A Rewind of Our Day

The digital clock has flipped over to 10:02 pm. Every small person has been tucked into bed with thirteen kisses and a carnival variety of bedtime songs sung by mom herself. As I walk across the floor, gathering a few things to accompany me for the evening, I hear my feet scuff the hardwood. Earlier there were a few stray carrot peels on the floor. Before that, dried cherries. And before the dried cherries, cheerios. Is childhood really childhood without cheerios on the kitchen floor? It is debatable.

During bedtime, all four children gathered around me on my bed like tiny Tetris pieces. It was cozy. There was a read-aloud. Even Bauer joined our gang. At lunchtime, I made a quick PSA: all children are bathing tonight. Prepare ye! It was wonderful to smell their shampooed hair as it dried during our evening reading time. Landon’s fingers were the pruniest fingers I’ve seen in quite some time. He stayed in the bath for an extended session of playtime, which included a hot water fill-up.

Noticing his pruny fingers took me back to each child being born. Such squishy, pink, fluffy skin. Such soft, warm, melt-in-your-arms love bundles. We are gratefully anticipating one more baby delivery of squishy, pink, fluffy skin this July. Five babies, what a dream.

One child, in particular, has a hard time falling asleep at night. This night was no exception. Psalm 4:8 says: In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. I love when scripture comes to mind during specific hardships and I can pray it over my children.

Max and I cleaned up the kitchen together this evening. Our reflection in the window in front of me brought me joy. Hearing his feet moving intentionally around the kitchen made me think: wow, we’re progressing! I noticed dots of dried soap bubbles on the glass, proof that things are washed frequently around here – often with swiftness, hence the flying soap bubbles, and often by my children.

I spent the afternoon reading a few chapters from my textbook. Graduate school has certainly increased my library as if I didn’t have enough books. It’s a sure sign you’re a serious book reader when you debate organizing them on the shelf by category or color. Color always wins, but wow it is always a tight race ;) Category would be fun, too.

Prior to the cheerios on the floor and the shampoo smells and the dishwashing and the book reading, I taught my children their school lessons. It was a very sweet morning of lessons read aloud, older children teaching younger children, temperament training, and so on. (Lest you be misled, I’m almost always on the receiving end of the temperament training.)

There is much to be covered as a homeschool family, and there’s great peace in knowing the training happens throughout the day as we’re together. It’s not smushed into one small section of the day.

The training is hard, and seeing 10:02 pm strike while snuggled under my cozy blankets is a balm I’m happy to receive.