Spring Refresh and a New "Normal"

This last year has been messy. There was still so much merry, but the messy was REALLY MESSY. With kids in and out of school more frequently than trains go through Grand Central Station and headlines and information changing so fast we all have whiplash....it was hard to keep up.  

I am guessing life was similar for most of you. I had to focus on adulting.  Some days that wasn't easy.  Other days, that just meant being busy or finding a way to entertain kiddos.  I had to focus on letting some things slide and nurturing others.  We learned new routines and how to embrace a slower pace in a smaller space in a world where nothing was open and parks were cautioned off and abandoned. 

In hind sight, I feel like moms with toddlers and young kids were probably the most prepared for all of this.  It is still fresh in our minds that life is unpredictable and just when you have it figured out life gives you a curveball.  With kids you can't  trust everything you hear and you certainly can't  believe the crazy things you are seeing.  We were already used to chanting "wash your hands" and "don't put that in your mouth." 

We already know what it is like to have a toilet paper shortage because odds are you've already had some tiny person unroll the whole roll. If you were unlucky, they flushed it and it was the last roll.  You probably didn't  realize until you needed some. If you were lucky, and it didn't get flushed, you could use a toilet paper pile not a roll.  (Please tell me others have this happen too.  I think we literally had years of the TP pile.)

The bickering and opinions didn't seem to be based on any form of reason.  Well, we moms deal with unreasonable actions all day long.  For example, a meltdown because a PB&J won't taste the same cut into 4 pieces instead of 2 diagonal ones. Sorry kiddo, bread can't go back together once cut. 

What it didn't  prepare us for was spouses working from home FOREVER.  My husband is amaizing and super helpful but it was an adjustment going from 50-60% travel to home...in the house...everyday...for a year.  Just adding a photo so you know he did in fact survive.  It was touch and go at times. :)

I also was not prepared for the amount of groceries we would go through or the hazmat suit I would have to put on to go to the store. ;)  OK, this was a joke and over the top but not by much.  

Figuring out zoom with kids and how/when to use the mute button was a joy all on it's own. Pajama academy was constant chaos and a tidy space to work became an explosion in seconds. I don't even want to know what teachers heard when my kid didn't mute.  I am ok not knowing. 

Not having a plan or ability to make a plan, even a flexible one, for longer than 2 weeks was a big challenge for me.  I like a plan!!  I NEED THE PLAN!

We did get the blessings of amaizing time to connect as a family and time to explore our great outdoors.  Who knew! We all love to hike. We were given the gift of a clear schedual so we could enjoy the little things and take a step back without fear of missing out.  And, well, curb side pickup for everything and to-go cocktails...need I say more? 

With all of that learned, I sat down this week and realized I think life is getting back to "normal."  

Now, I don't  think that NEW normal is what OLD normal was,  but "normal" in any form feels great.  Being able to make some plans feels incredible.  Being able to have a sense of routine and moving forward feels so amaizing.  

I thought today would be a good day to refresh and breath some life into the blog.  It is the first time since last March I felt moved to do so.  I think it is because of a sense of forward movement and because spring is in the air and spring is a time to nourish and for new beginnings. 

In Iowa we are in a state of false spring.  Basically mother nature says, "here you go!  I give you 70s and sun and time outdoors."  Then, the next day we get 5 inches of snow and temps back in the 20s.  Iowa weather is bipolar from October to May.  I know this.  I prepare myself every year for this.  I still feel the need to launch into spring the first nice day.  I uncover the patio furniture and start planning for planting and the urge to buy green, growing things is so overpowering.  Then, we get about 2 weeks of cold rain and another freeze but the hunger for spring has set in and can't  be turned back. 

I hope this feeling of revitalization is like that.  I know there will be steps back and some back and forth for a while but ultimately this forward motion can't be turned back. 

So... here I sit looking out the window at my now uncovered patio furniture and eagerly awaiting the next taste of warm weather.  Yes, false spring caught me again.  Yes, I bought bulbs.  Yes, I even bought plants which will now have to be covered as Temps drop. I only bought a few so that's OK.  At least, that's what I tell myself. The reality is,  it is a gateway to more.  My husband knows, I know, anyone who knows me probably can read the writing on the wall.  It is my brand of religion to sink my hands in the dirt and grow things.  It feeds my soul and grounds me.  

What gives you that feeling?  Is it gardening, reading, travel, meditation, sewing, music?  What/where is your happy place? 

After this year of crazy, go find that place or thing that gives you that feeling of whole.  Go, take time and indulge in it.  Give yourself that gift because we all need a piece of wholeness, security and peace right now as we move forward into this merry mess that is our NEW normal.

Happy early spring and welcome back all!