And Soon, Spring

I looked ahead in the extended forecast and saw the most terribly thrilling thing promised: spring.

Of course, it won’t come all at once. And it will be messy in the uptake, naturally. Spring here has fits and starts of cool and warm weather, and can be every bit as wet as winter. But some days will see upper 50s, and the daffodils and daylilies will soon be sending their green blades up, reminding us of what’s to come shortly thereafter. I’m already scanning the roadsides for little peeks of new life and hoping to spy the first blooms.

It doesn’t hurt that we’re just days away from our own “what’s to come.” I spend a sunny day recently doing one of my favorite tasks: washing and lanolizing the baby’s wool diaper covers. I had been certain that they were all passed on, so to have rediscovered them (and received a few lovely hand-me-downs from cloth diapering friends) was a huge gift. Wool is a bit of an investment on the front end, but it lasts and lasts. To be putting some of these covers on my fourth babe, ten years on… yes, I’d say that was money well invested!

The weather here never took the solidly awful turn that much of the nation and even our own area saw recently. Still, we had several days cold enough that even my hardiest kids only popped outside for short bursts to clear their minds and get their physical bearings. So much time indoors has been a bit challenging but what a short window of it we’ve had this year! I’m grateful we live in a climate where we can be out truly year-round, only having a handful of scattered days (and those mostly in the summer months) when we’re confined indoors.

School has gone on as usual. I admit I’ve had less of a heart for bringing much creativity to the table this past week. The kids haven’t seemed to mind too much. Their imaginations have filled in all the blanks of free time I’ve left, thankfully, and we’ve stayed on track. I had grand plans of writing up a solid plan that would be easily implemented for the first two weeks after Decimus arrived, but finally admitted to myself this weekend that I’m far more likely to utilize some pre-existing resources (CC Connected has some excellent ones) and instead have a huge library haul on hand to fuel curiosity. My husband agreed it was a good plan. The best part about having an established daily rhythm is that even when I’m removed from the process, the kids know how to pursue their work. No, they don’t do everything independently, but they know to do what that can and will wait for assistance with the rest. That keeps things on an even keel and keeps chaos at bay. Hooray for CM habit training!

I am blessed to have a husband who believes wholeheartedly in a solid period of enforced rest for me following my return from the hospital after giving birth. Once called “confinement,” I think much of America has rejected the practice at this point, but it’s truly a shame.  Spending a week or more in bed, healing and regaining my own strength, focusing solely on feeding and caring for the new baby, sleeping when he or she sleeps, and entertaining older siblings as they come in for short visits ultimately gets you back on your feet faster than trying to rush back into the fray of household duties. It’s an absolute luxury, but one that I am grateful my husband insists on. I know it makes an already busy season even busier for him, but I treasure the time. As I’ve said repeatedly this pregnancy: I have no interest in appearing to be Supermom or “I Have It All Together Woman.” At 46, I’m maybe a little too comfortable drawing boundaries around the needs of my family and myself. I have declined a lot of invitations, and said no when I’m sure people expected to hear otherwise. We have been decidedly noncommittal on many fronts, giving ourselves the freedom to make choices based on what’s working for us in that moment without locking ourselves in to something that may be less than ideal when the time comes around— just in case. What works for us may not make everyone else happy or fit their definition of what they expect, but that’s o.k. That’s not my goal, anyhow.

What is my goal? Enjoying this season. Relishing the best parts of life here and now. Taking the time to be grateful for the many blessings we have each day, and the many more God is pouring out as we keep walking forward. Not stressing. Laughing alongside my husband. Meeting my family’s needs. Smiling at my kids. Sharing the intense moments, the cozy moments, the moments that take my breath away with the people I love the most. This spring will offer so many opportunities to bask in exactly this, I know. I’m ready for it.