What I Know For Sure

As I approach 40, in just under a month, I cannot help but wonder how the days could have possibly gone by so quickly. Actually, it’s rarely the days that go by quickly or even the weeks for that matter. Generally, we’ll turn the page on a calendar and say, “Boy, I don’t know where June went!” The months and even the years, are what seem to pass so very quickly. When I was a new mother at home with a baby that wouldn’t nap outside of my arms, my mother would tell me, in an effort to bring me comfort that “the days and nights go by slowly, but the weeks and months pass quickly.” I repeated that mantra over and over to myself with baby #2 and baby #3. It truly did bring me solace and peace. So here I am, as I said, about to turn 40. I remember when I thought 40 sounded so old and there are days that I feel…so old. I also feel like there are more things that I should know; or at the very least, things that I should know more about. So, here are a few things that I do know. They aren’t significant things; but they are things that are a part of the life that I am living right now, today.

• I know that I am sometimes difficult to live with. I also know that I try very hard, everyday, not to be.
• I am a people pleaser. I also know that many days I am not pleased with people and I just need to get over it.
• Child-rearing, specifically discipline, is NOT one size fits all.
• I know that in Fall, Winter and Spring, when doing laundry, I will always find a tissue in Jenna’s right pants pocket. Always. And that’s okay.
• I know that if an idea is not his own, then Evan likely won’t go along with it. And that’s okay.
• I know that as much as Owen tells me he is not a baby and doesn’t want to be “the baby,” he very much likes to get “baby of the family” special treatment. And that’s okay.
• I know that I can have a sink full of dirty dishes with warm soapy water and crumbs on the kitchen counter and Kevin will not notice it. And that’s okay.
• I know that my wrinkles represent years of smiling and frowning and I’m just glad there have been many more smiles than frowns.
• I know that I will never have olive colored skin or a high metabolism and I am not going to get any taller at this point in my life.
• I know that even though there are days when it feels quite the opposite, I am making a difference in the lives of other people. And that is good enough reason to look forward to 40 more!