Back from the playground much later than expected on this beautiful, spring day, I rush around the house, trying to accomplish the items on my to-do list in a concentrated amount of time. I put a pan of rice on the stove, run downstairs to put my load of laundry in the dryer, and try to vacuum the kitchen floor before dinner. (MOM! Where are my Ariel flip-flops!!!) Vacuuming stops for a minute as I pull the flip-flops out of the last place she left them…the mini-van. Vacuuming resumes. I know that food will fall on the floor again at dinnertime, but all the gathering crumbs in the corners have been bothering me for days.
It has been a full day; MOPS meeting, watching a friend’s children, trying to take advantage of the nice weather. How did I end up here, as an overwhelmed, overly-scheduled suburban mom?
I think about the nice, elderly couple who live down the street from me. I see them reading the morning and evening paper in their easy chairs by the large, bay window. They walk to morning mass together on Sundays. I even saw them take a leisurely bike ride this past weekend.
I sometimes wish to switch places with them; to have time to be with my husband, to relax and enjoy life.
But perhaps they are looking at my noisy, boisterous family… and wishing the same.
