I’m getting ready to head out into the madness that is holiday traffic. The day before Christmas Eve, I am going to attempt the feat of grocery shopping. It will test my patience, and drive me to the brink of sanity. Fortunately, I’ve arranged a sitter, so I’m taking only one kid, not three. While I attempt this amazing feat of braving the holiday crowds, the child I take (it doesn’t matter which one), will compound the challenge of successfully completing this act by throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of the grocery store. He/she will sing an off-key song at the top of their lungs, scream while I try to race past the chocolate, and successfully open a bag of hot dogs/cheese sticks/chocolate with his/her teeth. We will pass some Louis Vuitton-clad darling, with hair perfectly coiffed, fur vest ever-so-glamourously positioned over skinny jeans/boots, and I will smile at her while my kid eats the grocery list.
She may think she has it all together. I used to think I did, too. I’d get the outfit and hair just right, and set out on the town to run errands–or even better yet, my favorite–I’d hit the airport. And I totally felt like a jet-setter. Let me tell you friends, a million dollars could not tempt me onto a plane with three children now. There is nothing jet-setter about traveling with three kids under the age of four. There is no possible way I could make that look glamorous. (Well, I suppose if we did it in a private jet, that would help–and if you’ve got one you want to loan us, just lemme know.)
But friends, what Miss LV-clad doesn’t know is that my life is good. This is the good life. This is the best life. Kids screaming, “MY MILK!” “HE’S IN MY CHAIR!” “NO BABY NO BABY NO BABY NO!”–this is awesome. The peanut butter in my hair and on my sofa, it’s good. Me being too tired to fix my kids dinner, it’s ok. They can survive on apples and cheese sticks–it’s even gluten-free! The disaster that is the family room, can be cleaned up. After a cup of coffee. And that fourth cup of coffee, it’s ok too. It’s all survival mode. Every minute. And as exhausting as it is, I’m so thankful that I sleep well, and that they sleep well, and that they’ll grow up.
The crazy thing is, my biggest fear right now is that when they grow up, I’ll miss the whining, and the chocolate in everything, and the disaster of a house. But I can’t buy into that fear, and I can’t live that fear. I can only enjoy the moment while it fleetingly exists.
Everything has a season. This Season, savor your season, wherever it is. Whether you’re the LV-girl, so carefully composed, or the crazed mom on the aisle over, take a moment to really enjoy wherever it is that you are. THIS moment, the one you’re in right now, is the best moment EVER.
Here here to accidental egg nog in the morning coffee 😉 and stranger danger and…temper tantrums!
My boys are 9, 9, and 5 and I long for the days when they were little. Like the song says “You’re gonna miss this” and you do but like you said you have to love where you’re at and enjoy each moment, good and bad, because you will miss it and want it back.
Best post ever Whitney! Totally my life right now and my day today. Yes, there are still a million things on my to do list–both for work and for the holidays–but I put it all on pause for a couple hours to take my toddler out for pancakes in her jammies and go to Target for stocking stuffers. Yes, we took 47 trips to the bathroom and there was no pee. Yes, she managed to cover herself completely in syrup. Yes, she came home and needed to dump out every lego ever before nap time. And still it is the best day ever!
I’m singing in my head and doing the moves to my favorite jazzercise song. It would go perfectly with this post. If you want I’ll do the dance and you can read this out loud. We could perform at family Christmas. Let me know. I’m always ready to jazz w you…
Amen Whitney! Thanks for the much needed word. Here’s to savoring the season- and all that goes with it in this season of life!
I love this Whitney! As always, it seems like your words of honesty commingled with wisdom are speaking to me today. Last night as I was reading The Happiness Project (for the third time) and truly soaking in Gretchen Rubin’s words while simultaneously flipping through How to Talk So Kids Will Listen.. I was doubting my ability as a parent and wondering have I missed the boat to be present and enjoy where I am. And the resounding answer is NO. Thanks for reminding me to savor my season. I am often so wrapped up in wondering if I have missed it that I forget to stop, look around and soak it in. Crazy or not – it’s all mine. Hugs, my friend, and I cannot wait to see you in Feb. xo
Whitney, or can I still call you “Pink?”
I am so glad to see you’re blogging again. I’m putting you on my to read list.
That’s exactly how I feel this Christmas season. Extremely tired, thankful, living room scattered with toys, children fussing but not wanting these moments as hard as they are to pass me by. Thank you for sharing your heart!
I just found you and your blog, Whitney. Having grown children, I can tell you, I miss the youthful energy of having a full and active household but it’s a change that is inevitable. The key is to appreciate it while in the midst as you do. For me, now on to other creative endeavors! 🙂 I just ordered your planner. It looked wonderful with a lot of thought put into it. I hope it will help me to organize and plan my blog content and photography schedule. So nice to meet you. Happy new year!
I have a teenager and a sister almost the same age that I helped raise. Although there’s still a mess (mainly in their rooms), they don’t really want/need me anymore. I went from being their everything to being their unpaid chauffeur. But I miss those times where I thought I was losing my mind with the two kids and the two jobs.
Enjoy it, take pictures of it, relish it, document it, I wish I had. No day is ever the same and you’ll never get those days back.