Hurry Up and Slow Down.

by Brooke on October 20, 2008 4 comments »

It’s been two months since all four of my children began a new school year. Andrew a fifth grader. Becca in third. The twins off to all-day kindergarten. This leaves me here at home. All day. The first time in ten years that I’ve been without a wee bebe tugging at my T-shirt.
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Oh, Joy! How Exciting! Isn’t it Loverly?
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I’ve heard the wide-eyed exclamations from mothers who’ve already arrived at such freedom. I’ve seen the dreamy-eyed mothers, still suckling their tenderlings, watch me and wonder…what’s it like?
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Well, I’ll tell you. It ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.
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For ten years, I imagined a life without car seats and carriers. One sans late-night burpings and poopy diapers. One which included a hot shower (by myself) before noon.
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Hurry! Hurry time-to-myself, I would cry! Hurry time to read! Swiftly come, time to craft! Hasten, Time to write! Hurry!
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Then. Here. It’s arrived. And, I’m left to wonder. What was I in such a hurry for?
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There is the dusty stack of enchanting stories which have waited for years on my nightstand. Let them linger. I’ll take a whistling conversation with my toothless five-year-olds over Mr. Darcy anyday. There is the novel stuck in my head. It can wait to be written a year or nine longer. For now, I prefer taking crayon to coloring book, with my budding artists hovering ’round. I had those dreams to open a sparkling bakery, start a non-profit, replace Oprah. Yet, such imaginings aren’t nearly as sweet when I ponder the time they might steal from me.
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After all, now more than ever, I am keenly aware how time works with children. They tick taller minute by minute. The clock moves on it’s merry way. And so do they. Tick. Tick. Tick. They grow up. Grow away. Go off to school all day.
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It’s two thirty. Schools out.
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Oh, Joy! How Exciting! Isn’t it Loverly?
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I capture my four warm people and pull them tight to my heart. I carry them quickly home.
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Hurry! Hurry! Hurry home and fill the silence with your sounds. Smother my moments with your fat fingers. Sprinkle your breadcrumb trail across our afternoon. Let me hold you. Hold you. Hold you.
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The day was too quiet without you.

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4 Responses to “Hurry Up and Slow Down.”

  1. 1

    Lisa on October 21, 2008 at 7:23 am Reply

    Great blog you have! I know what you mean. My youngest just started 1st grade(all day) and my house still isn’t clean.

  2. 2

    Candy on October 21, 2008 at 9:45 am Reply

    Wait till they go off to college! I text them at least 3 times a day.

  3. 3

    Miss JC on October 21, 2008 at 12:00 pm Reply

    I can’t get over how cute your blog is! I have told my entire family to look at its cuteness. :) Your children are absolutely precious.

  4. 4

    John McLay on October 21, 2008 at 8:50 pm Reply

    Beautiful post, sweetheart. It brought a tear to my eye. We are so blessed!

    I love you.

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