Last Day of Swim Class

There are without question many challenges to being a parent. In fact, the challenges can eclipse the blessings. Some could argue that we should reflect on challenges themselves as blessings. Just try and convice a dad in the midst of a critical conference call, attempting to bottle feed an infant, while the two older children who should be in 'quiet time' are being anything but quiet. Blessing, perhaps ask me next week. Challenge, without question; no discussion required.


So...I hope that I can be completely present and wash in the moments that are clearly blessings. Moments of joy, peace and power. My fear is that I will miss them, treat them as mundane and in doing so rob them of the opportunity to nurish my life and my relationships with those I love.


The last day of swim class. What a joy. The oldest is swimming solo and the little one is happy in the pool without daddy by his side.

Sun @ the Beach

I take for granted how wonderful my children are. It's far too easy to 'rest' in the challenges, the arguments and the 'wrestling' matches.

If I were to actually tally the time spent in battle and the time spent at peace, I think I would be surprised at the difference. And that difference would be weighted significantly in favor of peace.

Although, it can seem that the calculation would lean heavily towards time spent in "battle"...working with the kids to share, to relax, to speak rather than scream, to do what you ask, to hurry, to slow down, to listen, to treat one another with honor and respect and on and on. It can be and is so exhausting. I think that it's the amount of energy required to parent in these circumstances that skews my perspective into believing that my life is spent in the trenches, rather than on the beach under an umbrella.


Being a parent is labor intensive. Being a good parent requires divine intervention. I do not believe one can simply "happen" to parent well. It takes intentionality.

Now, my fault in this entire calculation of peace versus battle is that during those times of peace, I'm often not at peace. Not resting in the moment; experiencing the children, experiencing life at peace, but rather looking towards the next moment. The next meeting, the next activity, the next email, the next work-related crisis.

I need to spend time playing in the sand and jumping on the beach. Thank you little ones for reminding me how to be at peace.