Our day consisted of learning how to make milkshakes, searching for used homeschool material, watching graduation via Skype, and playing in the sandbox until dark. I walked outside to check on our kids to find them dumping sand from their sandbox into their clothes. For a brief moment, I thought to call out to them to come take a bath, but I held that "mom" sentiment inside and just watched them instead.
The light of the day drifted away, and a few minutes later they were covered in not only sand but also darkness. I switched the light on the back patio on for them, and just watched them. They had no interest in coming inside or getting cleaned up or even about what was for dinner. They were completely enveloped in the moment laughing loudly and talking briskly.
Lesson One~ sometimes it's okay to just "be."
Our ice cream shop has been open for a month and a week. I honestly cannot believe how much fun and how stressful one little ice cream shop can be. I love it. When I'm there, I love communicating with customers and trying new ideas. When I'm not there, I'm thinking about what kind of ice cream we can try next time and how we can make our shop more efficient. As a small business owner, my world is consumed with "what ifs" and "why nots". I struggle to find a place for each question, and often find myself forgetting what I was doing mid thought….this goes along with being a mom in general, I know.
Lesson Two~ embrace the chaos
In November of last year, my husband and I decided to homeschool our daughter. It was a very well thought out and planned decision, but it was a decision made before we started a second business. I had no idea how much it would change the way our family operates on a daily basis. Our daughter finished her Kindergarten curriculum this week, hence my need for new options. My search for used homeschool material was successful today. I will pay 1/3 of what I would have for new material, and I will be able to use the rest of my homeschool budget for new ideas (such as Rosetta Stone).
Lesson Three~ don't do what everyone else does if it doesn't work for your family.
Due to our new venture, graduation season has hit much like allergy season…all of a sudden, even though I knew it was coming. My baby brother graduated from high school this evening, and we were able to watch it via Skype. Would I rather have been there in person? Absolutely, yes. Am I glad that we had a different alternative to see it live? YES!
Lesson Four~ roll with it.
Four lessons that I already knew, but sometimes, actually going through those experiences as part of a lesson is more rewarding than knowing ahead of time what to do, think, and feel.
Tonight, I am grateful. My life is full….
