Yesterday, Chanelle, Meadow and I were driving toward my in-laws where we would meet Chad and Charlie for dinner. The temperature was approaching 60 degrees and the sun had finally broken through what had been a mostly cloudy day. Unfortunately, my mood was equally cloudy. We had about five showings at our house during the last five days and I was uncertain if we might get a last minute call indicating that potential buyer a, b, or c wants to come through your house again. . . ”
I began the morning by making sure our bedroom was picked up and laundry was started.
Check.
Next, I moved into Meadow’s bedroom where I picked up the books she had scattered around her room.
Check.
Then I moved into Charlie and Chanelle’s bedroom to pick up the deck of cards that Meadow had apparently been playing 52 pick-up with before she decided to color with each and every one of the 64 pack of crayons.
I remained calm and picked up the room.
My next task was to move into the kitchen, but when I walked into the hallway I found that Meadow had decided to open the closet and take all the Memory cards out of the box. Not only that, but Girlfriend decided the Headbandz cards would be fun to play with as well as all the little blue chips from another random game had been removed from its box.
Breathe deep, Summer. Breathe deep.
As I finished cleaning up the hallway I noticed, once again, that Meadow was missing. This time she decided to play under the bathroom sink where we keep all of Chanelle’s hair accessories, jewelry, etc. If you have girls you know. . . there is a ton of it. It looked like the cabinet had thrown up.
This is right about the time my blood pressure began to rise. I’ll admit it. . . I was boiling. On the inside I was screaming. . . on the outside. . . I was short tempered.
Later, I was preparing a dessert to take to my in-laws and Chanelle decided that it would be a good idea to give Meadow the cool whip container and let her feed herself. Yep, cool whip all over the floor.
At this point I’m throwing a little tantrum inside my head. Something like I’m so tired. I just want to rest. I can’t do this anymore. And all of this is accompanied by imaginary stomping of my feet and sticking out of my tongue.
On the outside. . . I’m still short with them.
Now I need to clean the floor. I get the bucket, the cleaner, and warm water and scrub the entire floor. When I finish I notice that the floor is badly streaked. I go back in my head and think about what I did and then I realize that I didn’t pay attention to the proportion of cleaner/water. . .
Note: when they say use a gallon of water. . . they mean it.
Forget it, we have to leave soon so I go to gather our stuff and find Meadow in the bedroom surrounded again by 52 playing cards and 64 crayons all over the floor.
At this point I’m finished. I tell Chanelle to get into the car and carry Meadow to her car seat and head to my in-laws. At first the ride is quiet except for soft banter between the girls and then Chanelle decides to be brave and attempt to break through my mood. . .
I can’t wait until we move, she said.
Yeah, I said. It will be nice.
I think you’re going to cry a lot, Chanelle mused.
Confused by this I asked her why. . .
Because we will be able to see the sunset from our house and you cry at beautiful things.
Chanelle won. Suddenly the frustrating events of earlier in the day melted away and with one tiny statement she gave me the dose of perspective I needed. Chanelle was right. . . beautiful things make me cry and beautiful things are everywhere I look. . .
Like in my driveway. . .
A surprise 60 degree day in Ohio lures us outside with urgency matching that of a firefighter. . .
Seriously, try it.
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An afternoon stroll where we breathe in fresh air and remember what it feels like to have our feet touch the grass. . .
. . . and where little sis pulls the Independent Card. I got this, she tells us. Just let me do it. . .
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Quiet morning reading. . .
. . . .
Tender bedtime stories. . .
Watching my big girl take such great care of my little girl. . .
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Watching bravery in action. . .
With each passing day her footing become more and more secure. I watch her take a few more steps before she looks back, a few more steps before she stumbles, a few more steps before she needs me. . .
Girlfriends gonna be just fine.
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A few stolen moment with my boy. . .
Words don’t do justice. . .
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This scene. . .
Watching Charlie hold on to Meadow’s hand or bracing her down a hill or looking at her to be sure she wasn’t scared. I watched and wondered what it would look like when he is 12 and she is 6 or when he is 17 and she is 11. Will it always be this way?
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And suddenly crayons all over the floor seem like nothing, multiple games of 52 pick-up is minor. And Cool Whip on the floor? It cleans right up.
Chanelle is right. . . I do cry at beautiful things. However, I don’t need to wait for the sunset to see them.
Beautiful things are everywhere.
What a wonderful post, Summer. Sunsets tend to do the same to me, too.
Have you heard the song Beautiful Things by the group, Gungor? Love it! In fact, I've been playing around with it with my song buddy, Jesse Miller. My favorite lines: "all around, hope is springing up from this old ground, out of chaos life is being found in YOU"
JoEllen
so good, Summer! It is stressful preparing your house to be looked at it again, on a whole other level when there's 3 children and 2 parents to add
to the challenge, but this too shall pass, praying for a buyer soon so you can settle in your new place, I love this post, all the things our kids teach us!