Here I sit, Saturday evening of Thanksgiving weekend. The last couple months have truly been a haze of commotion and although holidays are here, I feel relaxed. September and October proved to be among the busiest times I can remember. I went into them willingly, knowing they would be ultimate craziness and flurry of activity, but doing it knowing it would be temporary.
In September, both kids were still in weekly swim lessons. Logan had just begun a weekly gymnastics class. And Colin was to begin soccer mid-September with Morgan as his coach. Professionally, September is my busiest month as I gear up for my big fundraiser. All this simultaneously happening would prove to be enough to test my stress levels for sure. So when it came to our attention that Jean's theater YAT would be performing The Jungle Book mid/end of October - - rehearsals beginning early September, I nearly fell over. Yes, The Jungle Book.... the one musical Colin has repeatedly asked to be a part of since he was about 3. After thinking it through, I decided it would just simply be too much: rehearsals an hour away 2-3 times per week and performances hitting on two inconvenient and booked weekends. I felt disappointed, yet certain in my decision. What I didn't expect was Colin's reaction to the news of absolute devastation. He even suggested he could give up both soccer and swimming. I knew this was a learning moment - for ME! To remember that everything is temporary and to allow Colin to be part of this special experience that was clearly so important to him - just as it was to me as a child. And so it began... Monday: Jungle Book, Tuesday: Soccer practice, Wednesday: Swimming, Thursday: Jungle Book, Friday: (not all thankfully), Jungle Book as well as gymnastics, Saturday: Soccer games, Sundays: BREATHE!!! This schedule consumed our September and October months and Morgan and I passed in the night many a days as we toted children from school to activities. Thankfully, my family also helped a lot with transportation - something that saved us for sure! And when all was said and done, it was SOOO very worth the long drives and juggling. Colin was an absolute star and shined so brightly. Morgan and I couldn't get enough of him watching countless performances, and he was a natural. The soccer season was a hoot, and I'm not sure who enjoyed it more - Colin playing or Morgan coaching. Our little gymnast, Logan is having the time of our life. And we are doing what we are supposed to be doing... being busy parents who juggle work, family and friends and do it as a team.
This Thanksgiving I had the realization of how fortunate Morgan and I are to HAVE a dilemma of whether to commit our children to too may activities or not. We are blessed with healthy, capable and vibrant children, we have the means to allow them to be involved in these wonderful activities, we have the flexibility with work to take them to and from activities, and we have each other to rely on with the day to day tasks of parenting, ensuring it is both of us raising them.
Stay tuned for November updates! For now, here are a few fun shots of our active boys!
