I have been thinking quite about lately about how tidily I fit into the “suburban mom” stereotype. After all, I am a (crossover) SUV driving soccer/dance mom who regularly shops at the big box store with the bulls-eye logo, enjoys an occasional treat from the coffee giant with the green mermaid on the cup, and complains about the craziness of carpool. Not to mention that I have been known to wear yoga pants and a hoodie to the grocery store on occasion, I’ve driven the girls to school wearing slippers instead of real shoes, and even though I don’t wear them all that often, I have a true affinity for super comfortable leggings. Oh yea, that’s ME. For goodness sake, I’m a past co-president of the elementary school PTA. Dude. Stereotype, right here. Check off those boxes, I’m in the mold, y’all.
There was a time in my life when all of this would have been something I would have said “No. Never. NOT EVER.” about when it came to me. I didn’t judge then, I promise I didn’t. I just didn’t see it being me. Yes, I always wanted to be a stay at home mom and I am so thankful that I have gotten to do that as much as I have. I just never saw myself being in the middle of a “type.” I have since learned to “never say never” as the old saying goes. I was never going to drive a mini van either and I drove one for a few years. Was it cool? Heavens NO. My mini van was all about function and I will swear to this day that having a van with automatic sliding doors when we had an infant and a toddler was one of our most brilliant parenting moves. (High five, former self!) Back to what I was saying, I didn’t think I would be IN this stereotype, let alone embrace it, but that’s just exactly where I am and I am loving it. You see, after almost a year of working full time and coming back to being a stay at home mom again, I have a brand new appreciation for this role. Please don’t get me wrong, I loved being home all those years before and I also loved my job, but both of those lead me to an even better clarity in the joy I feel now at fulfilling my purpose of being at home again. In my time away from running carpools and taking the girls to and from places they needed to be, I learned a greater appreciation for those things. Since I’ve gotten to do them again, I am more aware that they are things that I “get” to do and not just things that I “have” to do. It’s privilege, honestly, and I admit that I somewhat took that for granted for awhile previously.
When I think of how quickly the years tick off in our lives, I realize that God wants us to embrace who, what and where we are in the seasons He gives to us. This part of parenting, it’s a season of life. As much as I remind myself to be grateful for every day in this, I’m going to be honest, some times are just not as easy as others. When the girls are getting along and being kind to one another? I swear, I can hear the angels sing. When they bicker and fuss and carry on? I want to tie them to one another in one of those “get along shirts” and make them sing “Kum Ba Yah” or something until they JUST BE SWEET FORTHELOVE. Not every moment is a bliss moment. Not every day is sunshine and roses. I’m just a mom who loses her mind when I clean a room only to find it turned upside down the next day. I am the very furthest thing in the world from perfect, but I really do my best to be grateful every day for being able to be Mickey’s wife and Macey and Mariana’s mom. Because, y’all, I might be able to check off a hundred suburban mom stereotype check boxes, but that’s so good by me. Because it means I have my dream job and I have the family I always prayed I would have. On days when it’s easy and days when it’s more challenging – it’s always GOOD.
This season will pass all too soon for my liking. I know because I’m 13.5 years into parenting and those have been the very fastest years of my entire life. The absolute best years, no question, but just incredibly fast. If you, like me, find yourself in this stereotype, let’s be thankful for comfortable leggings, the cartwheel app, low fat lattes, and this crazy beautiful season of life. And, if you’re reading this in a season of waiting, I honestly just sent up a prayer that you’ll have the peace of God around you as you wait and I hope that one day you’ll be able to embrace this type season and whatever “stereotype” you find yourself in as well.
Best,
Kel
PS: I normally try to post blog entries sooner in the day, but we are on bonus day number two from school due to icy conditions around our county. So, I think we can check off another box for me being a coffee guzzling, thankful for another day with no alarm clock, hoping to clean the house, cabin fever’ed stay at home mom. (wink) Have a beautiful day, all!
The reasons I embrace the stereotype right here. My heart is full!