Parenthood. Wow. Who would have thought? Growing up, I never really liked kids. I found them too noisy. They always seemed to have snot dripping from their nose straight into their mouths which they were all to eager to enjoy as an afternoon snack. And, what the heck? Did parents feed their children bright red Kool-Aid every single day of the week; because every little snot nosed kid that I came across was sporting the faded red Kool-Aid mustache. Ugh. Gross. I will NEVER have one of those little animals!

I went on to have 4. And they are AMAZING!
I am down to my last child at home.
The other day I was complaining how MY life revolves around what a 13 year old has going on in HERS. I was complaining about how I so rarely am able to get together with MY friends because of what she has going on with HERS. I was complaining because my calendar was full and only 2% of the things were for me. I was just feeling…I don’t know…
To my fellow parents, you know what I am talking about, right? Please tell me you have been there and have felt like this before? Please let me know that this is somewhat normal?

Well, in the midst of my pity party, I inevitably thought about my mom. It’s funny, isn’t it? So many of the lessons that our parents worked so hard for us to see and realize as we were growing up, often don’t become realized until we are grown. Quite often, until we are at…well…where THEY were at.
I found myself complaining about how incredibly full my life is with my child’s activities. Activities that are creating memories, teaching lessons, forging new friendships. I was complaining how I never have a minute to myself because I am spending so much time in the car with my child. Sure, I constantly feel like an Uber driver with all of the time I spend hauling her around, but that is just it…I am hauling her around…she is with me…we are spending time together.
I am down to my last child at home. I have 4 years left until she is off to college. Four years that I know will fly by like nothing.
The last few years of my mom’s life, I was busy. Life was busy. Raising 4 kids was busy. Going to college was busy. Starting a new career was busy. My mom lived 1 hour away from me, but I was often too busy with my own life to make time to be in hers.
She was once in the position I am in right now. She had football games to be to, choir concerts to attend, band concerts, carpooling. Her life was busy raising 3 kids. I am willing to bet that she would have loved to have had even just a little of that “busyness” back. Because that busyness meant that she was with us. She was spending time with us. And in turn, we were spending time with her.

“Stop complaining, or I will give you something to complain about!”
I laugh remembering how my mom would say that to me. Well mom…message received. Lesson realized.