The Seasons of Motherhood

Much of the country is on the verge of entering hurricane season. During this time, we are reminded to take precautions and prepare. Have an escape plan, pack the necessities, stock the pantry with plenty of water and eighty-seven cans of Dinty Moore. Preparation serves to make us ready to make decisions instantly. When does the hurricane season of motherhood start? It doesn’t ever end is the answer, which means simplified daily preparation is key.

Life is full of imminent storms. There are moments of calm like when the baby is asleep or older children have left for school, but just prior to those events the debris is flying through the air at 150 MPH. Just as with dangerous weather systems, daily family life requires organization, preparedness for the unknown and an escape plan. This doesn’t mean you have to go out right now and buy the latest calendar perfect for families on the go. It means you must ask yourself these questions daily: Are there diapers? Does everyone have something clean to wear? Is there something resembling food in the kitchen? Those are the most important questions and will help prompt your next step: errands, grocery store, laundry, all three. Your missions for the day prompted, you are free to ponder an escape plan. Do you need a sitter for the weekend? Can you spare an hour to have lunch with a friend? Can you hide in the bathroom for seven minutes and paint your toenails? Each day brings at least a morning, afternoon, evening and bedtime storm so each day must have an escape plan.

Trying too hard to prepare will have the opposite effect of remaining calm in an emergency situation. You will end up remembering to water the potted plants but everyone’s sheets will still be wet in the washer at 10pm. Preparing for storms isn’t about being perfect. It is about whittling life down to the real necessities. It’s about having what you need when that first Domino is bumped. It’s about enjoying dinner with your family because the sheets are back on the bed, there is milk for tomorrow’s cereal and when bedtime’s storm has subsided, there is a book or a movie waiting alongside a half-gallon of ice cream and a bottle of wine that have both been given time to breathe.

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