For Those Who Asked...

Everyone,

I've had several people ask me what the title of the book that my MIL sent me. It's called "A Mother's Book of Secrets" by Linda Eyre and Shawni Eyre Pothier. The subtitle (which I've just now read) is- Keys to Making Motherhood Memorable, Meaningful, and Magnificent. It's a collection of essays from a grandma and a mom. I've only read the first 2 or 3, but one has stuck with me for a few days. It's called Trenches Don't Last. It's all about being in the moment and enjoying whatever moment you are in. Whether it be the baby moment, the teenage moment, anything.

They quote another essay by Anna Quindlen, "The biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make...I did not live in the moment enough. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and getting it done a little less." I've thought a lot about this today. About how I am always rushing Butterfly to get to the next thing when all she wants to do is talk to me or be with me or play with me. I thought about it as I picked up Pirate for the 100th time today after he just asked to be put down. I thought about it when Professor crawled into my lap and gave me his killer smile and lightly pointed at my nose and said, "Oooo." (We've been working on body parts. Nooose.)

I do feel like I am in a big rush to get to the next thing. I do feel like there are a lot responsibilities that need to get done. But I think that laundry and cleaning and food prep/clean up are small things. They will always be there. But my responsibility as a mother to these cute cute kids, should be my priority in my mind. I feel like the days go better when I get into what Butterfly is doing that day, or have 15 minutes of ball passing with Pirate, or push cooking lids around the kitchen with Professor (his new favorite thing).

This essay was a good reminder of the important things. Because all too soon they will no longer be pushing pan lids around my house or pretending to be dogs in Soot's kennel. It also reminded me I ought to take more videos of them because then they can see what it was like right now.

So expect some videos in the near future, and also some stories from Butterfly. I'd like to document what they are doing a little more on here.

Safire

PS- Pictures by Lolli, of course. (Well, not the one of Butterfly.) It's so much fun having a friend who loves to take pictures. :)