aunt min goes back east
vacation wrap up: as you may have noticed, i am home and back to regular life. taking an annual trip out to visit my sister gabi started 8 years ago. it has become a favorite tradition for some serious sisterly bonding. every summer, it feels like time stops in my 'regular life' as i fly over the great salt lake and into the clouds and land into her life. she opens her world up and lets me have a few sips of what a week in the life of a full time mother is like. it is a crash course in motherhood. i come into her cute home, get to know her sweet friends, jump on the trampoline with her 4 little ones, read them stories, tickle them, drive them from place to place, tuck them in, witness their laughter & tears (the sugar and the spice).
for one week i step into a life so very different than my own. gabi always packs it full of adventure. she makes it a true 'vacation getaway' for me, full of drives to the ocean, strawberry fields, flea markets, scenic spots, movie nights, nyc daytrips, m&m's, musicals & of course, H+M.
as i poured my cereal this morning, listening to the radio, i ran around deciding what to wear. i thrashed about combing my wet hair, finding earrings, barely making time to throw together a sack lunch.. i felt completely spoiled. feeding four kids breakfast goes something like this: wake up early, wipe up spills of their 'pink wheats' (strawberry shredded wheats), change diapers, tie ribbons in hair, get lunches packed, homework done, outfits coordinated, walk to the bus stop, maintain composure and a smile and help any 'child meltdowns' to quickly be evaporated. and this is only the first hour after waking!! i never realized the mounds of laundry that needs folding, toys that need to be picked up, the doctors that need to be visited, floors needing to be swept, the little ones needing constant attention and love (not to forget all the other surprises like crayon on the walls, muddy footprints on the tile, fruit juice on the cushions, etc.) ... the all-consuming task of caring for little ones is endless. i am thoroughly impressed with you mothers. and am amazed at your happiness within the chaos. i am amazed that so many of you find time to blog amidst your busy schedules. How do you do it!?
all the while gabi maintains lifelong friendships, laughs and sings to her kids, makes up cute poems on the fly, is full of energy, is optimistic and happy. she lets them help her bake, has healthy snacks out after school, enrolls them in fun activities, shuttles them to & fro, goes on dates her husband, and volunteers at church. she knows every good parenting book on the market, recognizes all the tunes played on Radio Disney and exercises 5 days a week. her house is so cute and she dresses so stylish. she does it all so effortlessly, i think she may be Wonder Woman. i am just taking care of my little old self and i can barely keep it together!
once i step in and witness her busy life, i realize how incredibly thoughtful it is that she would take the time to create a li'l welcome basket, send birthday cards, or even comment on my blog! i realize how precious her time truly is. i am deeply grateful that she takes time to call me and chat for hours. now i see, those are hours that she could be taking a well deserved nap!
i love to travel and it is so good for me to step outside of my life once in a blue moon. the world is so wide, with so many good people doing good things. i am stunned at the amount of effort it takes to run a busy household. motherhood is being continuously engaged in good works. my mom once told me that mothers love their kids so much because they serve them morning, noon & night. though i know that it's worth it. i see the magic in their eyes. i see the small rewards you mothers receive if you keep your eyes open. every year, i seem to get this enjoyment in small doses. i get spoonfuls of sugar while you moms receive buckets of it. being an aunt has brought me so much joy. i love being around these special little people. i hope all this practice will someday make me a mom just like gabi. perhaps i am the Apprentice to her Trump. those kids say the sweetest (and most hilarious) things. thanks to you, wonder woman, for showing me the ropes with grace and being a true hostess with the mostess. another unforgettable trip! i miss you and those 4 grins already.
10 comments:
that was a very sweet thought, but, i know that you will be a fantastic mother...since i was the youngest, i learned from your mother and polly, so in way it's a bit easier...so your sisters will do the same...they will help you along the way...if you need it..which you probably wont'...loved your pictures...you and gabi look soooo much alike,it's amazing...
Such a lovely post and looks like such a lovely visit. I love it that Gabi left you a basket of goodies on your bed. So sweet. Great photos! Love the slideshow. Yes, you and Gabi do look very alike. Big sisters are the best.
Aunt Mi-in! Thanks for the darling documentary! I love seeing the Gabi life in Dear Diary form. She is the best hostess ever, with lively entertainment going non-stop.
We miss you! Thank you for leaving out all the stuff you COULD have written!!!! It was a blast...more adventures soon!
"i am amazed that so many of you find time to blog amidst your busy schedules. How do you do it!?"
It's called Sesame Street. Lovely blog.
gooood post. i love your way with words. and this was my favorite line: "the world is so wide, with so many good people doing good things". so true. :)
it couldn't be said more beautifully... :) Your sister sounds wonderful!
Glad you're back!
That was a darling post. I'm glad that you guys had a good time.
I want to be like this wonder woman.
It's so true, mothers are amazing.
So many of the things you mentioned are things that I remember my mom doing for us, and I am so thankful that she did!
And after reading about all the work that goes into managing a household + kids, I do feel spoiled that I'm going to put on pajama pants, eat cereal & watch American Idol tonight.
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