Looking back over the past week, I just have to chuckle to myself. I wouldn’t have assumed that laying on my stomach coloring with Seth and Sam, or sitting with both of them on my lap would be the highlights—but they were. Sometimes it takes crazy to appreciate simple.
I knew this week would be really busy. Not only were we hosting Ben’s brother, Levi, all week while he attended a basketball camp, but I was also going to attempt Vacation Bible School at our church with the boys for the first time. While our usual “routine” includes slowly waking up, getting dressed and eating breakfast by 9:30ish, going to VBS every day meant that we had to be leaving the house by 8:45. Also, my afternoon would now include driving 30 minutes each way to pick up Levi from camp.
Monday morning we arrived at church at 9:02 (which I thought was quite “on-time” for our family). However, it seemed that all kids were already registered and sitting in on the opening presentation. I walked the boys to the front row with the other pre-schoolers, sat with them for a bit, and then quietly told them I was going to be walking around doing my volunteer job of taking pictures. Seth and Sam have always done great in our church nursery, and while I was anticipating shy, I wasn’t prepared for the WAILS that ensued when I walked away. One hour later, same story. Screams as I tried to leave them in the classroom, begging to come with mommy. The poor teachers tried everything, to no avail.
As we were driving home from a rocky first day of VBS, I asked the boys why they didn’t like it. Seth informed me that he didn’t like that everyone kept trying to talk to him. Sammy told me that he didn’t like that everyone was staring at him.
I was sure Day 2 of VBS would be better. The boys knew what to expect and I had given them a great pep talk. But, it was even worse. They wouldn’t even step foot in the classroom now; within about 15 minutes of effort, I aborted and took them with me as I snapped photos.
That evening as Ben asked them why they didn’t like VBS, Seth response was, “I don’t trust those people.” Are you kidding me? What three year old says stuff like this?
By the time Wednesday morning arrived, we were all exhausted. Beyond the trauma at VBS, we had also visited the doctor for an ear infection for Seth (which meant a horrible nights sleep as well). I was spending my afternoons picking Levi up from camp, and then in the evenings we were out and about doing fun stuff with Levi. Our house was cluttered with toys and teenage socks and clothes. Oh, and Sam had gotten a bad case of the runs and was spending a lot of time in the bathroom.
Day 3 of VBS I had given up, and was just going to have the kids play by me as I took pictures. We arrived late and I pulled out my camera to a dead battery. Of course, in all the chaos of our life, I had forgotten to charge the battery. My only volunteer job was to take pictures, and now I had NO CAMERA. A moment’s consideration told me: just cut your loses, and head home…it’s what we all need anyways.
And this is where coloring on my belly and reading to the boys is the highlight of my week. Here are some conclusions about the week:
- I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our slow pace of life at home. I’m so thoroughly thankful to be a homemaker. I’m so thankful for my peaceful home. I’m so thankful that I don’t ever have many activities on our schedule, or places to go.
- I’m so thankful that Seth and Sam don’t want to leave my side yet. Somebody at church jokingly commented to me that it was “time to put them in preschool” because they were having such a hard time being left in class. I thoroughly disagree. They have their whole life for school, I’m thankful that they aren’t ready for it yet.
- There is nothing developmentally wrong with Seth and Sam because they wouldn’t stay in class. They are just shy, and (apparently) don’t easily trust others. This is a true reflection of their personalities: they have always stood back and judged situation before jumping in. I believe this will serve them well in life.
- Sweet moments of doing simple things with just me and my boys are THE BEST. I wouldn’t trade this time of my life for anything.
So, while our week wasn’t exactly what I expected, we made it through. Seth and Sam had a blast with Uncle Levi here playing with them, and Ben I got to switch off doing fun stuff in the evenings (going to the NIKE store, going to a movie…oh, and I got a haircut while I dropped Levi off at arcades). And it had a perfect ending for me: Ben’s dad was in town to pick Levi up from the camp, so he spent all Friday morning here with Seth and Sam—which meant I got some rare independence!
Thank you God for busy weeks that allow me to really value the quiet times!
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