happy easter all!
our household is straining under the not-yet-arrived warm weather; the smell of dirt and other unfrozen things; and thoughts of seed plantings and outdoor projects that feel just around the bend. easter always seems to mark the promise held in springtime.
it’s a promise we are ready to cash in on. we are starting lists with titles like “things we will do when it is warm out” and the boys are so ready to play outside they eagerly shoveled dirt in pouring rain this afternoon.
little J, who is days away from turning 4, is clearly navigating through some heavy kid transitions. he is ready to do so many things by himself, out from under his brother’s shadow, but not quite capable enough. after 40 minutes of red-faced frustration he got himself dressed this morning while managing to put on a shirt upside down (and rip it), underwear and pants on backwards and socks inside-out. only to walk out of his bedroom and have his brother point out his shirt was backwards, which sent him into a flailing tantrum. sigh.
truth be told, I’m the one most desperate for the cleansing, shifting tide of spring. my parenting fuse is short and my longing to organize, sort, and clean without interruption isn’t helping my patience. the result has been that each day ends with a bucket full of self-doubt and a much-needed beer. I think, we can all feel spring starting to emerge but not yet be fully realized. we need some serious sun on our faces…and right quick.
there have been some great inspired moments in the midst of all this strain. this past week is our spring break and during a quieter moment we made a paper egg bunting inspired by two straight lines (I posted about it in one a happy happenings posts recently).
using watercolors on thick paper we made various designs…just C and I. some of the designs were straight watercoloring, some involved wax resist using crayons and others involved cutting shapes from masking tape that were then painted over and later removed for a stencil effect.
next, we used an egg template (hand-drawn and free-formed) to cut out an egg shape. cut little slits in the top and strung it through a length of yarn.
he thought it was amazing. it was exactly what I needed…to be amazing for a moment.
they get used to me, these two lovely brothers. I am around to get them home after school and to open their yogurt and to watch them learn to put on a shirt and to turn the car into an irresistible rocket ship when they are reluctant to leave the house. it is a blessing to be that person and also a job that sometimes feels bigger than me.
so, here is to the arrival of spring and all of the painful but beautiful growing sure to come along with it.
Leave a Reply