I Guess They Were Right

"You're a busy mom...."

I can't begin to number the times I've heard that statement upon making any type of public appearance with my four young children.  I must admit, its overuse over the past couple years has bothered me some, mostly because I haven't felt all that "busy."  I suppose I have been... busy, that is... but I guess when you're busy doing what you have to do, you don't always take time to think about how busy you actually are.

Lately, however, I can say that the common opinion that I am a busy mom has felt quite true.  For one thing, the return of the school year has taken a considerable chunk of time from my days.  After only four weeks of teaching a kindergartner and a preschooler simultaneously, I have found myself further behind in housework than I've been in while.  Indeed, I can't deny that homeschooling is keeping me busy.

Oddly enough, though, that wasn't what changed my mind on the "busyness" assessment.  It was the countless number of times in a day that I hear, "Mom, Mommy, Mom!" that caused me just the other day to stop and say to myself, "Yes... yes, I guess I am busy."  I am the go-to person for four kids.  I am the helper for every need.  I am the answer-er for every question.  I am the listener for every story.  I am the entertainer of every idea.  I am a mother of four, and I. Am. Busy.

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A Long Awaited Reunion

I think our busy (but fun!) summer is unofficially over.  This past weekend saw us traveling once again, this time on the road to my hometown for my 10-year high school class reunion.  I have looked forward to my class reunion(s) since before I ever graduated from high school, and I can say that 10+ years down the road, I enjoyed being there just as much as I had anticipated.

I grew up in small town Nebraska, and though I now live neither in a small town nor in Nebraska, a piece of my heart will always remain there.  It's part of who I am.  My past is there, and that means a lot of memories are there.

Obviously, I have been back home many times over the past 10 years.  However, when the purpose of the trip was to attend a class reunion, more memories and emotions were evoked than what I would get from the typical we're-going-to-Grandma's-house trip.

Reuniting with old friends--people who share so much of my past--really was a most unique feeling.  We engaged in good conversation almost as if it hadn't been 10 years since we last did so.  There was a sense of camaraderie in the comfortableness of it all.  It felt good to be back together again.

Some of the girls at our reunion luncheon

Two of my best girlfriends from high school

11 of 35 classmates

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