Tis the Season

                                           

For some, the holidays mean beautiful Crate & Barrel decorated tables, magazine inspired Christmas trees, hand crafted ornaments, meticulously decorated living rooms and delicious fig infused adult beverages. 

This. Is. Not. My. Life. 

My holidays mean half-done, gluey Christmas projects drying on cluttered counters. Flour and frosting covered littles with more candy & glitter on the floor than on the mutant looking gingerbread men. My holidays mean a crooked Christmas tree that has a couple breakable ornaments up top - and hundreds of hand-print, foot-print reindeer and snowmen ornaments covering the bottom. Its loud, its messy, its chaos. 
Its AWESOME. 
Its the season of my life right now. 

It has been exactly 3 months since my last blog post. I know this because it was the day I went in to have my 4th amazing, precious little! She is a beautiful miracle and I can not believe it has been 3 months already. Life with 4 has been quite an adjustment! There is a clip going around Facebook - having 4 littles is equivalent to drowning and someone hands you a baby. Ha ha - yep, sometimes that is spot on!

 But, there is a very important lesson I am finally, FINALLY learning. And, it has only taken me 8 years of motherhood and 4 children to even slightly grasp. 
My life has become sectioned into seasons. Phases if you prefer that term but, I like seasons. 

I remember when my first little was very tiny. I remember all the worries. How would I ever get him to sleep longer at night? How would we ever transition to a sippy cup? There is no WAY on heaven and earth I will ever get him to give up the binky!!!!
But, he did. He is not an 8 year old who nurses every 2 hours, requires a bottle at bedtime and is attached to a plastic sucking nipple. Amazing. 

Then the 2nd little came along. She was a bit more, um, challenging? Now the same questions, challenges and fears started to rise again. I still doubted that my child would ever outgrow the binky. I would love to say it was my stellar parenting, my firm resolve and obvious knack for discipline.......but - nope. My sweet little eventually passed through that stage and moved on. 

I am realizing my life is, from beginning to end, a series of seasons. As I try desperately to hold on to the tiny little dimpled fists, and willing them to stay tiny, I am realizing that it doesn't work that way. My season of holding tiny, dimpled fists will eventually be over. 

My season of college life, parties, staying up late, living pretty carefree - that season has passed. But, oh man, it was awesome. But, OH MAN, I would not want it again. My season of being a newlywed is over as well. That was fun! But, it definitely had its challenges as well. I much prefer the relationship I have now - over a decade later - with my husband to the one we started out with. 

Each child goes through seasons or phases as well. The night terrors, the pooping in their pants, the tantrums, waking up before the sun, two hour bedtime routines, struggles in school, struggles with friends, struggles with behaviors, separation anxiety and so many many more. While you're in the middle of some of these its hard to see them as a phase but they are! They don't last. 

My seasons are a little different than my children's. Mine are more like the season of my messy, unorganized home, The never ending piles of laundry. The bickering with my husband over finances or a child's challenging behavior. The lack of socializing with my long lost friends. The feelings of being overwhelmed, or lonely. The season of lost identity. The season of exhaustion. 

These are seasons, dear moms. Its a phase in our lives. And, just like our children's phases of bedtime struggles - it feels sometimes like this will never end. But, I promise - it will. Our sweet, precious littles are growing and changing every day. I blinked and my sweet baby boy turned 8. 

I went out last night for the football game (go Pats!) and enjoyed some time with friends - while our ridiculous amount of children laughed and ran around us. To be fair, I was still in my pj's and hadn't showered, but I WENT OUT! And, had fun! 

My husband and I collapse on the couch these days after getting 4 kiddos to bed. There will be a time where we once again chase each other around the kitchen table - but right now, the only thing we are moving that fast for is a toddler who is removing her diaper. 

That is my season. And, with the ups and downs I will embrace it. Its temporary, just like winter or Christmas. Spring, summer, fall - will come. 

Enjoy this season. Enjoy the present. Remember the challenges of today will not last. New challenges will come tomorrow, but you will triumph over those just as you overcame the past ones. 
I know I will look back and miss this. THIS SEASON. But, I know I will be in a new season with its own blessings and challenges. 

So, hold on tight to this crazy ride. Celebrate the season you are in at this moment. It won't last. The good and bad will eventually end, and - as in our brave, determined fashion -we will continue on this journey one day at a time. 
Tis the Season........