Think Spring

Okay, now that Christmas and New Year's are over we can start focusing on spring, right? I know that winter just officially started on December 21 but I'm ready to move on Mother Nature.

When I was younger I used to dread January. Of course, it meant that all the fun holiday doings were over and it was time to go back to school. Then, as I grew older and became a mom, I came to LOVE January because it meant that all the fun holiday doings were over and it was time to go back to school!!!

No more shopping, no more wrapping, no more Christmas carding, or baking, or socializing. Kids head back to school and I resume my routine. Don't get me wrong, however, I do enjoy the two-week break from getting up early for school, having Ed home for the two-week auto shutdown, and catching up with friends we don't see on a regular basis. But after awhile, I realize we all need to get a life again and start being productive.

The other feature I hated about January was that it was such a loooooong month. Thirty one days of cold, snow, darkness, and more cold. But now, the older I get, I feel like the time whizzes by, whether it's June or January. I find I can rationalize things a little bit differently, if even in my own mind.

Once January is over, comes February, and it's such a short month that you can hardly even count it! Plus with another week off from school and routine due to mid-winter break it's practically nothing. Then comes March. March is a tough one though. It too, is a loooooong month. And what's hard about March is that you start to get excited about the prospect of spring being right around the corner, except this is the month where we seem to get the worst snow and ice storms. Winter just doesn't want to let go. But I keep reminding myself, "if I can make it to April, I'll be good."

April generally means Easter, which means another week off from school! For our family, it has also meant traveling to Florida to visit my parents over the break. For me, I'm focused on having my "aaaahhhhh" moment. That's the moment after we arrive, make it to the beach, and I sit with my face to the sun and feel its incredible warmth, relax every muscle, exhale, and say "aaaaaahhhh". No more worrying about last minute details before we leave Michigan, no more packing or security lines, no more school projects or running around to do. Just me, my family and relaxation. But as the boys get older, the demands of high school sports steals that family time away from us and I will have to learn to adjust.

By the time I return home from Florida, the first day of spring (April 21) is certainly near if not already past. This means that high school baseball has started and because it's Michigan, I will most likely be wearing my ski jacket and bringing my green wool blanket to the games because it's still freezing. But May is almost here, so I don't care. After all, spring has arrived!