No need for speed....

While plotting my course this morning for my run, I decided to switch it up a little bit and run down streets that I normally don't go down. This in itself was a very bad idea. Every street I chose was filled with cars trying to get to work or schools making my "run" not very enjoyable. Lots of kids/cars/crossing gaurds that I had to dodge. Here's what was so disturbing to me though- As I would wait for the cars/kids/CG's to pass by me- I noticed how many people were eating breakfast in the car! What is happening to our daily schedules that we don't even have time for our children or ourselves to sit and eat a good meal? I saw kids, (young and old) mothers and fathers trying to scarf down as much food as they could while in the car before heading out to start their day. It seems like everyone is in a rush to get somewhere. We have become so good at multi tasking! One of the things I love about running (especially at my pace- as slow as it may be) is that I get to see life in slow motion. I have seen beautiful flowers and animals that I would normally pass by without any thought. It's like I am looking at this Earth with a new set of eyes. It made me think of how many times I rush around like a crazy woman trying to get everything done. And done well. And on time. But what's the harm in being 2 minutes late if it means having more quality time with my family? Is that 2 minutes really worth the stress it is so obviously causing me and my family? I want to be a great mother but I don't think that means I have to have chaos in my house to achieve it. Even if that means I will be 2 minutes later than I had planned (which I hate!) I am going to try my hardest to sssslllllooooowwww things down. Take a deep breath and relax a little more.
With that being said- after my run I got to go work in Kody's class as the Room Mom. I'm not one to normally volunteer for that sort of thing- but Kody made it very clear that he wants me there- so Thursday Room Mom it is. Two things happened today that were very disturbing to me. Thing Number One- Everyone (including the teacher) calls me Mrs. Black. Catches me off gaurd and makes me laugh every time! I have tried to tell them that I have a new (4 year old) last name but that opens a whole new can of worms that I don't really feel like sharing with other people's 7 year olds. Even Kody, who I KNOW knows my last name calls me Mrs. Black because he thinks it's funny. After a morning in that class, I find myself forgetting what my last name really is!
I walk in to the classroom this morning and the teacher calls for everyone (including Mrs. Black) to come to the carpet. (I normally don't sit on the carpet but last week the kids we acting up and I decided to sit on the rug and break up some of the talking/fighting. Now she wants me to do it everytime!) So we sit on the carpet, listen to the teacher explain the morning work and then it's desk work for the kids while Mrs. Black walks around helping the kids that weren't listening while we were having carpet time. Disturbing Thing Number Two: This little girl raises her hand and I go over to her eager to help. She points at the paper and asks me questions- but one glance at her hand and I have been completely thrown off my game! The little girl (7 years old!!) had on acrylic finger nails. For heavens sake- she is in first grade!! I honestly didn't hear one word she said to me. I was horrified and hysterically laughing all at the same time. What is going on in this world? Who takes their 7 year old to get her nails done? I'm all about the mani/pedi Mommy Daugher dates but don't you think that was a little too far? I flashed forward to Lennix at 7 years old and vowed right then and there that was NEVER going to happen in my house. I held up her hand to show the teacher and she just smiled. So, now I have vowed to not only take things slower- I am going to try my hardest to keep my children- children. I don't want them growing up faster than they already are! Life is going so fast I can barely hang on. It seems like yesterday that we were doing our 5th round of IVF to get pregnant. And yet- just yesterday we had people ask us when we are going to do it again. (for the record- we DO NOT know IF/WHEN we are doing it again. I love everyone for their concern for our life, but it's not as easy as most people have it. We don't just say "lets try and have a baby" and then get pregnant. It's a loooong process that I'm not sure we will ever do again.) This blog is kind of random and all over the place- but such is life. After today though- it's going to be random, all over the place and slow.