When it is Beautiful

When over a year ago now I made the switch from working in a big company to working for myself from home .. One of my biggest worries was being around when the kids are home from school 

 I know this would be most Mom's  dreams . But it was not mine . At all.

For me work hours are work hours and home hours are home hours . And I treasure both . Massively . Intensely 

I had a hard time believing that I would enjoy mixing the two from 3:30-6:30 which is also a mega productive  and usually busy work time frame for me where I get a lot done .

But you know what ? It works well ! And shocking to me I get to witness some pretty beautiful moments between clients and calls and meetings .

And I really enjoy this part . To the degree that some of my best moments with my kids have been those in between ones .. The very ones that I thought I might resent .

It's just one or two mins here and there that I leave my office or ask them how their day was but its moments I never saw before . I missed that part of their life and it is fun to see little snippets of it now . I actually sometimes look forward to seeing them at this time 

And while on the subject of resentment we can speak about that there is rearwly a moment my kids have their devices in hand ( seems like always ) that I am not resentful . Of this works and what it has become and my part on it .

Well today instead of resenting technology I found it beautiful 

At around 5pm I hear my two boys squealing in delight on the phone together (a rare sound for two teen boys!) and one outside playing basketball and one napping on the couch . And they call each other and have this very intense excited anxious conversation for about 20 mins . I am not focusing on them but on my work so not sure what it is about . Then the one outside comes inside,s and I hear nothing for another 20 mins but silence but know they are together in the living room together 

So curiousity gets the best of me and I go and observe them quietly . And there they are the two of them on their phones . Sweetly videotaping and texting girls about the little baby squirrel outside on our lawn :)) 

They were mesmerized and wanted to ensure they caught every moment on tape and texted immediately all their friends (the girls who would find this adorable of course!) to tell them all about it 

I loved seeing my boys who are getting more muscular and fitter and stronger by the day .. being so touched and intrigued my this  tiny baby animal .

Bear was so scared to come in from playing basketball as he was super scared that the mother squirrel would attack him if  he came near the door where her new baby was . So he called his brother to keep guard and videotape every move of the mother squirrel so he could sneak past her to the back yard 

 Them inside they were completely mesmerized by this little thing and freaking out that a crow landed near it and almost scooped it up and attacked it .

Both of them admitted that they would have cried if the crow had success . Chase lost interest after about 20 mins but Bear kept on watching that baby for well of an hour . Watching it .. Texting about it ... Videotaping it . Protecting it 

Just like his Dad . A protector .I hope our daughter marries a man like this one day .

I have never seen these types of moments fromthe boys . They have probably often been there but I have missed them . I close to focus on something else.

 So although many a time I have resented having to work often from home and most days of the week I resent the time that our kids mindlessly spend on the phone .... I realized today that both getting to have these moments and technology can also be beautiful 

That it is these often small moments that make up a life of wonder and joy and peace . And I am glad I get to be home to be able to witness them even for short moments while at the same time not having to interfere with my work getting done . I can do both . Well and successfully.

Because In the end I realize that life is just a series and string of all of this put together .

And even though today my Bear woke me up to tell me early and sadly that the little squirrel had died and was in our yard .. I still felt grateful that the squirrel had had a day or two to enjoy the world and be protected by his mommy and my sweet son .

The deadlines , the homework , the conference calls , a stop for a bowl of grapes , a little ( or a lot ! ) of nagging here and there, framing pretty picture , having layers of work and life stress ... And mostly watching my two boys admire a baby squirrel .

Does it get better than this ?

I should think not