Thankful Thursday

Last week I got an early start...and this week I'm getting a late start...this is the story of my life! My kids are back in school and we're all loving the structure. I haven't really had a chance to miss them yet because I've been working at Nordstrom & Costco (helping my friend Melanie with a roadshow). Although it would have been so nice to go to lunch with my sister today to celebrate school starting, it has been a rather eye opening experience being able to spend some time watching other mothers in various stages of life. I have quite enjoyed "watching" and remembering when I was in "that" stage with my children. I remember being a new mom with one little one to cart around...oh how hard it was to take the car seat in and out and remember the diaper bag fully stocked with diapers, wipes, snacks, a change of clothes, hand sanitizer, baby Tylenol, teething medicine...not to mention anything I may need, you get the picture. Then when I had two, what the??? Everything above times two...one of whom can run away in a blink of an eye and thinks hiding from his frantic mother is really the most fun he's ever had. After two, you realize just how easy life with one was. Add one more and it simply put me over the edge. I'll never forget taking my new baby to her 2 week checkup. It happened to be at 8:00 a.m. because she was born around RSV season so they booked all the new baby checkups first thing in the morning. Getting myself and 3 children out the door and to the doctors office all ready for the day was no small task, and at the time I didn't think I could do it. As I was unloading everything and everyone from the car while getting after the boys for not hurrying because we were going to be late, I looked up to see the doctor walking into the building with a knowing smile on his face. He simply said,"three put us over the edge too." Merrill used to remind me that I was on the "retirement plan", and now I'm living it. I have to say I love it, but not because I don't have my kids all day. It's just a new stage in my life and it's really fun. I loved this past Summer, my kids are at such fun ages and they mostly still want to be with me doing fun things. My dad always tells me to enjoy every moment because it goes by so fast. A favorite saying of mine is,"The days are long, but the years are short." Any mother will agree, when you're in the thick of being a mom you think the day will never end...but it does and before you know it another school year is here. I am thankful for the stage I am in now. Whatever stage you're in...ENJOY IT!