I’ve always been a bit of a quote gatherer. It all started in high school, and I can blame it on those days of being a hopeless romantic and spending countless hours daydreaming about our futures with my friend Danielle. She and I had little quote books where we would write down our favorite quotes as we would come across them, bringing them to life on the page with any gel pens and colored markers we could get our hands on.
I’ve continued this practice of gathering quotes throughout life’s twists and turns, and they’ve always give me strength and courage when I need it most. I share them with Justin, and sometimes with friends and family, but usually keep them to myself and reflect on them when I feel the need.
Lately I’ve been feeling a large shift in life. I think a lot of it has to do with my kids getting a little bit older and moving on from the earliest life stages of babyhood and toddlerhood. Leaving this space where their needs were so frequent and so physical and so all consuming, and moving on to the young adolescent stage where their physical demands aren’t necessarily as taxing but where the emotional dangers are seemingly so much more daunting, is scary. I am no longer double-fisting baby carriers, nursing on the go in my car between stops, juggling babies on my hips, waking up in the night for feedings, or following unsafe toddlers around attempting to prevent injury.
Instead, I’ve traded most of these duties for hands-on parenting in other ways: encouraging my children to develop hobbies and interests, working with them on their academics, and spending time connecting with them about the highs and lows that they are experiencing in their everyday life and coaching them through it.
Now that a bit of the chaos has subsided in our everyday life, I’m adjusting to the new pace. Sometimes things can feel a little bit monotonous – the endless cycle of taxiing kids to sports practices, working on homework, cooking meals, picking up toys, and grocery shopping. Sometimes it drives me to tune out a bit – maybe because for the first time in almost 9 years, I can (without the eminent threat of physical harm befalling my children).
Feeling in a bit of a haze the other day while waiting in line to pick up my kids from school, I came across this quote.
Quote to the rescue! Just when I needed it most, there was a reminder. It IS up to ME.
These moments surrounding me in this pause are continued examples of beauty and peace. They can feel insignificant, yes, but they are also gifts to us if and when we choose to recognize them. Taking some “breaths of fresh air” over this past year of mothering, I appreciate these moments – especially coming from a place where for years I could not see them so clearly in the chaos. It is up to me to find the beauty in everyday things, and everyday moments. You can find the beauty too.
Just take a deep breath – the slightest pause amidst the frenzy, and look around. The beauty is there waiting to be noticed.
