Right At Home

I wrote this exactly a year ago when my youngest went to kindergarten.  I want to share it with you, a year later:

September 2007

My youngest son started kindergarten this fall.  On the first day of school, I was fine.  He was so happy to get on the bus, a huge smile on his face and his blue eyes beaming with pride.  It helped that when I returned from the bus stop, there were 5 messages on my answering machine from friends.  We had all focused on our kids and families the last few weeks of summer, taking our last trips, getting school clothes, etc.  Each message said basically the same thing, “Hi Kristen, call me, let’s go to coffee”, “Kristen let’s go running, call me”, “Finally!  Let’s do something fun today! How about a pedicure”, etc.  Hearing their voices made me thankful for the friendships that God has given me here in Minneapolis.  I also had a to-do list a mile long.  So, day one, a lot of catching up to do with friends and a lot of to do’s.  I was fine.

 

Day two, not so much.  This time, I had to hold the tears back as my three kids got on the bus.  This day, all of the things I wanted to get done didn’t seem as important.  I suddenly yearned for my little buddy, my youngest child that had gone everywhere with me for the last 2 of years while his brother and sister were in school.  Day two, I felt alone and lonely and missed the on-going narrative he gave me, sharing life through the eyes of a 4 year old.  I made it through the morning, but by afternoon, I sat down and had an old fashioned bawling session.  The years with 3 kids at home had evaporated, how could it have gone so fast?  Getting stuff done has always been a driver for me, but now, it all seems unimportant compared to those moments I was blessed to have with my kids at home.

 

I know that soon, I’ll be back to happy and get totally into my life, my ministry work, and all the things it takes to run a household.  It’s just these darned transitions.  Getting used to being home after first leaving work; getting used to a new born, 2 and 4 year old; getting used to one in school, then two, and now all of them.  Just when I get my mode of operation down, it needs to change!  I will adjust, but for now, I am sad that the years went by so fast but SO thankful that I was home to be a part of them!

 

I wanted to share my experience with you because your little one will so soon be in school.  Knowing that the days can be so long without sleep and no schedule.  Pray for God to give you the ability to enjoy them.  Savor them, the fleeting moments of time with your kids.