This year is my son's second grade year. School has started, (ALL THE PRAISE HANDS). I mean I like summer and I do love my kids, but wowsers, that last week of summer had me like...
I was so expired.
It was about 105+ crazy degrees. And because we had vacationed, swam, watched tv, made crafts, and made up really lame things to do because it's so hot outside, I had nothing left in me.
Summer mom was hasta la vista, gone. She had left the building folks. I was expired like the rotten milk in the fridge that is a week old. That was me. I was rotten summer mom milk. So I am quite thrilled summer is over and school has started. Although Pre-school doesn't start until after labor day so no champagne toast quite yet, sis is still up in my grill lovingly. But soon enough all the chillin's will be getting their learn on.
Seeing Holdie go into second grade gave me all the feels. He is my heart, always has been, my gracious one.
After reading momastery's letter to her son, it inspired me to write my own, for my guy. I thought about copying and pasting hers, I am that lazy, but I gave it my own go instead. Now when you see this don't think, oh my gosh, I did not write my kid a letter before school. Who cares, cut and paste this one or don't do anything. For some of us we hear what other moms are doing and we start to panic. I used to panic ALOT. Oh crap, she did that, and signed up for this, and already did this or that, I am so behind. My kid hasn't even bathed in 3 days!
And for those of you who monogrammed the crap out of everything and had stuff like this done in May of LAST year, Bravo. All of us mom so hard in different ways. Sometimes I see us under the radar shaming each other. Sometimes we don't even mean too. I do this without even thinking about it sometimes. You usually have two mom camps, the "really organized moms, who love to volunteer for everything, who color cordinate outfits and bows, who are the first to bring home-made snacks to their kids class, and register for things on time, and take a shower before 10:30pm. Who just MOM SO HARD.
And then there are those of us who might not be as organized or who are just a different personality, and we sometimes make fun of the other camp moms. Oh, we are too busy, or too chill for that stuff. No, it's probably that we just forgot. And sometimes I feel less than because I am not an "on-top of it mom." Or don't feel I am. Sometimes I am forgetful and have other things on my mind, and then I feel guilty that I am not making my kids NUMERO UNO, I am so selfish, and I am behind, and my kids will certainly not make it in this big hard world, (we can be really tough on ourselves).
I am sorry if I ever shamed the organized, everything on time, on top-of-it mom. I need you, you keep me together. And for those of us who aren't so organized, or just forgetful, who last minute sign-up for things, or just don't AT ALL because of whatever, you need us too. No judgement. We mom hard too, just different. So moms keep momming so hard your own way.We are all in the same camp, the same big ol tent of mom craziness, the same mom camp that cries when we are tired, who feel less than most days, who loses our temper, and needs a vacation yesterday. Let's take inspiration from each other, ideas, advice, and lets mom the way you were gifted too. Your kids need you, not someone else.
Now back to Holdies letter...Holden I love you so much, much of who you are already are is who I strive to be. Thanks for showing your mom what grace is.
Dear Holdie,
You are starting 2nd grade and we couldn’t be more excited for you. We are excited because you will get to learn new and exciting things, make new friendships, and start to figure out the things that make you, you….
But most of all we are excited about you being a gift to those around you, leading from a gentle and pure heart.
You have always been generous and compassionate and gracious. It’s one of my favorite things about you.
You see people really well, you know when people need something or when they are hurting. Your eyes are always wide open. God has given you that special gift and he gives you that little feeling in your tummy when you know something isn’t right. Trust that feeling. When you see someone who needs compassion and care, be brave and give it to them. If you see someone who is getting teased, be brave and stand up for them, if you see someone who needs a special friend because they are being left out, be that friend, if you see someone struggling in school or on recess, don’t be afraid to let them join you and your friends. Think of how Jesus would treat those people and do that.
We are so proud of you and who God has made you. We love your personality and the way you look at life, full of goodness and light. Be that light to others.
Remember when I said, I was asking God why we get all this goodness in our life? Why do we have a home, why we never have to worry about our bellies not having enough to eat, why we get to play sports and have a car, when others don’t have those things? It doesn’t seem fair. And remember what God told me, he said, “So you can be for those who don’t have…so you can protect them and love them and share with them, and be in relationship with them.”
Be Kind, be light, be brave, and keep those eyes open. We love you no matter what, always and forever.
Love,
Mommy and Daddy
Philippians 2:3
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.