We talk allot (both here and at home) about living your best life. Your most authentic life. Your bliss. Living each moment with the juice of it dripping deliciously off of your chin. But some days the happiness eludes us all, even here.
Like today.
Pete was in a Hurry. A Big Hurry. It was a little tense around here as he hurried the kid and hustled around getting ready to leave. "Where are you going?" I asked. "I'm taking the kids to the park," he replied. "To play."
There are these moments where my eyes open wide and my jaw drops a bit and I think, Really? Really? This is how we're choosing to spend this day? The absurdity of hurrying to the park was enough to knock me on my butt and make me to take stock of our emotional space. Yes, the toilet overflowed this morning. Again. Yes, the kids stayed up late and Lupine is grumpy. Yes, we woke to a kitchen still full of yesterday's dirty dishes. Yes, there's allot to get done, like always.
But there is nothing beyond this moment. There is today. How are you spending it?
I, too, have hurried to the park. And the coop. And the library. And who-knows-where. I, too, have hurried to get the kids in bed right-on-time-and-not-a-minute late. I too have sucked the joy out of moment after moment as I rush along with my brow furled and my head down.
But for what? I am seeing a stick with no carrot in this. And I'm not interested in a stick.
So right now, in the midst of my busy work day I am pausing from my own business. I am going to grind grains and bake bread. To hell with the schedule. I want my kids to enjoy fresh, warm bread at lunchtime and that comes first.
Sometimes running a home-based business and trying to fix up our house and planting a garden and sorting the recycling and homeschooling and DIY-everything gets to be allot. And with that we're planning on bringing on chickens (and maybe bees!?) in our yard. And we're having a rummage sale this weekend. And I have dishes to wash. But what about this moment?
Let's stop and let the laundry pile up and the phone ring while we sit on the steps in the sunshine, nibbling our snack and listening to the birds.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
And now to the Babywearing Celebration…
Three tots, parking lot
do i need another arm?
no, just the Ergo!
~Sarah Orlikowski
Day 4 Winners are below. If you see your name please email me (rachel at lusaorganics dot com) so I can arrange shipping!
ERGObaby: Susan M. who said:
I
am dreaming of babywearing since #2 is going to be here in Aug. I love
looking at all those wrap but they look so complicated and so I now
have my heart set on the Ergo, I have heard many wonderful things about
it!!!
Kozy Carrier: Pamela R who said:
Beautiful post.
Baby Catbird: Melaine who said:
I
love wearing my baby! She is now 19 mos and does not enjoy it as much
as she used to. It actually makes me what to have another soon because
I miss it. We have a few small babywearing groups in our community. But
I have not met with them in a while….I need to do that again 🙂
Tummy 2 Tummy: Sarah B who said:
I
often lament the lack of community facing new mothers in our society. A
year or so ago when I was looking up instructions on how to wear a mei
tai, I came across the website of a Korean woman who had emigrated to
the US. I can't find that link anymore, but she said something like
this in reference to the back carry: In Korea there would always be
another adult around to help you put the baby in the carrier, but here
in the US that isn't the case. I remember reading that over and over
because I found it so stunning — never alone with the baby! Always
another adult around! I have no idea what that would be like.
It’s so true, what you said about the carrot and the stick. I feel just like that sometimes. I want to enjoy the moments, because if I don’t enjoy the moments, it adds up to days, weeks, years of just “getting through” life. And that stinks!
Thanks for your words Rachel. My two little girls and I are having a bit of a rough morning and your post reminded me to slow down, relax and enjoy my time with them instead of being grouchy about how messy the house is. After all, when they grow up I’d rather they look back and remember all the fun times they had with mama, rather than what a clean (and grouchy) house we lived in.
Enjoy your bread!
Oh, Kim! Beautifully said. I too want my kids to remember our family as a joyful, laughter-filled, love-filled (lived-in and messy) experience.
xo
Rachel
so true. its so easy to get caught up in duties and getting things done…sometimes i feel swept in a current of all that. but it feels good to cling to the rocks sometimes, letting it all flow past, and enjoy the beauty that is *right here*.
hey, thanks for posting my haiku! 🙂
have a lovely baking day. i have a sinkful of dishes and fairly crabby kids today…i’m dropping it all and heading to the park (without the rush!) thanks for your words today!
this post resonates with me big time right now. as i’m trying to get in to the swing of things with my two babies (8 weeks old and 3.5 years old) i’m finding myself at the end of too many days feeling as though i’ve gone through all the motions of feeding, reading, playing, but never really stopping to enjoy the individual moments. and oh how quickly this time will pass! thanks rachel, for such a timely post!
A lovely post — thanks for the reminder. And the babywearing poem by Sarah… perfect…
when i was in 7th grade and talked my folks into a cat, i read that clutter was better for the kitten’s developing senses – more to explore! i bet the same is true for kidlets. (and sometimes i can’t help the mess!) : )
Love this post. What a reminder. Happy Earth Day.
Thanks for the kind words everyone. Happy Earth Day to you as well!
Blessings,
Rachel
I just read a wonderful book called “In Praise of Slowness” that reminded me of your blog in general. This post reminded me that I wanted to share it with you. It was really inspiring- I’d highly recommend it.
Kendra,
Awesome. I am going to start spouting this as fact from now own. Clutter is why my kids are so smart.
🙂
Rachel
You are so welcome Lisset. I feel those days in my bones – the where was I today? moments. Heres to being present…
Peace,
Rachel
Sarah,
We loved your haiku. Thanks for sharing it with us! I hope the park was relaxing and fun for all involved.
Rachel
Thank you for sharing this, Joey. Ill be sure to check it out. I have a book recommendation for you, too – Radical Homemakers. For some reason I think youd dig it. xoxo Rachel
What a beautiful post. Sometimes I have to laugh at the absurdity of rushing the kids out the door, all so we can get somewhere “fun”!! It can sometimes feel so rushed in our lives, but taking the time to savour each little moment…now that’s something I want to learn in this lifetime!
As young moms, we are all swirling around in this crazy soup together…learning, laughing, yelling, crying, caring and loving.
In gratitude
Maureen
rachel–in keeping with this topic of being in the moment and slowing down, i also wonder about how mamas take care of themselves??? this is something i struggle with. i get so wrapped up in “all things kids” that i completely forget about my own needs. then i find i start to become crabby mama. no fun for anyone. I’d love to read a post about how you make time for yourself–especially since your family unschools (which is something else i’ve been trying to figure out how to do lately!)
Yes, family, business, craft, life, homeschooling, home, LIFE – we have that too…a lot going on! 🙂 I love this quote::
“Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
This is what I needed to read. It resonated perfectly with coming into the house after me and my two little girls impromptly decided we were going outside into the rain to jump in puddles. Although cold, wet and bundled up it was fun and we were present. It is nice to have reminders. Thank you!
Thank you Adela! It sounds like you found the magic in this day.
~Rachel
Oh, Andrea… This is a sticky one for me. I am not the best at taking my time – or havent been until recently. But I sneak in minutes (not days or hours, but minutes) often. A bath, a walk, a yoga class; a trip to the coop alone is even a treat. Ill discuss this in a future post. So glad you brought it up.
~ Rachel
Thanks Denise. Beautiful, timely (timeless) quote. ~ Rachel