There’s a one-year-old wearing a t-shirt and cloth diaper who’s in my garden, poking green bean seeds exactly where they go. There’s a four-year-old in a sun dress dumping lettuce seeds exactly where they don’t.
And it’s twice as hard, maybe three times as hard, trying to get anything done with a handful of kids, but maybe it’s not about getting something done as it is about giving them my time. And my patience.
I think time and patience are one of the best ways to show love. I wish I could tell you that I remember this more often than I do. But I don’t always. There are moments when I’m just too busy. I truly have too much work to do. And those are the days I kiss their little heads after they’ve long since fallen asleep in their beds and I think to myself, tomorrow. We’ll try again tomorrow. There are only so many tomorrows.Â
I hear they grow fast.
I want to make the most of each day with them. I want to crawl on my hands and knees in the grass looking for the tiny bright white BB’s for my son to save in his jar, and make homemade peach frozen bars with three kids crowding around our tiny kitchen counter, all the while ignoring the oatmeal pan that really ought to be washed. But I can never get this moment back. I probably won’t be able to scrub the peach puree off the surfaces of my home either, but that’s a lot less important, I’ve learned.
And when we were out in the garden and my six-year-old told his baby brother “good job!” when, with his little dimpled hands, he stuck a green bean seed into the soil. Then my big guy turned to me and said, “let’s encourage him because he knows what we’re saying.” If the pudgy bare feet in the soil beside me weren’t already melting my heart, my oldest son’s words made me want to remember the moment forever. And take the time to make–and savor–the memories. Â
So beautiful!
Thanks, Julie! 🙂
Aww, I’m choking up. They DO grow fast. Just yesterday, or 20 years ago, I was eating carrots from my garden with my baby girl.
When your little boy says that about his baby brother? You KNOW you’re doing a great job.
Jennifer, I hear it all the time and it’s easy to forget when they’re little, but they really will grow so fast. Thank you, My little man is such a sweet heart. Just loves his baby brother and sister 🙂
Oh, this is so sweet.
You know, I don’t have kids at this point, but this line resonated with me anyway: “Tomorrow. We’ll try again tomorrow. There are only so many tomorrows.” I find myself falling asleep at night thinking that at times…particularly in the days I rushed through without much thought to the people around me compared to my to-do list. That’s just not how I want to live my everyday life!
Melissa,
I can so relate. It really is hard with a to-do list and isn’t it amazing how being an author adds SO MUCH to that list!? There are nights that I realize it’s midnight and I’m yet to finish an interview or something else that needs to be done. The way you’re taking note of that now is so wonderful. You will be so glad you did 🙂 I’m excited for you as you gear up for your release date!!! Such a special time 🙂
Awwww! How absolutely precious. Such a beautiful blog post and I am blessed beyond words to read it!
Awww, I am so glad!!! Some pretty great grand kids there 😉
My kids (now adults) still reminisce about their early days in the garden. The smells, the textures, the sun, laughing together… It was all worth it!
Beverly, that is so neat that they have those fond memories! There’s just something out in the garden with kids, isn’t there? A perfect place to have fun. 🙂
Yes, savor the moments, because you can’t get them back. They do grow too fast and sometimes they “go Home” sooner than we expect.
Most definitely savoring them, Lisa. So sad but true…so important to enjoy each day with them.
Hi Joanne! Another lovely post, as always. I especially like this one because it gives us a glimpse into your mommy life. I admire you for spending time with your little ones. As a writer, I know how much time your job requires. Making sure your kiddos get their fill of mommy-time must be a difficult challenge. Keep trying. They will cherish their memories of fun times like gardening. And so will you.
Blessings,
Andrea
Andrea,
I’m so glad it gave you that glimpse. 🙂 It’s such a big part of my life, these kids. I’m so blessed to have them around every day and couldn’t imagine t any other way. It really can be a challenge to give them mommy time during the busy seasons. One of the reasons I write mainly at night. During a typical round of revisions, my office hours are 8pm -midnight. I’m awful tired, but it gives us that extra time together 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comment!
Joanne: You’ve written a beautiful post, embracing the sweet while catching a brief glimpse of the bitter. Our children grow fast. And yes, there are only so many tomorrows where they are children.
But here’s the hidden sweet in the changes that happen as today becomes tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow:
Our children grow up and become the people God intended them to be.
And we get to watch. And to encourage them to embrace their futures. And to stand back and, yes, let go.
Beth,
That’s BEAUTIFUL.
<3 thanks for sharing your heart… and your stories…
Ashley
Oh, Beth, what a beautiful reminder. Yes, they really do grow into the people God intended them to be! One of the reasons why I’m so thankful I get to spend my days with them, working on the fruits of the spirit in our lives and watching the way they exude God’s love and grace already at such a young age. It is such an amazing thing to watch! I can tell by your family updates on facebook how you cherish one another. It is so wonderful!
Joanne your post made my heart melt!
Hugs, Hannah! I think of you with your little ones and you keep up the good work, my friend!
Joanne,
We still have “surprise” garden seedlings popping up — green beans where the nasturtiums were supposed to be, morning glories where the tomatoes were supposed to sprout. And poppies, poppies everywhere.
One thing we do is collect the seeds. My girls love to hunt for the big nasturtium beans after the flowers fade. We keep them all in bags for next year’s planting.
Happiness this year? now that Ray is almost 10 and E is closing in on 8? They go seed hunting on their own. Call me out to show me their harvest.
Enjoy each moment!!!!!!!
~Ashley
Ashley, what a fun picture you paint and boy oh boy but we can relate to that! Sounds like you and the girls have been having some fun. 🙂 I love to hear how you are making special memories with your girls. They will remember them and look back with such fondness. <3
Hugs!
Yes, they do grow up fast…too fast. I am so grateful that I was able to homeschool all three of my kids all the way through High School. It gave us lots of together time and made us very close. Now that they are all grown up and having children of their own, I am reminded that even though my time as a mother of small children may be gone, my days of being the grandmother of small children is just beginning! I have two new grandbabies coming this October! Great post, Joanne…hugs and God bless.
Yes, it is the growing season! I love your son’s message to you! k.
I did, too Kathleen! 🙂