‘Tis Only a Season

My life seems to be full of cliches… “Seize the day,” “don’t forget to stop and smell the roses,” “life’s what you make it,” “nobody’s perfect,” and “let it go,” seem to be the themes lately. The other night Cody and I had a convo about this season of our lives. And how short 18 (or 20 in our case) years of having kids at home will really be. Just a blip on the radar. So right now, it’s ok to be in survival mode. Because we probably will be for the next 17 1/2 years, and then we can figure out life for that season.

Tis only a season where I’ll wake up to a crying baby at 2:15 because my lil boy has bonked his head on his crib and woke himself up. (And subsequently after the diaper change, bottle feed, and rocking, be unable to go back to sleep and decide to write this entire post on my phone…)

Tis only a season where I live with wet spots, ketchup stains, and random stickiness all over my clothes (and occasionally in my hair), and then wonder when was the last time I had time for a shower. (Seriously, ya’ll some days, I just double the deoderant bc I’m not sure- was that last night or the night before?)

Tis only a season where in the middle of talking to a client on the phone I’ll hear a loud thud (as Becca drops her Little People house off the end of her bed), and then “A,B,C…” Sung at the top of her little lungs.

Tis only a season where the mountains of clean laundry overtake the living room, cover the stairs, and invade the empty cedar chest.

Tis only a season where the cabinets get a virus and throw up everything they hold into the sink… Daily. (Thanks for that visual, mom!)

Tis only a season where half the grocery budget each week is spent on diapers big and small, nighttime diapers for the big, diaper disposal bags, and diaper cremes. Not to mention the formula that ends up in those diapers…

Tis only a season for “I don’t want hot dogs,” and “Mommy, can I have hot dogs, pwease?” (All spoken in the same forty second interval…)

Tis only a season for giggles, snuggles, and wiggles.

Tis only a season for tiny smiles, little squeals that pierce the quiet air, and little fingers that reach out to hold mine.

Tis only a season that Elmo and Abby, Peep, Quack, and Chirp, Daniel, Peg, Jake, Doc, Sophia, the Lil Einsteins, and the Super Readers will be part of our daily friends repetoire.

Tis only a season. All too soon our baby boy will be crawling. Then walking. Then running to chase his sister who will soon be figuring out if she wants to do sports, or pursue gymnastics, or maybe join an art club. Which will turn into more extracurriculars and a season of driving and becoming one of those moms who basically lives out of the car from one carpool line to the next. But twill only be a season.

“So I will dance, with Cinderella. I don’t wanna miss even one song. ‘Cause I know something the Prince never knew…. ‘Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight, and she’ll. be. Gone.” (Excerpt from Steven Curtis Chapman’s song, “Cinderella”- see below for complete lyrics.)

It’s just a season. So I must strive to be the very best Mommy I can be, in this season while I’m still “Mommy.” Because all too soon, that clock is gonna strike midnight, and I’ll. be. “Mom.”

Full song lyrics:
Cinderella – Steven Curtis Chapman

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I’m sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders
It’s been a long day and there’s still work to do
She’s pulling at me saying “Dad I need you!
There’s a ball at the castle and I’ve been invited
and I need to practice my dancin’
Oh please, Daddy, please!”

[Chorus:]
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone

[Verse 2:]
She says he’s a nice guy and I’d be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, “Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancin’
Oh please, Daddy, please!”

[Chorus:]
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone

She will be gone

[Verse 3:]
But she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, “Dad, the wedding’s still six months away but I need to practice my dancin’
Oh please, Daddy, please!”

Goodnight, world… Less than two hours til the alarm goes off and I have to get up so I can make it to the grocery store when they open at 6 so I can shop kid-free… Tis only a season.