[Including, but not limited to, a son who will be graduating from high school in three short weeks]
I appear to be at a point in my life where either I blog it all or not at all. I was surprised to click over here yesterday and see that I haven’t posted anything since the start of May. “How can this be?” I asked myself, “When life is full full full and there’s so much to share?”
 |
| This was a joke. We left it laying around for him to find. |
That’s exactly how it came to be.
Life is very full. You get this.
Two things: first, I’ve gone ahead and let you know “Joe’s” real name. Why not? He’s nearly 18 and can handle it, I think.
Second, I am a mom who needs to be in the picture.
Clearly.
The three fancy pix are from spring formal, which took place two weeks ago on a river boat. The costumed pix are from this weekend, whereupon John Michael was Edward in Sense & Sensibility and I was the woman in third row with a camera.
(Except for that last picture, whereupon I was–who? A Napoleon Bonaparte wannabe?)
(I crown myself empress! Ruler of home and van!)
And then there are these two:
Jem, (not his real name), will be stepping up to the plate when John Michael leaves. He will do well in the role of oldest son-at-home because he’s an overprotective sheepdog. “Is anyone going to get the baby?” he demanded one night, as Francis screamed angrily from his crib and my husband and I snuggled on our bed, oblivious.
“Why? Is he crying?” my husband replied, one arm curled loosely around my shoulder.
Jem stomped off (also angrily) and eventually I retrieved the two-year-old, who’d been banished–it’s true–for having a wrong-flavor-toothpaste meltdown. When I told Jem why his little brother had been screaming, he looked at Francis and remarked, “You’re spoiled.”
Which is as it should be, I guess. He’s the baby.
(*I* was the baby. I get the temperament.)
He did get a cute little haircut, though!
Now he looks like Hayley Mills.
Being the bipolar mom of double bookend boys, I can never ever decide what I want. For example, my 5-year-old talks nonstop and my 15-year-old doesn’t talk enough. Which is better? Which is worse?
The 17-year-old spends too much time on his phone and the two-year-old, too much time on me.
In terms of what I do NOT want, the skirt pulling’s way up there.
So yeah, bottom line: I’d love to be writing about my life every day, but most days I’m too busy living it. I scrubbed the kitchen floor yesterday for the first time in I’mnotgoingtosay, and this made me ridiculously happy. A clean kitchen makes me happy period, (this in addition to my happy pills), so this is an area of focus that needs to be high on my list.
The worrying needs to go away. The oldest son will leave and go to college. The clingy toddler will grow up and not need me so much.
It’s okay. It’ll be okay.
Last night was the closing performance of the play, and after striking the set and grabbing McDonalds, my son came home with a couple of friends. They were just going to bed when I left for my holy hour at three-thirty, but we got to visit a bit about the play. Nice, nice kids.
Later, I woke to the sound of the blender and the smell of fried eggs. The boys were sitting around the table, sipping smoothies and laughing and talking about finals.
“How was your holy hour?” one of them asked.
It was good. Life is good.
God’s got this. It will be okay.
I really get this. Life is good indeed.
Love you much, dearest Mom to 5 Minnies! ♥
What a handsome boy! Well, all of the them but especially the one who is the apple of his mama's eye right now. We're counting down, too. Twelve days. I can't decide if I want to change the locks or chain him to his bed. I change my mind from moment to moment depending on his attitude. Mine will be commuting to college so it's not like I have to say goodbye. Sometimes a little absence, well, it makes the heart grow fonder. Or the brain forgets the bad stuff. I can't decide. Now the one I have to give up for good on June 20 — that one is going to make me cry. Yup, many many tears. Let's not think about that.
We need to go get a drink, dearest friend. Coffee, tea or a martini, depending on the time of day.
Oh, and a plateful of that antipasto. I'm STILL craving your antipasto! Love you much and am holding you superclose in prayer, even if I'm not commenting as much as I'd like these days.
You know I always enjoy when you write, Margaret. I suppose I have a soft spot for you and your wit for several reasons, but mostly because when you show up here you are wonderfully, honestly YOU.
I agree, when life happens, days fly by and heck, when spring in MN finally happens, we all go missing in Blogville. I think of the place often, but the energy and time just isn't there. Things like little toddler people who are in high destruct mode tend to make things like blogging nearly impossible. Life's stages and phases.
I so enjoyed the photos. You've done good mama. Your kids are the handsomest/cutest. And Francis, well, gosh he just grew up with that haircut.
Blessings on your days ahead. Enjoy them as much as you can. {hugs}
Sarah, you are always so, so sweet. Yes, where do our energy and time all go? Mostly toward keeping the toddler off the table.
Love you, hon! Let's keep praying for sun.
My life last year. Beautiful pictures of your kiddos. Enjoy every moment!
I knew you'd get this, sweet Christine! Wanna meet for coffee? : )
I cried at the end. Probably shouldn't. But I did. It's the "God's got this" part.
So true
And so what I need to remember. Constantly.
Loved this whole update on your life.
Remember your oldest is not gone yet, he's still here most of the summer, right?
What a special thing that your home is the home he and his friends hang out at and make fun breakfasts after being up all night! I think that alone would actually make me tear up. Special times.
And that baby of yours is looking more and more like your almost 6 year old!! (goldfish boy)
It's his new haircut.
(very cute)
My oldest of our bookend boys doesn't understand why I am not teaching the youngest (my baby) how to go to sleep on his own. He doesn't get it. Even though it's hard to take time out to lay down with him, I know he won't always want me to do it. And I love it. I love the kisses…the I love you Thiiiiiiiisssss much's and just him laying next to me, syncing our breathing til he falls asleep.
You have a lot going on there Maggie, and you are right, God's got it. And you will be OK.
Thoughts and prayers. And (((hugs))))
And rain. It's raining again.
I know you get EVERYTHING about this post, Jamesters. And you're right–my oldest is here through the summer! And after that? Well, he'll never be truly gone.
Love you!
This post 'got me' too. Especially the parts about the oldest boy going away to college. For now, there is excitement and happy parties to celebrate… but I'm not sure how ready I will be when the end of August arrives and he leaves home for his new 'adventure'. — btw, Margaret, I'm hoping to see you at the conference in St. Paul in just a couple days. 🙂