I’ve spent the past few weeks being hard on myself. Really hard on myself. In the midst of running from the time my feet hit the ground in the morning until it’s time for bed, I can’t help but long for something else. When I open my calendar and see it completely filled from the first to the thirty-first, I can’t help but long for less.
Less running from place to place.
Less commitments.
Less eating out.
Less work.
Less mess.
Less.
But, what if my season doesn’t lend itself to less. What if I can’t shave a single thing from my calendar without giving up something we really need right now, without giving up something that brings joy, even in the midst of chaos. Dance class and Bible study, exercise and work, they all have a place right now. Church functions and family time, date nights and throwing parties for people who are special to me, they can’t go. Not right now.
Instead of worrying about all the things I wish were different, I’m going to focus on this life we have and all that it is, all that if gives me on a daily basis. This busy, sometimes messier than I like, perfectly imperfect season that we’re living in right now.
Our season is going to change soon, we’re going to welcome a new life into our family. Things will slow down, we’ll be home more. We’ll be busy, sure. Busy at home soaking in tender moments, adjusting to our new dynamic. Priorities will shift, summer will come, commitments will cease, even if it’s just for a little while. Even if it’s just for a season.
In the coming months, I’m going to live this busy. I’m going to take in every last bit of this busy season, of this season of three. Because right now we can be busy. We can go see movies and have play dates, those things that are difficult with a newborn, but not with just one three year old.
There is plenty of time for slow, there will be times when less seems normal. And looking way down the road, I know that someday my house will be more quiet than I’d like it to be. There will be less laundry and less mess.
But not now, not today. Today there is a toddler running to find an elf and begging to make cookies. There is a kitchen that already needs to be cleaned, so we’ll bake the cookies and make it a little messier.
And tonight, as we run from place to place, I won’t be overwhelmed with the busy, or wish for less.
This our busy season and we’re going to live it up.
Love this
This is a great perspective on the busy seasons of life! Are you planning on going back to work after baby #2 arrives?
Love this advice to live in the busy! We are in the same boat with preschoolers and another one on the way and a very full calendar. It’s hard to enjoy this time and so easy to feel overwhelmed. Thanks for sharing!
Good for you! We were certainly in the slower phase last year and this time for us is go-go a-go-go. Embracing all of these different stages of life is what makes is so wonderful!! I hope you continue to feel well!
What a great post! Exactly what I needed to read during this busy time.
Thank you so much for this! We have a two year old and an eight year old and life is busy, but it’s good. I’m so glad to see a post about living in the busy, rather than another one about cutting back and making things simplier. Sometimes life just isn’t simple or quiet and you have to be able to roll with that and enjoy it.
Congratulations on your baby boy! I have two boys – they’re fantastic!
I love this post! Thank you!
Love this… I looked at our calendar and my husband sighed as I saw we have something packed into everdday for the next few weeks. But I want to just enjoy it and soak up the memories.