A Milestone

This week I have truly hit a milestone!
All 3 of my kids are in school! Mark just entered 5th grade, Reese entered 1st, & Marina just began preschool. Wow! I'm a working woman now, with no kiddies at home!

It's so strange. I didn't think this day would come so soon! It makes me realize that all the long sleepless nights, the potty training, the nursing & cuddling, the midnight feedings, heavy carseat carriers, unattractive maternity clothes, stretch marks, etc....EVERYTHING!!! It all was worth it! And it all was for a short season in life.

Now I enter a new phase in life. It's a super fun one too! School projects, after school sports, youth group lockins, weekend sleepovers, chauffering preteens to the movies, etc, etc....that's the next phase in life. And I'm so excited!

For a time, while the kids were infants and toddlers, I felt like I had completely lost my identity. It was so hard! I became a burp cloth. A pillow. A machine that met needs. At least that's what it felt like at times. I also enjoyed their first smiles, first steps, and every dimple & chubby little finger grasp. But thru it all, I felt like I had lost my own identity. Life was wrapped up in the tasks and responsiblilities of motherhood....with very little reward involved. At least not immediate reward. No paycheck. No "thank you's." No bonuses. LOL. In its early stages, motherhood is an investment of time, sweat, and even tears.......with no visible gain in sight. We do it out of love for our sweet bundle of joy...and for the sheer knowledge that someday we will reap the benefit of the long season of sowing.

Well, sure enough, I'm finally at that stage of reaping! I see my kids entering social situations with confidence and the knowledge of what's right and wrong. I see them enjoying different experiences and accomplishing many things. It's awesome! And little by little it's my turn to gain some more of that identity back....beyond simple motherhood. I'm free to take on an office job, spend time working out, fit into clothes that I like for fashion rather than function, etc.

It's a very surreal time in my life. I don't know why. I guess it takes awhile to readjust the way I think about myself and about life, after living in a certain mindframe for over 10 yrs. But I'm excited for what's to come. And I want to encourage other new moms to hang in there. Motherhood is fun. And rewarding. But it can also be tedious and unforgiving. It's in those times I want to say, hang in there! The fun is on the way! And you'll appreciate every moment invested into those little guys when you see them bloom into the confident, happy, smart little boogers you'd hoped for.

So, here I am...super excited to journal all the coming stories and experiences that come with this next season in life. But first, here's a video I came across in my archives. It's one of my favorites of the kids when they were so little. Poor Marina!


Tough Girl...