My Current Season
I am on year 15 of being a Coach’s Wife. 10 of being a Mama. 13 of being a teacher. 4 of being a small business owner. I stand firm on my belief of: “Never take advice from someone you wouldn’t trade places with.” I pray daily for God to give me people that help me grow and not bring me down into the spiral of comparison. Keep all of this in mind when you read.
My friend across the hall has a silent classroom when she arrives early, and at the end of the day when students leave: silence. My personal children are with me before the bell, during the school day, and immediately after the end of the day bell. I go from Mrs. Cain to Mama instantly. I’m serving after school snacks, telling Cart “No” to the 27 different games he wants to pull out, and playing referee between my children. I glance over across the hall to see my friend working on the never ending to do list in silence…. I find myself….. wishing I had a silent room to tackle my never ending teacher to do list.
But that is not my current season.
Coach comes home after the game and said, “Did you see that play when we this/ that/ whatever?” I look at him and want to instantly fuss. No sir. I didn't see a single play. I think I was in the bathroom with one of your children. Maybe I was in line at the concession stand for Cart’s third dinner. Maybe I was listening to Calla tell me about the newest drama happening on the hill above the football field. Maybe I was playing referee in the pick up football game Cart has started?
This is my current season.
My current season is 4 year old and 10 year old bliss. My current season is taking them to the football game on Fridays so they can live their best childhood. My current season is hearing Cart’s feet run down the hall to my classroom at the end of every day. My current season is being their safe place to unwind because they have held it all in all day at school. My current season is sitting in the chair next to Cart’s bed while he falls asleep. My current season is listening to the newest play lines Calla has to memorize for the 100th time. My current season is ensuring my children know that I absolutely enjoyed every moment with them. They were never a burden on me. I let them have a safe, healthy, and structured childhood.
It’s not my season to see every play made on Friday nights.
Someone asked me if I have been to the new “kinda fancy” restaurant in town. I laughed. No. We go out to eat once a week. It is usually to a local pizza place where they know my children by name and have a grass patio where our kids can play while we wait on our dinner. I like to keep my children in kid friendly places at this age. I have learned it keeps all of the frustration down. I am in the season of avoiding frustration.
It is not my season to have fancy family dinners. It is my season to have pizza and a patio dinner.
It’s not my season to have a silent classroom at the end of the day.
It’s not my season to see the plays on Friday nights.
I have been given some amazing people in my life for this exact season. I have a precious friend that said, “Enjoy every season with your children. They are each so different but so fun.” I want to hold on to that knowledge. When I am longing for someone else’s season….. that is not my current season.
I pray we all find comfort and happiness in the season we are in. Not anyone else’s season.
