Blog a la Cart

James had a conference in Burlington earlier this week, and so we lasses of Cartwheel Farm had a few days to fend for ourselves. Auntie Kimmy was here to help for part of the time, and then Monday and Tuesday, I was on primary adult duty for all dependents.

For dinner on Monday, I took the girls out to a restaurant (after getting home from a busy afternoon of extracurriculars, then running and feeding the dogs, putting away the chickens and pig for the evening, and prepping for school the next day, I did not have it in me to prepare a meal). We sat at a table, we Cart women three, and talked about our favorite moments in Inside Out (when Fear rocks in a the fetal position and any scene with Bing Bong), what makes us laugh the hardest (toots, naturally), the happiest part of our day (learning a new song at school), what we thought life with a new baby would be like (their impersonations of a wailing newborn are on point), and so on. As we held legitimate conversation with my chidings of “sit with your feet forward,” “don’t put your elbows on the table,” “chew with your mouth closed” kept to a surprising minimum, I was entranced by the state of my relationship with my daughters.

There we were. Enjoying a meal as friends and family. Engaging in conversation. People watching. And I was struck by what an exceptional stage of parenting I have entered. One where my children are not always these small living beings that I have to wrangle and protect and entertain, but where much of the time I am thoroughly engaged and entertained by them as remarkable people, companions, and friends. And they still enjoy hanging out with me in return!

It’s still a balance. And, of course I realize that in four months we’ll have another very needy newborn in our lives. But, this time around, I’ll have two additional people in my household to help entertain baby, and to help keep me sane with conversation and activity. Two pairs of willing, eager hands to be a source of support and fun. They’ll be bickering and tears and demands for attention, but there will also be these fabulous moments where I see my children for the people they are, and the people they will become. And man, I do enjoy them so.

Details on Courtland’s gnome hat in my Ravelry. I was knitting this hat for a friend’s little one and Courtland saw it and asked, “Oh Mama, is that for me? It’s so cute! I love it.” And now our Co(u)rtland Apple is a gnome. Because I can never predict what knit goodies they’re going to love. And she now wears it every day to school.