School days, school days, dear old golden rule days.
Readin' and writin' and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick.
You were my queen in calico;
I was your bashful barefoot beau.
You wrote on my slate, "I love you so,"
When I was a child, my mother taught me this song. Funny how certain things stick so firmly in my memory, and other things have long since departed from it!
I've had this song running through my head recently because we are once again full swing (almost) into School Days. I've had my "teacher hat" firmly on my head and pulled down over my ears so far that it's been hard to take it off and put on my "cook hat" or my "house cleaner hat" or my "email-answering hat" or even my "blogger hat."
Yesterday during a peaceful moment during our morning of school (yes, we have simultaneous peaceful moments occasionally...true, sometimes our crying is synchronized, but once in a while, our contentment is, too), I decided to just walk around with the camera and take a picture of what each of the boys was doing at that moment. I think in years to come, this is the kind of thing that will make my heart ache, in happy and sad ways at the same time, as I remember these dear moments with my beloved boys.
Josiah working on math...
David doing some pages in his workbook...
Tobin sitting in Shav's bouncy seat (a new favorite activity for Tobin is to crawl up into this, then look around delightedly to see if we are amused) and holding one of Josiah's books (he'll do this, then start vocalizing as if he's reading--so cute!)...
Shav kicking back in the playpen; all those colors and shapes and textures are surely stimulating his brain... :)
Tonight we ate supper at Cracker Barrel for my family night, and we happened to see our friend Richard Bowman there. One thing he said stood out to me. In referring to our brood of young boys, he said, "This too shall pass...but not too quickly, we hope." I couldn't agree more. Sure, there are aspects of this phase of life that are hard, just plain tough; and I find encouragement in the fact that those difficult parts will not last forever. But I don't want to wish away these growing-up years, these sweet times of being so close as a family.
Good doesn't equal easy. Just because something is easy, doesn't make it good; and just because something is good, doesn't make it easy. I wouldn't say that all of life is particularly easy right now, but without a doubt, it is good.
So very good!
6 comments:
What a great post! I especially like the statement that good doesn't equal easy. That is so true!
Hannah also will sit with a book and vocalize as if she's reading. It is so cute!
These pictures were wonderful. I really liked that you caught all of them in mid-activity, and tied in how much you will always love these shots with both a joy and an ache.
Shave is growing! His non-newborn look surprised me!
I always enjoy reading your blog even though I don't always comment. The time does pass so quickly. I remember when our youngest was a newborn and the others were 4, 8, 12 and 13. We loved going places with our little ones and enjoying each precious moment there and at home. We thought it would always be like that. But, they do grow up. Our baby is 14, and the others are now 18, 22, 26 and 27. I have had my moments of tears and still do. But the memories will always be there. Now I make more memories with my 2 grandsons.
Debbie
love all the pics of the boys. :) -you're right -down the road it's times like these that you will cherish. The tough times will pass and the sweet times will be even sweeter.
you have 4 precious young men there. :)
This post, and now Debbie's comment, have made me cry. It's so hard to imagine that some day, God willing, these babies of mine will have babies of their own. Oh, the mystery of time.
I know the days of little ones are HARD -- I remember that. But, they are also some of the very best years! I loved having babies and pre-schoolers. They are so cute and cuddly and so much fun. Now my baby is five, and thinks she is 15! My oldest is 24, and I wonder where the years have gone??? I miss the days when I could gather all my chicks under my wings and control where everyone was and who they were with and what they were doing. Parenting teens and young adults is not without reward, but in many ways far more challenging than parenting all those little ones. so ENJOY! Savor the moments! :)
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