This morning I got on my bike and went to the "county" track meet (ie. a bunch of schools competing, including both of my two older children's).
The 800 metre start, girls, ages 9-12.
She ran most of the race in lane two. Oops. "Did you know it's shorter if you run on the inside lane?" "What? Really?!" A real-life math problem.
A hard-run race. I think she was a little disappointed with her end result, but every race is a learning experience. And she ran her heart out! Proud mama.
Tug-of-war. Not so many photos of this child. I was picking up a please-don't-embarrass-me-mom vibe. Which I get. I'm so sympathetic and can totally feel it, too. Of course I'm going to say something dorky in front of his friends! I remember this age so clearly myself and instinctively want to give him space. Then I wonder: am I giving him too much space and he won't know that I care? You know?
Then I got on my bike and went to the kindergarten picnic.
We shared our sandwiches (his idea).
The kids performed songs. When it was time to say goodbye, I got so many kisses, so many hugs; it was hard parting. Such a different stage.
And I got on my bike and went back to the track. (My ankle doesn't hurt on my bike. Yay! Plus I'd forgotten how fun it is to cycle around the city.) Kevin had arrived in my absence, live-texting me results of events I was missing. We both got to watch the relays.
Then I got on my bike and went home.
:::
Found, yesterday, amongst the masses of work brought home from school.
"Who? Carrie Snyder: Author of the GG nominated Juliet Stories and, my mom.
"What? I can learn alot from mom including work hard and you can acheive anything, follow your dreams, or whims depending on which you have. Nothing is really that impossible if you really want it. And are willing to pour your life into it.
"Where/when? At the book launch in 2012, when the story became a book.
"Why? Writing a book with four kids is not easy. The Juliet Stories took seven years to write. It takes an amazing woman with great patience to do that. She sets goals and acheives them. Aside from that she is a very happy person with a big family and a big heart. She is also a runner and marathonist and triathlete. If you don't think she is successful, I would like to hear what is."
I don't know what life is all about, except that it's for living. Yesterday was a down day. The puffy ankle wasn't helping. I was feeling pessimistic. I was remembering that the nature of being a writer is being dissatisfied. That's what gives you the push to keep creating. It's a sense of needing to do more. I was remembering that I write out of a painful mixture of confidence and doubt, and that it never seems to become easy (not the writing itself, which is frequently joyful, but everything surrounding it). And then I found this. My child was mirroring back to me things I couldn't see or appreciate for myself. I hope to mirror to my children the same: love and belief and admiration.Labels: kids, letters, parenting, photos, picnic, running, spirit, writing