A family breakfast of crepes and scrambled eggs. Grapefruit and coffee.
A walk to the library to return books and take out videos.
Lunch together.
A houseful of blankets washed and hung to dry on the clothesline, drooping from a winter of ice and snow.
A bike ride for B, S and Sweetie; a long nap for E; and reading on the porch for me.
Catching up with neighbors after months of a housebound season.
PJs before dinner, which has been cooking all day in the Crock-Pot, filling the house with the aromas of Indian spices.
***
I came to blogging looking for something. A reason to write. A place to share. And, although I didn’t know it, a community. I realize now, as I bring in the cool blankets and fold them, breathing in the scent of outdoors—newness, fresh air—that so many of the moments of my mothering life were going unnoticed even by me.
Like this first day of springlike weather that unfolded before me, blogging has offered the same—unexpected opportunities. By writing about my life—the moments big and small—I have found not only understanding but support, compassion, a shared sense of humor and of burden. A place to reflect and appreciate. Or to record and move on. And I am grateful. Momalom has given me a place that is both just for me and for everyone who might offer me the slightest nods. It has offered routine and unexpected graces. And something else to navigate, to fit into my busy home life of family and work and nurturing. My mind is busier. I am better for it.
I am glad for spring. Today it’s my favorite season. The rebirth. The pause and acceleration all at the same time. I stop and appreciate the new life around me peeking out of the cold ground, and I can’t wait to jump on my bike and explore the new bike path extension with my kids. Spring is a season of opportunities. And I am ready for them all. I am not the only one, of course. For as I was crafting this post, Sarah was writing her own, just an hour south and yet too far away. We didn’t know it, but it’s not unusual that we were feeling much the same. And so I am left renewed again, by the season and by the blog, knowing that Momalom was the right choice for us.
Read More in home, Jen Writes, motherhood, three kids
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I love this post. I love your thoughts on blogging, moments gone unnoticed…and spring. I am so anxious for spring to arrive…it is slowly coming here in MN!
Great post!
Ahh, blogging as springtime. Thank you for this beautiful metaphor as I head off to bed.
Jen, it is awfully cool that both you and Sarah posted today. Like a weird sister thing! And I’m glad with the thawing of winter, your writerly hearts are thawing as well and the words are flowing again! We’re all here, your other neighbors – the community of women, of moms, and of writers standing around on our virtureal (thanks for the word, Aidan!) doorstep, waiting to chat.
I love that we get to read your separate but sisterly dispatches on a year of blogging and the signs of spring. Here’s to the new season and the sense of renewal.
Your Saturday sounds fantastic. I love when you ladies show us your sister-brain and post together but not.
Love it! Are you two sure you are not twins?
So when I posted my “Spring Again” post Jen read it and said, “I just wrote one about the same thing.” It creeps me out that we really do share part of a brain, even though we are so very, very different in so very many ways. It’s a sisterly thing, I suppose, this mind-connection that we so often have.
Cheers to Spring. And Cheers to all our readers and commenters for coming back time and again and giving us more and more reasons to keep finding the time to write.
Sarah
Ah, Spring. Bring it ON!!! It’s supposed to snow today :( Bah!
My favorite phrase is how you describe spring as “the pause and acceleration.” That’s incredibly accurate and beautiful.
We’re so glad that you and Sarah blog, sharing your stories, your trials, your humor with us!
I want your saturdays! Mine consisted of back to back soccer games, friday , sat, sunday. No grocery shopping got done, no laundry got done, and no church was attended. We didnt even get home till sunday night at 7pm. On a positive note, at least the weather was decent.
Lovely post and very well written! That Saturday sounds heavenly.
Your portrait of a spring Saturday is simply wonderful. So much to just feel good about. Like you, a clothes line full of clothes just brings me joy. Weird, peaceful joy.
Wrote recently about what blogging has been to me too. I’ve been quite suprised by all that I’ve discovered in writing and even more surprised by the joy I get from reading the blogs of others. It’s such a wonderful place to be, and always there just when you need it.
“so many of the moments of my mothering life were going unnoticed even by me.” THIS is why I blog. Yeah, sure, I’m doing this whole writing a novel thing. But that was just the impetus for the blog . That’s not why I’m still doing it. I’m still doing it because it’s become my witness to this experience of motherhood. It’s the evidence I have that I’m really doing it, that I’m really here, that I’m not just going through Life with a Newborn on autopilot. I love that blogging forces me to reflect EVERY DAY on what I’m doing and how I’m doing it. It’s good for me, and I think it’s good for my sweet baby. To get this awesome community on top of that?? Blogging is gold.