From The Sidelines

We've officially reached the era in our family life where our children's social schedules are better than our own.  Our weekends are now filled with birthday parties and basketball tournaments instead of dinner with friends and late night poker games.  I regularly wonder what in the world I did with my time before kids.  Well, actually I do, but I won't digress.  

He Shoots...He Scores!

Just another era.  One where you sit on the sidelines desperately wanting to coach your kids along knowing whole heartily that the best lessons they learn are the ones they learn on their own.  Restraining the "let momma help you" urge to jump right in the middle instead of letting them grow on their own terms.

There are days when I long for quiet solitude.  But when those rare opportunities arrive, I'm lonely and often find myself aimlessly wandering for a purpose.  And I've been known to turn on the cartoon channel if it's just a little too quiet in the house. 

My purpose I've recently learned, is to side back a little and let them grow and learn.  We've taught the skills, now it's their turn to explore and stretch.  We watch from a distances and smile and have  confidence in knowing that when we're needed, we're only a few steps away.