to  admit it. I have not committed to one thing in the past five years, and I do not apologize for it because it very well may have spared me any shred of sanity i still have! (Again, this is my observations on OUR family of five small children. I'm am not writing a parental advice column).

Black Raspberry stain

Fresh Mint

I am proud of my husband. He, with God's provision of sun and rain, has made

quite a robust garden of goodness for our family. This brings me to another life observation:

Men were created to "hunt and gather"

...to protect and provide for their family

...to be out in front of his wife, 

shielding her, paving the way for his family..

not the other way around. 

This is not sexist. It is divinely workable,

respecting of both the man and woman.

To stay attached to one's family and their preferences

after saying "I do" to your new one

never allows for a full adventure...
as apron strings have a short and predictable radius.

And a final observation:

Where there is laundry, there is LIFE.

In a heartbreaking email last night, I was informed that my brother-in-law's 22 year old niece, who has fought an incredibly valiant fight with a rare form of cancer, is headed to her Heavenly Home very, very soon. My heart has been heavy with this news...heavy for her momma who did her laundry for years, and maybe, like me, sometimes sighed in despair over the fact that this chore is never, ever ending. Now, and in the future, what she wouldn't give to hang her daughter's clothes out on the line. 

Sure, I will lapse now and again...yet I hope that I most often see the GIFT that this constant audience of socks, undies, shirts and shorts truly are.

One more observation:

Three is a crowd. It is why World War III is about to break out on the floor overhead, which is why I will sign off for now. (Well, that reason...plus I need to pay an online bill and figure out what to do with a pound of frozen ground turkey for dinner).

Thanks for dropping by. 

As always, I appreciate you!