Speaking of empathy
My mother-in-law took Madison again this morning so I could have time to stare at the computer screen and not write. (I took some notes and did some free writing but I’m at the stuck point when you just keep pounding the keyboard waiting for something to come through.)
When she came back they brought incense, (which Madison calls “college” because when Jessica gave me a box of it last Christmas I took a big sniff and said, “Mmmm, smells like college!”) and a big smudge stick to stick in our bathroom. Then she stood and talked a little bit and let me be angsty. You know, missing her son (and feeling a little foolish because I know having a husband missing for less than a week is really nothing) and missing my son (although not as much as his father because his father lowers my blood pressure while my son tends to raise it). And a little bit about this fantastical switch we’ve made of having us both home full-time and me working in the basement and homeschooling and basically, you know, living our dreams since this is what we always wanted since Noah was a wee tot.
It’s scary to live your dreams, you know? And then sometimes it can make a person feel defensive because to have some things we don’t have others and then it feels like maybe not having those other things speaks to the success of the whole dream-living instead of just speaking to compromise.
Anyway, it’s amazing to me that our parents — both sets — are proud of us. Even my dad who is pretty enamored of stuff (you know, the stuff of which homes are furnished and vacations are bought) thinks we’re swell. But Brett’s parents — crazy new age nuts that they are — just love all of it. They love us both at home, they love the homeschooling, they love the crazy Madison whirling around our yard.
Sometimes emotional support (and smudge sticks) comes at just the right time.
it’s noah that delivers our papers on wednesday, right? he’s so cute!
I think he’s pretty cute, too.
He listens to High School Musical while he delivers but today it’ll be his best friends, which reminds me I have to go fold his papers. Dang.
Awesome. Good inlaws are awesome.
I’m so happy that your family on both sides is so supportive of you! And you made me think and feel sad when you wrote about “living your dream.” Now that our hopes for settling down have been scattered (I know you’ve been busy, so if you wanna know what’s up with us, you can start with Oct. 31st’s post), we are again in a position of now knowing what our dream is… of not even knowing if we have one. It’s tough and it makes me teary eyed and a bit heartbroken.
I’m glad you guys are pulling it through, it gives me hope even though I have no idea what’s going to happen in the future for our family.
Yes, happiness and food and shelter go a long way, don’t they. Although it was never my dream to homeschool, I do get the whole being together thing. It turns out working at home with my husband was a dream I never knew I wanted. It came by way of sadness for us, but I can’t imagine going back.
Good for you and Brett creating what you wanted and congrats on all the hard work to get there. You deserve it!
Have been reading here and there and found this particular post very interesting. I just emailed a long time friend something along the lines of always searching. Basically, no matter what goals or dreams we attain, we still strive for more, searching, bettering etc. It sounds as if you have really taken the plunge to live the life you want to live, but at times, wonder or contemplate the “rightness” of it. Is this similar to “searching” for more or betterment; how to make your current situation better? I don’t know, but it struck me that in the midst of great women living their life on their terms, or at least trying to, we still search, or question.
Also I wanted to say, kudos to you! You have the strength and support to live out your dreams. I am in the midst of trying like mad to do the same, but with certain pressures it has not been an easy task. But reading another’s success/journey is inspiring, thank you!
this is really nice to read - first of all, since you are happy with your choices , and second because it is so great to have such a supportive family.
youve also got me thinking more about empathy in general, how i already practice it in certain ways, and how it can manifest itself in my life more so that i have more patience for others