Relieved Walls

The house is quiet and the walls breathe a sigh of relief- they no longer have to keep watch, witness tantrums, and can go back to fading into the distance. Little ones are quiet and asleep and as I sink into my bed I have to pluck out a toy wooden turtle puzzle piece and as my fingers smooth over the wood, I can smile now because its quiet, rather than sighing and scolding and reminding a toddler to Put Things Back After You’re Done.  Something I really need to implement for myself – tease my grimey plates that are so close to the dishwasher but oh-so-far.

Parenting can be so much work. Motherhood is a full time job. From my teaching days, I remember a teacher who had returned to work after her child was a one-year-old and lamenting that staying-at-home was so much harder. I understand now. I thought staying home would be easier rather than teaching 20 little ones, but when one teaches, you’re on duty from 7:15-3:15, and then you’re done. Parenting is round the clock. Luckily, children sleep, but throw in a sick child, a wakeful child, or a newborn, and sleep is something to be coveted, not taken for granted. With parenting, your nerves can be frazzled at every-hour-of-the-clock:15, and the phrase ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’ doesn’t apply. Crying happens often, and especially over spilt milk. A faulty sippy cup not tightly screwed on can lead to Z’s loud crying and in unfortunate places at unfortunate times, such as right next to baby-A-who-was-just-put-down-to-sleep’s bed. Parenting can be frazzling, tiring, exhausting.

Yet, once the milk is sopped up, a soggy shirt is thrown in a laundry basket, and bed time is finally over, how different a house is when all is quiet and children breathe in and out, when little limbs are flailed on pillows, and dark hair shadows faces. How much the night glosses over tantrums, forgives messes, soothes mistakes made, and gently prods minds to close a soothing laptop and go to sleep.

How morning will come so soon, and with that a rush of things to do, a list of commands to give, tempers that may flare, and once again night will come and gloss over everything, reminding one that new beginnings are imminent with the cusp or blinking of dawn.

Indeed, your Lord is God, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is God, Lord of the worlds.