This week I was
very good and ready to write a laundry list of all the things teens are or say
or act like that make life a lot harder than it used to be, With three of them
now and no more babies left –believe me…..there are some serious disadvantages.
But then this weekend happened –and I felt like that list
was for another day. There were so many things this weekend that I loved about
having teens and just life in general that I knew the timing was not right.
Firstly got together Saturday at our friends house. We
are three couples and a bunch of kids (mostly now tweens and teens and a few
little ones) and it had been 5 months since seeing each other. That is a record
for us. For years we see each other’s about 6 times a year always on the same
dates pretty much. We missed them and was so good to be together. We sat in the
sun and sipped lemonade with ice and ate delicious sandwiches and salads. And
we laughed and laughed and got caught
up. Same as always.
Something about that day just made me feels so good. Our friends are so supportive and so
endearing and so kind. Kind would be
the best word to describe that group, just good to the core-kind people. And I
loved every moment for so many reasons. I loved that Mrs. Sweetheart looked at
me and Hubby and said “Hey you didn’t invite us over to your pool yet in June…summer
doesn’t begin for us until we have that invitation!”
And I went home and got my act together and sent out that
invite. This year needs to be no different than any other year and something about
that realization was like a warm blanket of comfort.
And then that day teens were fun too. Many of us going on
Mr. Sweetheart’s boat. And the teen’s scaterring around the village..some to
meet other friends..some for gum and ice-cream..some long boarding home..Some
to meet girls and sneak kisses in the park (Bear! Who else?). I love the flow
of teens..and that they all have each other. Truly like cousins they have all
grown up together so consistently. We have all committed so very much to
eachothers families year after year no matter how busy life gets.
And then since we were in the city vs country which is so
rare a steady flow of teens through house all afternoon and evening. And I
realized this is the part I love most. Seeing the friends there, having dinner
with them and long chats and laughs at the table, supervising the girls have
midnight late swims in the pool and do syncro. Preparing BBBs for hungry friends
and teens. Nothing beats this for me..and it brings back my best memories of my
own adolescence. My parents knew my friends inside out and so did my friends
know my parents. Everyone was made welcome and were known. My friends were
their best selves at our house. And when I see this at my own house –it is my
best self too.
I adore watching my kids grow up alongside other people.
People who are their people and input
into which they will become. Loved watching
Bear in the early morning in victory with his two young coaches not much older than
he is…I loved their influence on him. Loved watching him with his team. Chase at
the dinner table with Bear and his friend making the younger boys laugh in
hysterics…Beauty‘s; laughter in the neighbors back yards all day at a birthday
party-joy filling the space and air. Beauty for yet
another sleepover the girls asking to go in the pool and do syncro before bed
together with her brace off to stretch her body. The sound of Chase so early
this morning making a hearty breakfast for a 12 hr. day of downhill biking at
bromont and making two friends right away on the bus there and letting me know
by text. I love it all.
Friends have always been and are an instrumental part of
all of our lives and I am thankful for this daily. Not everyone has this and I am
blessed that we do-as a couple and as a family. People who know us and get us.
Who look out for us.
Sweethearts summer cake yesterday and her sweet email
brought it home for me yesterday-if only she knew how much I needed to hear
what she had to say. She brought me home to where I know I belong. With our friends
and seeing our kids with their friends.
It’s who we are. It’s who we will always be-no matter
what is going on in our lives. It felt so good to come back home.
