After 21 years of mothering...I have only TWO days left!
Hubby and I take our youngest child to college on Sunday
which happens to be our eldest's 21st birthday.
I know...I know...mothering is forever.
I'm talking about the every day kind that all parents understand.
I remember way back when we had a newborn and a two-year-old.
I wondered if we would ever sleep again.
Everyday tasks seemed monumental.
One morning, I hired the three-year-old to babysit the one-year old while I took a QUICK shower.
This is what I found when I returned ten minutes later:
"Mom, he was hungry," the babysitter reported.
Nothing like grazing off the family room floor,
dust bunnies and all.
Of course, I ran to get my camera.
Isn't this cute?? I thought.
Yet, I think I spent the next twenty years crouched on the floor cleaning up after them.
Piled with responsibility...
Hubby and I wondered how we'd ever get them big,
then watched in wonder as it happened right before our eyes.
(Hey, this may be the first "piling" pic! Maybe we TAUGHT them how to pile!)
The parenting and chaos continued right through this LAST week.
I was still washing and folding mountains of laundry and picking grass out of my washer...
I continued to trip over shoes by the garage door, etc...etc...etc...
I also lovingly cooked up Mark's favorite meals.
Here he is eating his beloved flank steak and smashed potatoes.
Lindsay came home from college to celebrate her birthday.
Of course, the kids were hanging on each other...
Beating on each other...
And, yes, they're STILL piling on each other!
I loved making Lindsay her favorite dinner...Chicken Pinwheels.
When I was walking the trail behind our house this morning, a green John Deere cart zoomed up beside me.
It was Sonny on his last day of his summer job working park maintenance for our township.
I was so proud watching him weed whack around the flower beds.
So THAT'S where all that grass in my washer is coming from!
Hubby and I can't believe the FUN and FRENZY of parenthood is almost over.
WE LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!!!
It continues right up to the last moments as I check off things we need to get for college.
I know we'll shed a few tears when we say goodbye to both kids this Sunday...
*Sniffle, sniffle....it was all SO FUN!*
Then we'll come home and sleep forever!
We deserve it...
You do deserve it...and in a handful of years, you'll be grandparents. My mother tells me the best part of being is grandparent is that you never have to be the bad guy or even say no. "No" is not in a grandparent's vocabulary. And at the end of the day, when your tired and ready to hibernate...you send those dirty & sticky faced cuties home with the kids and you get to take an uninterrupted bubble bath and snuggle into bed.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on sending two babies to college... you've done good mom & dad
Oh, I love that babysitter! (lol) What a handsome township maintenance you have! :) You have a wonderful family, Jill. Congrats great mom!
ReplyDeleteI still have a way to go, my boys are 2 and 4 (yes I'm a nervous wreck haha). Don't they just grow up too quick, you've done a fantastic job.
ReplyDelete¡Hola Jill!
ReplyDeleteEs un placer verte disfrutar de la familia.
El tiempo pasa muy rápido,y cuando nos descuidamos,¡¡¡zassssssss!!!,crecieron,empiezan la facultad,se casan,tienen hijos...y de repente nos encontramos con unos brazos que nos llaman con alegría y una vocecita tierna dice,abu...abueeeelo,y nuestras vidas vuelven a conocer.
Los hijos y luego los nietos acrecientan la felicidad del amor total.
Jill,te deseo lo mejor junto a tu bella familia.
Cariños,beso y una gran sonrisa de un hombre feliz que ama a su familia.
pd:Que buenas fotos sacas.Todas son preciosas,especialmente las del casamiento.
Oh My Ms.Jill I was having this big big smile on my face! Saying I am just starting now with my 2 kids.Being a mom is really a big task but it is worth it.My kids are 2 and 5 yrs.old and I just hope and pray that I can guide them as you do!Soon they will also grow up like your kids and as mothers I will be waiting one day for them to say "Job well done Mom and Thank You".Your a good and loving mother Ms.Jill you deserve all the hugs and love of this world for having such a good heart! Kisses to your two children and hubby!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Armando Miguel! I LOVE my friends from all over the world! I translated your lovely letter for all to read:
ReplyDeleteHi Jill!
It is a pleasure to see you enjoy the family.
Time goes very fast, and when we are not careful, zassssssss! Grew, they start college, get married, have children ... and suddenly we find ourselves called arms with joy and a sweet little voice says, abu ... abueeeelo, and our lives become known.
The children and grandchildren then augment the total happiness of love.
Jill, I wish you well with your beautiful family.
Love, kisses and a big smile of a happy man who loves his family.
ps: That good sacas.Todas photos are precious, especially marriage.
*sniff sniff* I love your parenting story Ms. Jill..the babysitting..and the best bonding of your children..so cool!!..
ReplyDeletewell yes! you deserve it most!!
ahmmmm...Ms. Jill do you still need a baby..coz..coz..so you know, hmmm..Mommy JP won't mind if you adopt me for some time *wide grin with puppy eyes at Ms. Jill*
Awwww... you have a very beautiful family Ms Jill. Your kids are not babies anymore but its cute that they're still playing, beating and piling on each other till now. It just shows how you've raised such a loving family. Congrats to you Ms Jill for being a great Mom and to your husband too for being a great Dad! I am soon entering a new phase in my life. I hope someday I can raise a good family like yours! :)
ReplyDeleteGood Lordy Jill...I'm boo hooing!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a job well done my friend. Wow time flies...a lesson becoming more clear to me every day.
Love the relationship your kiddos have. Love the relationship they have with you. You done good Mom. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow!
: )