In my busy-ness, Facebook often serves as a better way to dash off a note of gratitude. Here's the catchup.
Day 13: The older employee in Central Market yesterday who chatted with my girls and me and said, "You're doing a great job. People probably don't tell you that enough." She had been subjected to all kinds of potty hijinks on her break and I had managed to maintain my cool, calm and collected mama vibe. It was kindness beyond kindness for her to let me know that. Thank you, thank you, fellow mama.
Day 14: Right at this moment, a moment of discomfort I might add, I am grateful for food. I have eaten too much today. I had so much food today that, as much as it pained me, I had to throw a bit of it away. Namely, a piece of cake I could not finish. Stuffed to the gills am I and paying the price for it. But geez, talk about first world problems. It's almost obscene, the commonness of too much food in my life. CSA baskets overflowing, vegan dinners coming in from dinner coop, taste testing at all the lovely, bustling stores around town. And oh, the holiday baking... I had better be grateful. Because if I weren't, well, frankly, I would be an ass.
Day 15: wow. Is it really 10 days to Christmas? Today I'm grateful for the passage of time and the way I've (mostly) learned that all things shall pass. Change is a constant. That can be a good thing. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I can look ahead knowing that a stretch of stressful days will be behind me at some point. And the older I get, the faster I seem to get to that looking back place. I remember getting so stuck when I was younger and less patient. I felt that every moment defined me. Today I know that defining myself by a single moment, a single day, is laughable. My life is a collective - of days and events and thoughts and dreams strung together by time. Knowing how quickly it passes keeps me humble and it keeps me sane. It's a bit like floating. Rather than trying to stay put, I simply have to let go and let the current carry me to a new place and a new perspective. It has happened so much in the last 10 years that I now (mostly) trust the process. Sure, I still get stuck, but I hope that I get unstuck more easily these days.
Day 16: I'm grateful for getting out tonight, socks containing Shea butter, Carrie Cristillo, creepy sexy bunny heads, wine, and the fact that I got out of the giant box. I'm thankful I got to have a fun evening without little girls in tow. It's good to have friends that bring your maturity level back to earth and remind you that your more than a caretaker to other people.
Day 17: Today I was reminded how grateful I am for our daughters' little school. Their holiday parties were great fun. It was so nice to sit and eat snacks that had been prepared especially for parents and grandparents. It was lovely to simply be in conversation with my eldest daughter. I was delighted to take part in the impromptu dance party in my youngest's class and to watch both girls in action in their daily environment. It is hard to be away from them all day but I absolutely know that they are loved and cared for and, most of all, respected at Mariposa Montessori School. They are treated as individuals, honored in their quest to find their own way and surrounded daily by gentleness, focused attention and genuine care.
As someone who spent some time teaching preschool, I particularly value a young child environment that is done well, with honor and principle.
Deep gratitude to all the wonderful teachers, staff and fellow families!
Day 18: I was just glad to be going to bed, and then a few hours later, I was also glad I didn't eat *all* the pimiento cheese.
Pimiento cheese, yum!
D
Posted by: Dzuniga@post.harvard.edu | 12/23/2010 at 07:38 PM