Well, it's Groundhog Day. Whatever that means. All I can think about is Bill Murray and that movie. He just kept trying and trying until he got it right. Over and over again. Every day, the same day - trying to relive something beautiful but overexerting himself, throwing caution to the wind, or taking advantage of some poor lady just trying to teach him how to play the piano.
Epic, Bill. Totally something I would do. But maybe I'd go back in the end and pay for all of the lessons. I do possess that infamous Catholic Guilt.
I have no idea if the little rodent saw his shadow today. It's novel and fun, and the kids make a bunch of crafts at school about it. My favorite was the Dixie cup with a Groundhog stuck to popsicle stick. It poked through the bottom so you could animate it to pop up and down. It was stellar. I think we still have it somewhere. Or maybe I took a picture of it, who knows? It was cute.
But today, I feel like Bill on about day 5. Wake up, strongly encourage better behavior from one or more of the kids by probably raising my voice, feed them, prepare food for lunch for them, get them to school (not today - it's Saturday, homeboys), run errands, work, exercise, check emails, work, check emails, coordinate calendars, pick up kids, take them to extra curriculars, feed them, dictate homework and baths, tuck them in, pass out cold.
Wake up, start again. Five days out of every week during the school year. Why oh why did we not homeschool???
Every Friday rolls around, and you think, "Yay, a breather!" Nope. Not a breather. Kids want to do stuff. WHAT? Do stuff? Nobody wants to lay around in their jammies all day and veg out? Ok, I don't want to do that either. But a clean house would be nice. No one really really wants to do that. Not even me. But it is what it is.
I remember feeling this way even before kids. My young life was measured in holidays. I marked my years by them and wondered how much more of this I could take. Even Christmas seemed like a chore. I know, how tragic, right?
But then new people show up. And life is magical again. Maybe it was a newborn baby, perhaps someone met someone special and brought them into our little circle. A puppy can bring joy for sure. I even got a goldfish one year. We named her Cleo. Dude, that fish died and came back to life. Not even kidding. She froze and rose from the dead three days later like Jesus. And I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't clean out her bowl, but I was working full time, and puppy training, so poor Cleo just kindof lay dormant until she, well, rose from the dead.
My point is, the new life that was there made all of the difference. It made things exciting again and gave us a different perspective on the mundane. We were able to see our world with fresh eyes in sharing our joy with those new ones around us. Getting caught up in daily life is easy, and trying to relive the same moments again and again will drive anyone insane. I think there's a quotation out there that defines insanity as trying to do the same thing over and over while expecting different results.
But the newness, the touch of someone or some living thing somehow brings out the best in us. When we are given something to care for, we become a better version of ourselves. I don't know why, but we do. I guess that's why I never stop trying. I've got some VIPs watching every move I make, and the accountability that I have is working so hard to become the person I wish I was.
Groundhog - I figured you out today. You didn't see your shadow. But I'm sure it saw you. Thanks for the spring prediction. Those new little flowers will need my care soon, and I just can't wait to celebrate our blessed cycle for another lap around the sun.
Epic, Bill. Totally something I would do. But maybe I'd go back in the end and pay for all of the lessons. I do possess that infamous Catholic Guilt.
I have no idea if the little rodent saw his shadow today. It's novel and fun, and the kids make a bunch of crafts at school about it. My favorite was the Dixie cup with a Groundhog stuck to popsicle stick. It poked through the bottom so you could animate it to pop up and down. It was stellar. I think we still have it somewhere. Or maybe I took a picture of it, who knows? It was cute.
But today, I feel like Bill on about day 5. Wake up, strongly encourage better behavior from one or more of the kids by probably raising my voice, feed them, prepare food for lunch for them, get them to school (not today - it's Saturday, homeboys), run errands, work, exercise, check emails, work, check emails, coordinate calendars, pick up kids, take them to extra curriculars, feed them, dictate homework and baths, tuck them in, pass out cold.
Wake up, start again. Five days out of every week during the school year. Why oh why did we not homeschool???
Every Friday rolls around, and you think, "Yay, a breather!" Nope. Not a breather. Kids want to do stuff. WHAT? Do stuff? Nobody wants to lay around in their jammies all day and veg out? Ok, I don't want to do that either. But a clean house would be nice. No one really really wants to do that. Not even me. But it is what it is.
I remember feeling this way even before kids. My young life was measured in holidays. I marked my years by them and wondered how much more of this I could take. Even Christmas seemed like a chore. I know, how tragic, right?
But then new people show up. And life is magical again. Maybe it was a newborn baby, perhaps someone met someone special and brought them into our little circle. A puppy can bring joy for sure. I even got a goldfish one year. We named her Cleo. Dude, that fish died and came back to life. Not even kidding. She froze and rose from the dead three days later like Jesus. And I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't clean out her bowl, but I was working full time, and puppy training, so poor Cleo just kindof lay dormant until she, well, rose from the dead.
My point is, the new life that was there made all of the difference. It made things exciting again and gave us a different perspective on the mundane. We were able to see our world with fresh eyes in sharing our joy with those new ones around us. Getting caught up in daily life is easy, and trying to relive the same moments again and again will drive anyone insane. I think there's a quotation out there that defines insanity as trying to do the same thing over and over while expecting different results.
But the newness, the touch of someone or some living thing somehow brings out the best in us. When we are given something to care for, we become a better version of ourselves. I don't know why, but we do. I guess that's why I never stop trying. I've got some VIPs watching every move I make, and the accountability that I have is working so hard to become the person I wish I was.
Groundhog - I figured you out today. You didn't see your shadow. But I'm sure it saw you. Thanks for the spring prediction. Those new little flowers will need my care soon, and I just can't wait to celebrate our blessed cycle for another lap around the sun.
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