In roughly seven weeks, our life is going to change drastically. I think I’m ready for it, but I don’t know.
Are you ever really ready to have a baby?
This is the fourth time I’ve done this, so I feel like I’m a little more prepared for the process of transition. I’m ready to not be pregnant. I’m ready to meet her. I’m ready to see my big kids become big siblings, some of them for the second or third time, one of them for the first time.
I’m ready to to move forward, but I’m also not.
I’m not ready for middle of the night feedings. I’m not ready for the sleep deprivation. I’m not ready to try and get three kids up and out the door in the mornings with an infant in my arms, and then get those same three kids to bed at night with an infant in my arms.
I’m not ready to figure out how to fit eating and nap schedules into sports schedules.
I won’t really be ready for any of that, which is why I’m priming myself daily to just let it all go. Go with the flow. Ride the wave of crazy until it crests a little bit.
“You’re not going to die from disorganization,” I tell myself daily. Although with the nesting settling in full force, I am finding myself a bit twitchy at all the things that need to be done around here. The clutter – AH! The clutter. I want to get rid of all of it. I want to stop spending money (last bit of summer fun combined with school time preparations is making me feel like I’m just tossing stacks of bills into the wind…)
I want to hole up in a neat, quiet, organized house and wait for her to come.
But I can’t.
There are activities in which to participate, preparations to be made, messes to be tolerated, and bills to pay. Insurance confusion won’t sort itself out, and kids want to swim three times a day while they still can.
(I just wish they would quit swimming in their clothes because the laundry is killing me softly.)
As I work on my new book on motherhood and creativity, I’m challenged to apply the lessons that Wendy and I are so passionate about teaching to my own life. One of those lessons?
There are seasons for everything in life.
There’s a season in which creating, working on my craft, takes a much more prominent role. And there are seasons when mothering my brood has to be given greater precedence.
There’s a season for a neat house and fresh, homemade meals, and there’s a season for dirty floors, dirty laundry, and take out and left overs.
There’s a season to keep up, and a season to fall behind.
I’m not sure if there’s ever a season for sleeping when you’re a parent, but I hold out hope as it’s the only thing that gets me through the days.
Right now, as we finish out our final two weeks of summer before school starts, I find myself in a season of activity. That’s okay. I’m going to be okay with that. This is a season with friends over, lots of noise, messy floors, and memory building. It’s not a season for extended hours of writing.
In two weeks the season will change.
And after that? An entirely new season will begin.
Embracing the crazy is my only option…because drinking’s off the table.
I’m kidding!
Sort of…
What season are you in right now? Are you enjoying the season, or are you, like me, talking yourself through it, clutching onto the joyful moments like a life vest?
The amazing photos are courtesy of Lulu Photography.
I find myself in empty nest season and loving it….don’t hate! 🙂 We are expecting a granddaughter any day and that is super exciting. Besides LOVING the time with my husband, what I really love about this season is the flexibility in ministry. I can set the schedule and work around others whose lives are in a different place….ie going to a young mom’s home during her kiddos nap time!
Such an exciting time for you, Karen! 🙂
Ours is the season of never really knowing what the next few days hold. Partnership Development is an exercise in “How to Be Flexible.” It’s also a wonderful time of enjoying friends, old and new and deepening relationships. I focus on the latter part because if I focused on the constant shift and flex of the days I would lose my mind.
Not gonna lie-the first time I read your comment, I didn’t see the “f” in “shift,” and I thought, “Well, ya! Don’t focus on the s*@!”
Hehehe…
I like you.
4 days past my due date, this is the season of waiting – my least favorite season. But we’re trying our best to enjoy the last few days with our 2.5 yr old son before there’s a little brother in the mix, but I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little impatience too 🙂
Four days past due! Bless you… 🙂
I just offered up a prayer for you as you sit in this season of waiting. Good luck!
Needed to read this today! We are in the thick of the season you are about to enter. Baby #4, a girl after three boys, and although my cup is overflowing with joy and thankfulness, my chore list is growing like an ugly weed.
I totally hear you! Congrats on your baby girl! Good luck in the final weeks of preparation and waiting! 🙂
We are in the season of sending two children off to college, two very active children to high school and one in middle school. It is a great place to be, my children are friends again and we are enjoying this season.
That’s great! Sounds busy, but wonderful. 🙂
I’m in the same season as you. I have about 7 weeks left to go on my 4th pregnancy. We’re having a boy and I can’t wait to meet him (and be done with this pregnancy). However, I totally agree with not being ready for getting kids ready for school or bed with an infant in the mix too. I just keep telling myself it will all work out. Best of luck to you!
And you as well! Thanks for stopping by, Christa!