I've recently been at battle with eight pounds that I would still like to shed from my body. It's not much but it's not going anywhere. At all. Earl has been reminding me that when I'm working out I can't quit when I get tired because that's when the really good stuff happens. He reminds me that when I want to give up is when it's really important that I keep pushing on. I've decided that advice extends to just about all areas of my life. This week, this summer, this season of raising small kids. When I want to give up, give in, raise the white flag -I just have to keep moving forward. That's where the good stuff is.
If anyone were to ask what the theme of our week was we would all answer by saying, "CAMP". We had not just one, but two camps this week - golf and field hockey. Luckily (or perhaps not) one was first thing in the morning and the other over the supper hour. Our days went something like this : breakfast, golf, lunch, field hockey, supper, bed. Throw in there a birthday party, an unplanned trip to the doctor, a trip to Geisinger, packing for the beach and the fact that every single one of our babysitters is away this week and I'm just about toast. Keep moving forward, I remind myself.
This week was Cooper's last round of golf school. The kids had the chance to go over to the course and try our their skills on one hole. Here's Cooper reading the green! We weren't even off campus before he was asking when the next lessons started. Ummm...next summer? Wrong answer apparently. Later that day I found myself playing "golf school" in the backyard a number of times. It was hot, I was tired and playing caddy wasn't on my to do list. But over and over I dug bright yellow balls out of the thick brush beside our house and watched Cooper beam. He was so proud and so was I. Keep moving forward. This is where the good stuff happens.
Wednesday evening McKenna was in her gear and ready for field hockey mini camp. Cooper was even invited to participate this year. Keep in mind, mens field hockey is a big deal in Europe. Earl and I didn't mind him participating if it meant he would burn off some energy and not sit for an hour and play ipad while we waited for McKenna.
If anyone were to ask what the theme of our week was we would all answer by saying, "CAMP". We had not just one, but two camps this week - golf and field hockey. Luckily (or perhaps not) one was first thing in the morning and the other over the supper hour. Our days went something like this : breakfast, golf, lunch, field hockey, supper, bed. Throw in there a birthday party, an unplanned trip to the doctor, a trip to Geisinger, packing for the beach and the fact that every single one of our babysitters is away this week and I'm just about toast. Keep moving forward, I remind myself.
This week was Cooper's last round of golf school. The kids had the chance to go over to the course and try our their skills on one hole. Here's Cooper reading the green! We weren't even off campus before he was asking when the next lessons started. Ummm...next summer? Wrong answer apparently. Later that day I found myself playing "golf school" in the backyard a number of times. It was hot, I was tired and playing caddy wasn't on my to do list. But over and over I dug bright yellow balls out of the thick brush beside our house and watched Cooper beam. He was so proud and so was I. Keep moving forward. This is where the good stuff happens.
Wednesday evening McKenna was in her gear and ready for field hockey mini camp. Cooper was even invited to participate this year. Keep in mind, mens field hockey is a big deal in Europe. Earl and I didn't mind him participating if it meant he would burn off some energy and not sit for an hour and play ipad while we waited for McKenna.
It was fun to watch them out on the field together. I think I'll cherish this picture because it's probably the only time I'll ever see them both on the turf at the same time. But what was really neat was watching the way McKenna took her little brother under her wing. She had him all dressed and ready to go a half our before we left for camp. I worried a little that as soon as we got to the field she would join her friends and let him fend for himself. How wrong I was. She stayed with him virtually the whole time. She was his partner for drills and even stopped at one point to help him tie his shoe. Cooper did his part and listened to the coaches instructions and participated in every single drill. They both did this mama proud!
And Kinley, well God bless her, she was a trooper as she was shuttled from one activity to the next where her only directive was to wait patiently on the other kids. The poor girl spent more time in the car this week in the name of her brother and sister than I care to think about. If she was bothered by it you could never tell. Keep moving forward - this is good stuff. I think she would agree.
And in keeping with the camp theme, I'm thinking maybe I should just start my own day camp since this is what my house tends to look like on days that we are home for more than an hour at a time.
Legos on the porch. Crafts in the yard. Neighborhood kids everywhere. Laundry that needs done for the beach trip. Dishes that are piled in the sink. Dinner that has yet to be made.
Sand and water side by side. I'll take it!
I read an article today that talked about being "in the sweet spot". The author referred to the period of raising kids where life doesn't revolve around bottle feedings and changing diapers. Where the kids can play together with a little less supervision and leaving the house doesn't require three years worth of planning. I'm starting to realize that I'm almost there. Almost at the sweet spot and I want to enjoy it. So even though I'm bone tired and sometimes want to quit - I'm going to do what Earl says. I'm going to keep pushing through the hard part because I can see the pay off is so worth it.
