Day by day.

 

And some days success is measured in ways that aren't easy to describe.  Content moments sitting in the trunk while mommy cleans the garage(ha!), smiles after lunch and gifts brought home from the park.  Some days the days are long, I feel restless with my inability to complete tasks but really when the day comes to an end the unfinished projects that stack and pile in little corners of my check list and closet mean nothing.  These little hearts and minds are the true importance.  If only I could always keep perspective.  Ha!  Isn't that truly what we all are working toward?  Oh perspective.

I constantly miss my grandmothers phone calls.  In the last couple years, they were daily sometimes a few a day.  She had perspective by the minute.  Living 82 years, 5 children, a lot of heartache, a lot of love will fix perspective close to your heart.  A meticulous housekeeper in her young days, she often reminded me that she never missed a single day of cleaning, but would give anything for a moment more of playing with her so loved children.

To perspective and her dear influence in my life.

Love you, Mana.

Wise words.

I just got off the phone with this lovely lady.  My dear, very sassy eighty year old grandmother.  She goes by Mana.  I named her that when I was a babe.  Now even her hairdresser calls her Mana.  I was telling her,  I don't know how she did it, raising five children during a time when women did all the house work, entertaining and most if not all of the child-rearing.  I'm blessed to have a husband who in a pinch will throw together a delicious "breakfast for dinner" meal and is always willing to help out with bath/bedtime for our little lady.  I know I'm bragging, but he's amazing like that.  Tonight, I pulled off the dinner part.  Actually quite well, other than a oil burn to my thumb I cooked up my first ever pork chops; they turned out great.  And a side of sauteed mushrooms and kale.  Both staples in our home.  Oh and don't forget the applesauce.  I digress.  Mana reminded me that the one thing she regrets while raising her children was keeping a very clean house.  Those words first struck me as odd.  I take after her in my need to keep things tidy and organized.  She said, "Time spent with your children is never wasted." Time spent cleaning house, well eighty years later feels so insignificant.  She, I can tell you kept a much tidier home than I could ever.  The woman ironed sheets, underwear, socks...how, she kept up, I'll never know.  But it's refreshing to hear those words as she looks back on life and offers to me some sound advice.  Do your best, don't try to do it all. 

I'm just trying to turn off that need to "get back to work" all day.  A girlfriend recently told me, "Cleaning your house while your kids are awake is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos."  I laughed out loud.  I'm sure one day I'll find a happy medium.  And for goodness sakes Lisa, lighten up!  Thanks Mana.

Lay Baby Lay -printable. Available in blue too.