Monday, January 25, 2010

Repeating history

I cut my teeth and learned to walk to the soundtrack from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Cary Grant movies.

I roller skated a lot.

But, sadly, I didn't play with dolls much.

I learned how to fight from my four brothers, though none of us was ever really good at it. I climbed a lot of trees. I became a master of hopscotch.

I learned about gardens from my grandma as I ate fresh, crisp peas on desert rose plates in her kitchen. I also learned the joy of butter.

I bathed in an ocean of familial love at noisy family parties. I played Red Rover and Easter Egg with many, many cousins.

I cried and laughed through the awkward pains of junior high. I got a lot of perms and hated my body.

I sang Air Supply songs at the top of my lungs while driving with friends in high school. I went to dances in Jessica McClintock dresses. I was very unsure of myself.

But I pretended otherwise.

I went to college and learned how to stand on my own two feet. I dated a lot of boys. None of whom were quite right.

I met a handsome man one night quite by accident and felt my heart skip a beat. My soul recognized him right away.

And so I said yes. Naturally.

We blinked and became parents of three. I got very little sleep and changed a lot of diapers. I put on Disney movies and took desperate naps on the couch. I went to the park and pushed little diapered bottoms on the swings.

I moved a lot, and made many new friends. I logged hundreds of miles behind a jogging stroller.

I made peanut butter sandwiches and wiped sticky fingerprints off the wall.

I cried when the school bus came for the first time. For about a minute and a half.

I blinked again and found them all in school. When the bus came that day, I cried for about an hour and a half.

Now I find myself pleasantly surprised that the story is repeating itself for them.

With musicals, cousins, desert rose plates, tree climbing, butter, hopscotch, and endless love.

Something tells me that this story will have a happy ending for them, too.

22 comments:

Annie said...

Ain't life grand? I'm finding myself marveling about the circle of life, too. Taking a big picture view like this always makes me feel better: kids grow, problems get solved, things will basically work out. Thanks for the reminder and the permission to enjoy it!

mae said...

You are a beautiful writer. I love your blog posts. Thank you.

Emily said...

Ooo, I love this Stie. And I always look at your life for what my life might be like a few years from now . . .

the wrath of khandrea said...

so well written. thanks for the dose of morning cheer.

Lauren in GA said...

As always, Stie. That was so marvelously written. I loved it.

I got the chills when I read, "My soul recognized him right away." So lovely. I also cried for about an minute and a half the first time the school bus came...and then later about an hour and a half when my 3 oldest went to school...just like you perfectly explained.

Annemarie said...

They will definitely have a happy ending.

I have my Grandma's Desert Rose!

Jenny said...

Beautiful. Thanks for brightening my rainy day.

Jake said...

I agree. Isn't the best thing about having kids the chance to do it all over again? But better.

Thelma said...

We need to talk about Desert Rose plates. I saw one pictured on your blog. My family has a Desert Rose plate tradition. Do we have a lot in common besides two boys and a girl, diet coke devotion and loving to blog?

Just wondering.

Kristine said...

Thelma, what's your tradition? I'm always looking for a good idea.

Tristan said...

It is hard for me to see the joy in my life some days as I'm changing diapers :) Thanks for making me feel better!

Unknown said...

I think my parents ended up with some of those desert rose plates...always reminds me of Grandma J! Great post!

Dalene said...

Okay, your posts this week are making me cry. Always well articulated and always good reminders. They also make me want to quit my job.

Cindy said...

Lets be thankful that our girls will never get a perm or wear Jessica Mcclintock dresses!(Yes, I too wore those!)

Linsey said...

I love reading about how much you not only love your kids, but how much you truly like them too.

danandcindy said...

I beg to differ, I think that I was a pretty dang good fighter.

Travelin'Oma said...

It used to bother me that I did the same things over and over, just so my kids would grow up and do them over and over. I now see the beauty in the plan. You're wise to recognize it while you're still young. ish.

Mel said...

Definitely the circle of life and it's absolutely beautiful although I wouldn't mind it slowing down a bit as it makes its rounds!

Mrs T said...

What a sweet post. Life flies by so quickly.

jessica said...

Every girl needs a Jessica McClintock dress and Air Supply in their happily ever after...

brooke said...

I was driving today when I realized that my son gets to eat spaghetti for hot lunch today. That is his favorite and mine when I was in first grade. It gave me a moment of joy. I love those moments.

Margaret said...

You have a gift for words and expressing what I can't. So thank you for summing up my life too. :)

Love your blog girlfriend.