Full Hands, Full Heart

There are several kids on our street that attend the elementary school just around the corner. After we all drop our kids off in the morning and walk home, many of the parents can relax and chat, as they are now kid-free for several hours.

Meanwhile, I am simultaneously pushing a baby in a stroller and trying to make sure my preschooler doesn’t run into the street. I think about these parents and their empty hands. Sometimes I am envious of their carefree conversations while it seems that whenever I try to talk, I get interrupted by a “Mommy, but why…?” question.My hands are very full these days. It seems I always have a child to carry or a sticky hand to hold as we cross the street. Sometimes it gets overwhelming, as I feel I rarely have a moment when I am not fulfilling someone else’s need. There is always a snack to prepare, a diaper to change, an argument to break up, or a question to answer for the 47th time. There are days I wish for some peace and quiet and a few minutes just to myself.
But then I think of how it would be if my hands weren’t so full. What if they were empty—if I didn’t have any small hands to hold, or noses to wipe, or tears to dry? It makes me sad just to think of it. So for now, I will try to enjoy these times when I get to be constantly surrounded by my children—helping them, teaching them, and hopefully giving them enough love and encouragement. Because I know that before long, they won't be so little anymore.