I should be rejoicing that they feel ready to take steps down the path I've carefully nurtured for them, but I don't want to. At least not right now. In time I know I will, but right now I'm just sad. We had a few milestones in the Karnei household this weekend - which is probably what is welling up this melancholy attitude I'm having.
Friday night Colby invited a friend to sleepover. No milestone there... actually it's become almost a daily occurance around here this summer. I love that the kids want to share our family's lifestyle with their friends and I can't tell you how proud it makes me feel when Colby brags to his friends about all the GREAT food I make! Music to my heart! I even heard one of the boys reply, "Yeah, I know, your mom does cook good stuff. I wish my mom could cook like that." Aaah, I love it! Anyway, back to Friday night. We actually had a couple of boys staying with us that evening so we made sure to do it up right... I loaded them up and we all went to town and got pizza, movies, stopped at the fireworks stand, and somehow managed to even come home with balloons!?! They were having a blast as were Jarred & I.
Here are a few of the kiddos drinking kool aid and sprite (their own creation) through sour straws! Oh to be young again! LOL!
As the night wore on we played freeze tag (Jarred & I included), launched fireworks, made popcorn in the big popcorn machine (yes, we really do have one like at the movie theaters... Jarred LOVES popcorn!), and the next thing I knew Jarred & I were sitting in the driveway after midnight watching, more like "listening" to the the boys ride up and down the street covered in darkness. Another "side effect" of country living is there are no street lights here so when night falls it gets DARK!!! The boys were having a blast! I soon discovered tears rolling down my cheeks as I realized, He'll always remember this! I still remember a sleepover when I was 7 and we had a water balloon fight and my parents got in on it! I actually had to fake "choking" on popcorn when they boys surprised me and came up on me having my "mommy moment" so they wouldn't know I'd been crying. LOL!
Friday was also a milestone for Madeline... Jarred took the training wheels off her bike! She took right to it, only falling once on her first try.
All geared up!!!
Getting all set!
Making sure she's steady...
And there she goes!
Oh geez, more letting go! I guess I'll have to add a "boomerang" prayer for my kids. That once they fly off that they always come back, or that they always WANT to come back. I'm finding each new stage of parenting a building block. And oh I'm so thankful God does not give you teenagers at birth!!! Can you imagine??? When they are babies they depended on me for everything and with each day that passes I pour less drinks, cut up less food, pick out less clothes (although this one I might hold on to for a while, at least when we're going somewhere that it matters! LOL!) and somewhere in the midst of all this I don't even sing bedtime songs anymore. Sigh! As one of my fellow mothers of young kids put it... "When you're a mother of preschoolers, the days are long, but the years are short!" Where does the time go???
Okay, before I get even more depressed... it's time to cheer me up! And what a better way to do that than with talking/writing about food!!! It's da, dada DA... MEAL PLAN "MONDAY" (but actually on a Tuesday)!!! Having Jarred home for the "holiday" yesterday threw me off! LOL!So here we go!
MEAL PLAN MONDAY:
MONDAY: We feasted on left over BBQ.... Jarred smoked a brisket, pork ribs, and chicken thighs for the 4th! MMmmm Mmmmm Good!
TUESDAY: Leftovers again or sandwich night... I have my weekly summer Bible study tonight. So Jarred & the kids are on their own.
WEDNESDAY: Smothered hamburger steak, mashed potatoes, & fried okra (since we had pizza for the sleepover last Friday we still haven't had this, but we're all looking forward to it!)
THURSDAY: Chili dogs, french fries & banana splits
FRIDAY: We're going out-of-town so I imagine we'll be eating on the road.
Looks like I have a pretty easy week in the cooking department! Guess that will leave time for other fun stuff like working in the garden, playing freeze tag & water balloon fights! I'm learning that you have to make the most of each day because you only live it once! Have a blessed day!
Your "boomarang" prayer sounds perfect - exactly what I want for my kids, too. I got teary just reading your post!
ReplyDeleteI am with Joanne, I got teary reading your post. I think it is something we are all feeling as our children get older. I have been having a VERY tough time lately with how independent my kids are becoming...and I cannot imagine how tough it will be when they are Colby & Madeline's age. :) I know it is a good thing but it makes my heart hurt too.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite movies is Sweet Home Alabama. The line in the movie "you can have roots & wings Mel" has always stuck with me. I want my kids to "fly" and fulfill all the potential that God has in store for them...and I hope that they will always want to come back to their roots. Your are a fabulous mom and they are so lucky to have YOU!!!