mathmom's blog

I am in a Bible study with some older women who have teenagers (and beyond!). We share prayer requests and just socialize, and they often share about life with their teenagers, various troubles they have and the new worries they have. It is interesting, but I have to say that I am grateful for the perspective. My kids aren't learning how to drive, they aren't trying to get independence, they aren't blowing up at me or keeping secrets... Right now their fondest desire is that I play with them. Taking the long view makes it a bit easier to spend time with them instead of wishing they would grow up. I'll be off the floor and away from the trains soon enough.

Scott Simon is my all time favorite radio host, and his commentaries on Saturday Weekend Editions are my favorite minutes of radio all week (when I get to hear them). I especially enjoyed this commentary about his wife's job as a stay at home mom, and how he contributes---I felt as though he'd been watching my life. My favorite line: "She has four minutes a day to herself and eats only Cheerios that fall on the floor." I also like the recognition that there is no vacation from being a parent. Hope you like it!

Baby Luke woke up at 5 today. I did try to get him back to sleep, but it didn't happen, so Michael took care of him from 6-6:40 or so. By then he was hungry (and ready for his first nap...) so he got back to sleep, Eleanor woke up. I did take a nap from 7-7:30, then worked on getting Eleanor and Michael out the door by 8, getting dressed and doing errands from 9:30-11:30, lunch, afternoon nap for Luke, make dinner (crock pot stew), drive to school to pick up Eleanor, go to the pool, eat dinner, get everyone to sleep, and it's 8 pm. That's 15 hours. It isn't all difficult, it isn't even all that unpleasant (only occasional bursts of unpleasantness...) , it's just long. Now I get to clean the kitchen, get Eleanor's things ready for school tomorrow, and start packing for our trip on Friday. And Michael just got home =)