I think it’s just this stage of life.
Or maybe it’s just me.
We all come home from the places we’ve been. We come in rough with the world on our hands, our hair and clothes smelling like everywhere else but home.
We each are a little whiny, a little tired, and a little dirty.
The girls throw off their shoes in a heap, pile backpacks in the corner and I unload the car from the day: empty water bottles, purse, phone, empty travel mug. My husband explodes his keys/wallet/ computer down where ever he chooses and silently begins to go through the mail.
And we’re home.
And sometimes, the chaos doesn’t even stop when we step over the threshold. It should, I think. But then the wheel of home begins to turn and almost as quickly as I’ve rushed the girls through their day, it begins here.
Homework.
Laundry.
Dishes.
Pick up the toys on the stairs.
Bath time.
Bed time.
And somehow, even in the middle of the new chaos, the home chaos (because the only difference is that here it’s more familiar chaos than out there), we realize that we are in the only place that it all makes sense. We understand each other here. I look over at him with a half-eaten quesadilla in his hand that’s gone cold because he’s helping her with her math homework. He smiles at me. We recognize the weariness in each other’s eyes.
And because of that the chores and must-do’s aren’t that bad anymore. My disorganized bedroom becomes the scene of play for two bath-fresh, pajamed little girls. The dining room table isn’t eaten on tonight but is the backdrop for 2nd grade book report projects. Bottles of Elmers and child-sized scissors collect in the corner.
If I stop and watch, I can recognize the love through the crazy, the beauty through the hurry, and the familiarity through the mess.
Tags: chaos, familiarity, family, home, love
My heart sings this same song, Sarah. The chaos of my home is the sweetest music I’ll ever hear next to the song of grace. I love the cacophony of laughter and giggles, Sports Center and buzzing dryer, “Mooooom” and “Hey babe” … the way it all mingles into a gentle lullabye of safety and love.
Good morning Sarah.
This made me exhale and sigh.
Very effective imagery!
smooches,
Larie
Sarah,
Great picture, thank you for putting that out there. Something so often taken for granted, unfortunately.
As I was reading Larie’s exhale and sigh- I was exhaling and sighing……makes you reach for graditude for the familiar comfort of your every day….
Thanks for such a great post.
Oh, lovely, and yes, YES. That’s it, exactly – the beauty in the chaos, the love over the ruckus. And what it teaches us. I came over from (in) courage and am so glad I did. I was actually thinking and writing along similar lines today – http://thegypsymama.com/2009/10/01/what-parenting-will-immunize-you-against/
That’s a lovely perspective. One I would do well to adopt.
So sweet.
I like it when I look over at my husband in the middle of the home chaos and I realize that we’re a great team. It does make the chaos sweeter.
Beautiful and so true. I just said yesterday to my husband, “I don’t ask for much. Just an clean house.” Maybe I need to recognize that with 2 adults, 3 children, and a dog this is the best it is going to get and relish in the party decorations on the dining room table, the decorations hanging over the mantal, all in anticipation of the celebration about to happen. My baby is turning 5! I should celebrate that and not the mess
.
So true, Sarah.
yes, yes, yes! so many of us FIGHT that chaos instead of embrace it! thanks for the reminder!!!
I feel it too. Thank you for painting the picture that we live every day. Your right, it is okay.
its funny how easy i loose sight of this! recently when we went through something in our family, our priorities shifted. the messy house, the clothes left on the floor by my husband,etc no longer bothered me because it was not important.
the love, realizing that my husband is a great friend and i could not live without his support, family, comfort etc all suddenly become my focus.
Now that we are through that, i find myself back to the nit picky things of everyday.
I was just telling my husband that i hate the evening time stress.
you have given me a renewed perspective. the ‘chaos’ IS our family, who we are!
who cares about clean floors. i can do that when the kids are in bed! i need to enjoy them and my hubby while i can!
thanks!
Loved this post Sarah. Thank you!
Have been reading for a few weeks now. Just love it! I always feel relaxed when I am through. Thanks for that.
“He smiles at me. We recognize the weariness in each other’s eyes.”
I just love that image. Your writing is always so beautiful.
Do you recognize what a treasure you have? In your husband and your kids, yes. But also in seeing that they are a treasure. Most people don’t get that without first losing it. You are truly blessed. May God continue to bless you.
Your writing is always so amazing, I can picture the whole scene! It’s also a semi-familiar scene at my house but I’m usually stressed & repeating myself over & over to the kids about the mess & homework, etc. Your scene is so much nicer and makes me feel so much better knowing that the chaos isn’t just at my house. Whew- I was sadly feeling like a failure…daily! Thank you for reminding me of my priorities…one day the mess & craziness will be gone, the kids will be grown and I will miss it all! I will relax & try to remember to just enjoy! Thank you, Sarah!!
Thank you for the reminder. I think I’ve been too focused on my chaos lately to notice all of the love that surrounds me!
It’s always nice to recognize the love that underlines the daily chaos!
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