THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Cheerleaders on the Sidelines

Guest Post:

Some thirty three years ago, I was the mother of three little boys ages four and under. My husband traveled a great deal for his job so I jumped head over heels into the world of motherhood and running a household. I decided that despite a budget that was tight as a fiddle string, I would take three hours for myself on Wednesday afternoons. My instincts told me that a reliable babysitter and three hours to myself would be as beneficial as therapy and a lot less expensive. This small break from diapers, feeding schedules and potty training would be good for me and my boys and make me a better and more effective mother in the long run. I found myself looking forward to Wednesday afternoons as they approached each week. This small reprieve gave me a sense of balance in my life.

During the last month Tristan, our newest grandson, has been spending three hours with us on Thursday nights because his parents, who live in Cottonwood Heights, have a commitment in Utah County. The thought hit me how ironic it is that I now look forward to my three hours with Tristan each week as much as I looked forward to Wednesday afternoons to myself thirty three years ago. For these three precious hours I can forget about bank deadlines, loan closings and the quotas I am required to,meet each day at my job. I found changing Tristan's diaper not to be a duty, but a joyful opportunity. Last Thursday as I saw my precious three hours passing, I woke him so I could share more of his waking moments. It helped me to remember how precious childhood is and what is truly important in our lives. These three hours spent consistently each week with Tristan will be the basis of a strong and healthy relationship with him in the future. It also helps me to be a better employee at the bank when I return to work.

As we navigate through our life's journey, it is sobering to reach the point where our children have lives, jobs, children and commitments of their own. Years ago, a little time away was a healthy break; now they are away most of the time and a few hours with them and their children is a treasured event.
A wise friend recently told me, "We are cheerleaders on the sidelines now, in the bleachers, not the locker rooms of their lives and they will tell us what they need from us." I found this to be a brilliant analogy of the transition I am experiencing as a mother and a grandmother.

I suppose that the only consistent thing in life is change and I am sure there will be many more for me as my life progresses. I will adapt to them as I have these recent changes in my life because as a wise man once said, "When we're through changing we're through!"