By Michelle (Graceful, Faith in the Everyday)
Recently my friend Sarah’s daughter stayed with us for two days. And I’m going to state this honestly, without fear of offending Sarah, because good friend that she is, she knows me oh-so-well: I did not look forward to the experience. Not because I don’t love Laini – I do – or because Laini’s not a great kid – she is – but because the visit interfered with my finely orchestrated life. It was different; it strayed from the routine. Laini’s visit required that I step out of the box, shake up the system a bit.
I said yes because I genuinely wanted to help my friend Sarah, who had to travel out of town for a conference. I said yes because I love Sarah and her daughter. I said yes because I knew Sarah would do the same for me, without a moment’s hesitation. I said yes out of love, sure, but also out of a sense of duty and responsibility.
What’s funny is that in saying an obligatory yes, I was the beneficiary in so many unexpected ways.
For starters, Laini was a model houseguest. Polite, gracious, mellow – she listened well, seemed to have fun and even inspired better behavior in my own raucous offspring.
Second, it was eye-opening to witness how much the boys flourished in the experience. I eavesdropped on Noah and Laini as they whispered and giggled before bed. I glimpsed the three kids swing on the hammock, feet brushing grass, popsicles in hand. I heard uproarious laughter at the dinner table.
It was obvious my kids enjoyed stepping out of the routine. It was obvious they need to step out more often.
And it was good for me, too. I let go, changed it up a bit, went with the flow. And you know what? I survived. I managed the extra logistics just fine. It was so much less of a big burden than I anticipated.
It was a good lesson – one I learn and relearn in baby steps. And it gave me the incentive and confidence to host a play date with two of Noah’s friends the following week.
How did it go, you might wonder? Not so well. At one point Noah’s friend asked, within earshot of me, “Is your mom always this crabby?”
Ah yes, two steps forward, one step back. Two steps forward again. Baby steps.
Michelle is a Christian wife and mother of two originally from Massachusetts now living in Nebraska. She is a part-time writer, editor and fundraiser for Nebraska PBS/NPR. Michelle loves to write about how her family illuminates God's presence in her everyday life, and on finding (and keeping) faith in the everyday. Michelle enjoys reading, running and writing. Be sure to go visit her blog, Graceful, Faith in the Everyday.