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My first born, my baby, my now somewhat mature 11 year old has just graduated from 5th grade, signaling the end of her elementary school days. Tears of joy, confusion, disbelief and incredulity well up in my eyes as I type the words.

It is milestones such as these when I examine not only my children’s development but also my parenting skills (they kinda go hand in hand). The most challenging aspect of parenting, I think, is to help your child to feel secure, accepted and part of a group while simultaneously encouraging them to feel confident enough to be themselves - comfortable in their own skin and with their actions - even if it means bucking the trend. I think this about sums it up:

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spring to me is driving season. Between my 3 children, any given week consists of no less than 9 sports practices, 3 official games, 2 after school programs, 2 days of Hebrew School, a couple of playdates and one 7:30am band practice. I don’t know if I’m coming or going once mid-March hits because I’m always coming and going! Yes I have some carpools organized, but even so, I’m always driving someone somewhere. I’ve often said, to run an efficient household I don’t really need babysitters, homework tutors or even a house cleaner (okay, maybe I do need the house cleaner!) – what I really could use is a chauffer for my kids!!! Obviously, there are others out there that agree with me:

“A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car for ever after.” ~ Peter De Vries

The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.
~Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris

After spending another workday at home with my kids off from school for Martin Luther King Day, I offer this:

“If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylum would be filled with mothers.”
– Edgar Watson Howe

I attended services this past Rosh Hashanah holiday. In between passing Tootsie Rolls and gum to my kids, gossiping with my sister, fiddling with my short skirt and pleading with my husband to take one more walk to the bathroom with our 5 year old, I actually paid attention and took to heart the lessons of the cantor’s sermon.

She referred to everyone’s busy schedules nowadays and the sentiment of knowing that you need to do something (i.e., calling out of touch friends and relatives, etc.) but will attend to the task when you get around to it. Don’t put things off. Easier said than done – believe me, I know. Procrastination is a temporary fix – my words not hers. Think how much better you’ll feel if you get it done today!

Okay, maybe saying “do it today” is too much pressure. I’m all about being kinder to oneself, enjoying down time, doing the right things first, blah, blah, blah. But it’s a noble exercise to take a moment to evaluate what we’d like to accomplish and then set a path to make it happen. Forget the pressure of an immediate time frame but keep reminding yourself that (just like your exercise workout) you may not want to endure the process, but you’ll feel fabulous once the job is done.

The cantor at our synagogue had buttons made up for each of us to take home donning the phrase “around to it”. The buttons also displayed the Jewish New Year date as a reminder that this is the year to GET IT DONE. While I won’t be sporting my new button on any upcoming outfits, it does sit on my dresser – a reminder to not put off tomorrow what will positively effect not only my life, but possibly someone else’s as well. In this way, we can all have an impact and make the world a little bit better – simply that simple. Happy New Year.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Maybe if I post it out loud I’ll actually listen…

Just because you CAN do it yourself, doesn’t mean you SHOULD do it yourself.