Reflections of a simpler time. . .
Somehow just a moment ago in time, I never imagined that in a couple of short days
I would be singing happy birthday to a 1 year old and to a 5 year old. Where has the time gone?
Just goes to show you that you must, by all means possible, take time and stop
to look down at those grubby little hand and sticky little faces and realilze that they are one day older than yesterday and
growing at warp speed.
Two big birthdays this month, 1 day and 4 years apart. As I think back to
what life was like with one kid I sometimes wonder what the heck I was thinking to have another. Let's face it:
2 is WAY different than one!
I was talking to a friend (someone older whom I respect very much) the other day
and talking very candidly (as I ALWAYS do) with her and she just underlined it for me. She said, Jen, you are sooo right!
When you have the first child you are very much still stradling the adult world. They are at your mercy and follow your
schedule. When you have the second, you are catapulted into the children's world and function according to their schedules.
I can't say that this year hasn't been tough, especially opening the new business
and all. I can say that it has been so incredibly worth it.
My daughter brings us so much different joy than our son, we feel truly blessed
to have 'kung fu baby action figure' in our lives. And, being an only child I now have a better sense of what I never
felt I was missing out on. To see the two kids together and know that they will always be connected to each other is
beyond my dreams.
No, life is certainly not simple anymore and oftentimes we get frustrated.
But to know that we have successfully(?) been raising 2 amazing, funny, happy, bright kids is the greatest reward of all.
Let's be honest - I do often fantasize about what life was like pre-family; get-up-and-go
go go whenever we pleased, traveled across country, across the world, had money, had fun fun fun. . . I do often reflect
on those simpler times. But at the culmination of those reflections there is a moment when I look at my surroundings,
step over a few dozen toys and really, honestly and quietly
Celebrate the difficult ones.
For without those, I would not have found true, unabashed JOY.
