Does 'life' really happen that way or are small gifts placed before us each and every day? But when we are blindsided by all that is going on within our world, we simply cannot see outside of our own head at times?
Life continues to astound and amaze me. It is all in the little things.
Yesterday I took my daycare family out to a park to play. There was another daycare provider with her little 'family' of her own already there when we arrived.
We started talking immediately. We are from (about) the same generation so she immediately related with me as a 'grandma' kind of daycare provider. We spoke the same language from the start.
She has been in the daycare business for thirty five years and is starting to burn out a bit.
I felt that way when I walked away from my daycare five years ago but 'life' provided a little perspective for me so I could come at it with new life.
I still feel overwhelmed and question if I am the right person for this job. Daily. Sometimes more. But at the end of each day, I am grateful for this life I have created for myself and I know it is where I am most meant to be right now.
The kids provide me with inspiration and laughter when I need it the most. I love it when I hear my words turned back on me and they sound 'okay'.
Two days ago, I was so frustrated and I just need the day to be over. Then two days ago, this happened:
Apparently these guys are listening to me.
Whenever someone is crying or pouting or simply cranky, I tell them to go into the playroom and come out when they are happy. If they are crying for no real reason, I escort them to the playroom and tell them to come out when they are happy. When they wake up from their nap, they must be 'happy' before they can get up. "Happy" is our theme song around here and we dance to it often.
Anyway ...
Yesterday, I was feeling kind of grouchy and was quite likely pouting.
My little three-year-old looked at me and said, "Colleen, are you happy?" That simple statement turned my day around. I think my little girl was quietly suggesting I go into the 'time out' area until I came out happy!
Thanks! I needed that.
I told this little story to my 'new friend' at the park. She laughed out loud and told me I had made her day.
I felt like I had been placed into this lady's life at just the right moment. I know I am overwhelmed with kid-talk and craving adult-conversation these days. I needed to talk to someone who was 'walking my walk' and understood where I was coming from.
I believe we brought each other 'up' and our days were better because of it.
We have been going to all of the parks in and around our neighborhood all summer. I have not run into another 'daycare family' until yesterday.
I really, really needed a lift and this encounter boosted me up and carried me through the day. I watched how she was with her kids and I aspired to be 'more' of who I want to be. Something tells me she received a little of what she gave, in return.
We exchanged names and phone numbers and hope to meet up again. Our children's ages correlate very nicely and I think some interaction with other kids would be good for each of our daycare charges. Adult interaction with someone who 'speaks my language' is a very welcome bonus.
We seem to treat 'our kids' and 'our responsibilities' very similarly. We are a ten minute walk away from each other.
I felt like I opened my eyes yesterday and 'there' she was.
The really weird (eerie-weird) part is, when we left the park we didn't part ways immediately. Our walk home was a parallel one for a short spell.
One minute, I looked behind us and my 'angel unaware' and her family-of-three was right behind us. The next minute, I looked again. They had vanished into thin air.
I asked my little three-year-old "Did you see those kids and that lady ... or did I just imagine them?" She confirmed my sanity, as she started to talk about this little 'daycare family' so I believe what I saw was real.
But it was such divine timing. A conversation with someone who I felt like I had known for years transpired when I needed it the most. It was almost surreal. Compounded by the fact they seemed to leave our day as quickly as they entered it.
I may have to call this lady - just to reassure myself and confirm that I did not make up this whole scenario.
Sometimes, the little things in life just seem too good to be true.
No comments:
Post a Comment