After spending too many years in survival mode, I feel like I'm waking back up and remembering what a critical role and privilege it is being "Mom." It's kind of ironic because this is the first time in 15 years that my kids are all gone during the day. Maybe I finally have some time to really think beyond the urgent and the busywork again?
I've been considering the sorts of things I used to give a lot of brain power to. Things like:
What do I want our home to feel like?
What kind of limits and guidance do my kids need?
How can I encourage and facilitate strong family bonds?
What memories do I hope my kids will have of their childhood?
What do I want them to know and love about our extended families?
How can I make sure my kids know they can talk to me about hard things?
What's the best way to foster consideration between siblings?
How can we overcome the limitations of circumstance?
What words do I want them to associate with me?
What traditions do we have or could we start?
How can we have more fun together?
We're definitely past the early years and so I worry that it's too late somehow. That I haven't been consistent or patient enough. That I've spent too much time rushing and not enough time cuddling.. That I yelled too much and they won't remember the laughter. But the past is gone so I choose to be hopeful (and proactive!) about the future.
