Changing Seasons

This past year has been pretty crazy for me. My daughter worked hard to finish her senior year early, while taking 3 college courses. At the same time, I was taking the same courses plus one more. We then added Drivers' Ed and a job for her into the mix. Somewhere in there, I turned 40! Let's also throw a baby in there too ... Sarah (my cousin's daughter, born in February) became my part time job while I was finishing up 4 college classes! All this got me pondering ...

The life of a mother is like the changing of seasons. The only difference is that the seasons may not circle like normal seasons - spring, summer, fall, winter, spring, etc. "Mom Seasons" probably look more like this - infancy, toddlerhood, school days, teen years, high schoolers ... on and on until empty-nester. Depending on how many children there are will depend on the change of seasons.

Because my 2 children are so close together (19 months), my seasons were pretty much non-cycling. They either did things together or one was right after the other.

Why am I pondering on the changing seasons?

It's a bittersweet time in my life right now. My children are no longer school-aged. I'm heading quickly toward the season of an empty nest. Sometimes I look over the last several years and think that they dragged on and on as one or both of my kids fought me tooth & nail on a daily basis about getting schoolwork done. Other times I look back and wonder how on earth they flew by so quickly. Did I blink and miss something?

It's an odd feeling at times. I used to have a set routine that included reminding the kids to get schoolwork done, chores completed, and cooking meals. Now, more often than not, there's only my husband and me at home. I believe I've forgotten how to cook for just two! It's weird to know that we can just pack up and leave for a weekend away alone and not have to find a sitter ... when did that happen???

Odd feelings aside, it's been a blessing to be a wife and mother. I've enjoyed all the roller coasters of changing seasons (even though it might have felt like I wasn't enjoying the ride at the time). I'm looking forward to seeing how God will work in this new season!