The snow started while the kids ate breakfast, and continued while we drove to school. I took them inside, got them settled in the warm, lively building and shielded my ears and eyes as I walked back out to the car.
I sat with the warm air blowing at my feet for a few moments, and left the parking lot. Not far out onto the road, something caught my eye: in the wind and blowing snow, the white sky, a small black flock of geese flew, struggling to maintain the V shape that keeps them together.
It makes me sad to see them out there and I watch as long as I can before I have to turn onto the road that will bring me home. But I don’t really know if they’re struggling. Are they used to flying in the snow, against the wind, fighting to stay in line, without losing any part of the group?
I can’t stop thinking about them as I make my coffee, while the toddler sleeps upstairs and the big kids start their school day. I realize, motherhood is just like that.
Motherhood is struggling to stay together, through the storm and the winds.
Motherhood is pushing a precarious, overloaded grocery cart into the parking lot, then stopping to bend down and pick up the bags that fell over the side, while the baby cries from being in the store for so long and people brush past without pausing to ask if you’re okay.
Motherhood is asking the big kids to help when the little ones are overtired and uncooperative, telling them to just give her the scooter, I don’t care right now that you had it first, just please, for a minute, let her have it.
Motherhood is breaking through the crowd at the mall, begging the child in a state of potty emergency to keep up, I didn’t bring any spare clothes.
Motherhood is keeping the family together, working as a team to just get through it. Just make it past this part, the hard part, until we can find the sun again.
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Beautifully said, my friend. And so true – I'm just glad that I can get out of the weather, unlike the geese (read: lock myself in the bathroom if I have to 😉 )
Exactly! At least we don't always have to contend with the wind….wind makes me SUPER CRANKY. 😉
This is so so true and I saw myself in these words, Greta. The rushing, the negotiating, the "let's just stay together" – this is motherhood.
Thanks, Kim. It's really tough sometimes, isn't it?
So true. I have those days for sure. Motherhood can be brilliant or a struggle. You've put it perfectly.
Exactly…brilliant and a struggle. You just hope it's more the former than the latter, right?
This is beautifully written. When the birds fly in a V-formation, they coast off each other's wind, which is a lot like what we do as moms.
Oh my gosh, there are some days when all I do is coast.
Oh goodness, do I know that third one, the negotiating. How is it that they always want the same thing?
Beautiful words on this Motherhood gig, Greta. xo
Thanks, Elaine. It's good to not feel alone in this. xoxo
I sooo feel this sense of motherhood every day. What a great analogy. Beautifully written
Thanks so much, Kiran.
I know this all too well. Just get past this part. and that part. and that one, too. Every day brings its own struggles and we are being honed and perfected even when we think we're barely hanging on. Beautiful post.
Andrea, thank you. Exactly.
So true, Greta. Motherhood is the most rewarding constant struggle there is.
EXACTLY, Leigh Ann. Thank you.
I couldn't have said it better myself, Greta.xo
Seems to be pretty universal, which is nice when you tend to feel alone. xoxo
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This is so very beautiful, Greta. And you're absolutely right — motherhood is exactly all of these things.
(Also, I love — and relate to — how tender-hearted you are. The geese would have made me teary, too!)
Thank you, Galit! I just wanted to bring them in and warm them up, you know?
Beautiful!
Thanks, Amanda!
So well said. A lot of days I do feel like I am flying agains the storm. Seriously love this post. And just the image of the flying V, so perfect.
Thanks, Angela….I'm glad you can relate (well, not glad, but you know what I mean). 🙂
I would even say that all of life is like that, not only motherhood. At least that's the way I feel!
Absolutely, Jen! Some days are just tough.
This is really beautiful. I always love watching birds trying to stay in formation, and you are right so much of motherhood is like that.
Thanks, Julia. I had never seen them actually flying through snow before, and it struck me.