There is an expression I hear often that goes something along the lines of, “the days drag on and the years fly by”.
First, they were just words on paper, but as my children grow and I age along with them I find those simple words to be daunting, inspiring and grounding all at the same time.
Time sure waits for no one and as a very busy ‘dance mom’ these days, I feel I am in throws of it.
Almost every weeknight I rush to pick the kids up at school, rush home to gobble down anything resembling dinner, whip their hair into ponytails and buns, fill their water bottles, throw a few snacks in a bag and dash out the door.
I hold back curse words and doors slamming, as little eyes are always watching, but man oh man motherhood is the motherload.
We’ve given up after school park hangs, family dinners together at the table and chill family game nights to feed our kids passions and keep them busy.
But sometimes I wonder if we’re all too busy. Do we rush too much? Are we missing some good bits in the flash of the chaos?
Are we doing too much with our kids? Are we not allowing them enough ‘free time’?
Are we doing well by them? Are we doing it RIGHT?
As I sit with all these questions twirling through my mind as I hop into the car, slamming the door and letting out a deep breath, I catch a glimpse of their happy faces in my rear-view mirror and I realize that although I don’t know if I’m doing it RIGHT… their smiles lead me to believe that THEY think I am.
And that is all that matters.
They love their outlet.
Their escape to the studio after sitting in a classroom all day long, getting to listen to loud, pumping music, moving their bodies and shaking off anything the day has thrown at them.
It’s a place they can go to be with their friends, to work as a team, to set goals, to accomplish something, to try new things, to rise and to fall.
It’s a lesson that I alone can’t teach and if we were just sitting home quietly and un-rushed they would just be looking for something to do anyway and the way I see it, idle minds, idle thoughts and our busy schedule keeps them on the right track.
We do make lots of time for fun. I try to have after school sing-alongs in the kitchen while we unpack school bags, sign forms and gobble down dinner. We get lots of time in the car to chat and most of our best talks happen enroute somewhere.
We are busy, but a happy busy and today that made sense to me
As I made my way through their school science fair, I was amazed at the number of kids just sitting at their displays with their heads down and faces blank.
I was hit slap in the face with the realization that a lot of our children who aren’t provided with outlets are spending so much time with technology that when it comes to human interaction they don’t know what to do.
They live is a world of so much ‘fake’ that when reality hits they panic.
Our daughters don’t have time to be online. They are far too busy and perhaps we are far too mean, but as I made my way through the aisles, I gazed ahead to see a busy booth, surrounded by teachers, students and parents and once closer realized that it was my daughter’s booth.
There she stood, with her partner, proudly informing the audience about the benefits of growing a plant in water rather than juice. They worked so hard on this project and seeing it come to life and the joy in their eyes as they got to share it, made me proud.
Our busy dance schedule has taught my daughter time management.
It has taught her to work hard; push through failure and set goals.
It has taught her self-awareness, as evidenced by her poise in presenting today.
It has taught her to showcase who she is and although be judged for it, to take that feedback as a lesson and learn from it.
It has taught her to grow.
It has taught her to be poised and confident.
It has taught her to work with a team and yet work individually too.
And today… her dancing and our busy schedule taught me a little something as well.
It taught me that although the days can drag on and the years fly by, that my one role as a parent is to help raise a strong, confident adult …and after witnessing her at school today there is no longer a doubt in my mind if I am doing it RIGHT, because at least for us, I am.
Busy is good.
I wanted to run around to some of those children in the gym today, pleading them to look up, to see that life is so much more than the little screen they are looking down into.
Look up, change your perspective, find your hobby, fuel you passion.
Because as those days drag on and the years fly by, aren’t we lucky to have so many experiences to look back on.
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David
We’ve Got This.
@half_full_most_days