I didnt plan to post today.
It’s the last day of school & Ren Man and I are spending the day sweating frolicking outside with the kinder-crowd.
Im pretty excited as last I heard there will be hula-hoops, Skip Its, jump ropes and dancing involved.
Ive been tasked with procuring, slicing & bringing watermelon.
After an entire school year with me the Room Mother is highly aware my skills lie NOT in baking or crafting.
And this is a great thing.
This is more my skillset:
But Im digressing.
Which around here is so common place I long to call it gressing.
Which I realize makes no sense.
I had no plan to post today — until yesterday morning at the bus stop.
As usual the Tornado kissed Ren Man and me goodbye, asked if we would stay for the second wave, & climbed happily on the school bus.
We made idle chit chat with the other parents (all of whom I think now feel compelled to stay & wave after reading my post. oops and *thats* a blog post for another day, too.) and waited as the bus did its loop and drove back past us.
We watched as the bus drove toward us & laughed about the wave & the fact we were never really sure our kids were even paying attention.
This time, however, we knew immediately our kids were watching & for certain they saw us.
This time the *entire* bus had moved to the side where we stood and every.single.kid.waved back at us.
Hands flailing. Out the windows. Major waving action.
For reasons I cant even entirely put into works this touched my heart.
Heck, even as I type this I’m getting a little misty eyed.
It has been one hundred and sixty two days since I vowed to spend 2012 living my priorities.
Some days Ive succeeded.
Many days Ive fallen short.
Yesterday, in that one brief moment with all the kids waving, I felt as though Id succeeded.
As if we’d all succeeded.
Those kids on the bus knew we’d stayed, we’d waited, & they were our priorities.
I dont yet know what form my ‘second wave’ will take over the summer.
I do know, however, I will stop, wait, & make the time for it.
Izzy says
May 31, 2012 at 3:31 amTeary, too.
Runner Girl says
May 31, 2012 at 4:09 amLife is prioritizing.
Right now I’m single and I am my priority, but I look forward to being a mom like you are.
Tara Burner says
May 31, 2012 at 4:09 amLOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and I’m counting down the days til we’re out of school here! June 7th..so far away it seems…
Monica says
May 31, 2012 at 6:52 amI love this sentiment, Carla.
Vonnie says
May 31, 2012 at 4:21 amI remember being annoyed you closed the comments on your second wave post 🙂
I just wanted to share how profoundly this impacted how I parent.
I was rushing and I am now slow.
Many hugs to you and the Tornado.
Shelley B says
May 31, 2012 at 4:21 amAwww! As they say, that memory is a keeper!
Heidi @BananaBuzzbomb says
May 31, 2012 at 4:22 amHeck, I’m sitting here with my eyes all misty. Love this Miz!
Nicole @ Making Good Choices says
May 31, 2012 at 4:36 amSo sweet. These are my favorite posts.
Happy last day of Kinder to T and you and Ren Man too. I was that emotional kid who balled on the last day of every school year.
Meredith says
May 31, 2012 at 4:38 amI’ve thought about this since you posted.
My second wave is making time for my boyfriend & listening.
Kierston says
May 31, 2012 at 4:45 amLOVE! <3 xo
Heather says
May 31, 2012 at 4:45 amMy eyes are all misty too!!! Great post and congratulations on working to live your priorities.
Lisa @ RunWiki says
May 31, 2012 at 4:51 amYou are an amazing Momma. She will cherish reading these posts someday. Have a great day gorgeous. 🙂 xo
Coco says
May 31, 2012 at 5:00 amSo awesome!
Crabby McSlacker says
May 31, 2012 at 5:19 amLOVED THAT!!!
And feel free to gress anytime, the word and your way of practicing it are both totally charming!
Barbara says
May 31, 2012 at 5:22 amI love this. Have a great last day of Kinder! 🙂
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf says
May 31, 2012 at 6:24 amSimply love this. Hope you have a wonderful day frolicking and eating watermelon. Sounds pretty darn fabulous to me.
Jody - Fit at 54 says
May 31, 2012 at 6:25 amCarla – I so love that you posted about this! We are all busy but I hope some can learn from it & if they can do it & I know some can’t but if you can – do it. Before you know, you are old & thinking back on those little things that are SO HUGE in the scheme of life!
Karen@WaistingTime says
May 31, 2012 at 6:28 amLove it:) My heart is warm just picturing the wave. And the kids.
Erica says
May 31, 2012 at 6:38 amAwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I adore this post. You truly make me even more excited to be a Mom. You are a wonderful role model. Heart!
katie says
May 31, 2012 at 6:50 amWhat a sweet story! Kids are great. Sounds like you have some amazing ones!
Kerri O says
May 31, 2012 at 7:18 am*sniffle*
Tami says
May 31, 2012 at 7:20 amThis made me a little teary eyed! I just love how you are seeing life through the tornadoes eyes and all the wonderful life lessons she is teaching you.
Even better is the fact that you are sharing those life lessons with the rest of us so we can all be reminded about whats really important in our daily lives.
Jill says
May 31, 2012 at 7:25 amSheesh Miz!! Now I gots the mistyeyes too!
That was really sweet though – I love it that ALL the kids wanted to get in on that second wave action. 🙂
Heather Montgomery says
May 31, 2012 at 7:55 amyou are making me want to cry and I don’t have kids!!!
KCLAnderson (Karen) says
May 31, 2012 at 8:17 amI got goosebumps as I read the part about ALL the kids waving…your little Tornado is an influencer too 😉
And something else that I really needed to hear: “Some days Ive succeeded.
Many days Ive fallen short.” ‘Cause that’s really what’s all about…being okay with the days we’ve fallen short. Not that you said you were okay, but I *felt* it.
Cammy@TippyToeDiet says
May 31, 2012 at 8:22 amAwesome memory to hold!
Patty says
May 31, 2012 at 8:28 amWOW! I love the second wave! So touching and amazing.
Didn’t she just start the school year yesterday? Time is flying…please make it stop 🙂
tj says
May 31, 2012 at 8:43 amthis made me cry.
look how young she looks! I think kinder took 5 years!! lol
tj says
May 31, 2012 at 8:44 amthis made me cry.
look how young she looks! I swear kinder took 5 years!! lol
can’t wait till I can experience all of this enjoyment. 🙂
Sara says
May 31, 2012 at 8:53 amOh, my stepgirl’s last day of Kinder is next Monday. I am right behind you … and her every step.
Tamara says
May 31, 2012 at 8:53 amCan’t wait for the post about your actions compelling others to do the same! Isn’t it great when you influence people positively? (unless, of course, they’re just doing it out of guilt…)
Sam says
May 31, 2012 at 8:57 amNice! It is days like the one you describe that make all the hard ones worthwhile. You are a great mom.
Heather @ For the Love of Kale says
May 31, 2012 at 8:58 amWOW. Just wow. 🙂 The innocence of children and their ability to appreciate the small stuff never ceases to amaze me. You’re amazing, Carla! That memory will forever be with you!
JavaChick says
May 31, 2012 at 9:06 amI’m picturing this bus full of kids madly waving and I think it’s adorable! Thanks for sharing and bringing a smile to my day. 🙂
Heather @ Bake, Run, Live says
May 31, 2012 at 9:16 amYup, tears in my eye too! What a special moment!
cheryl says
May 31, 2012 at 9:25 amNice to know there are still kids out there being parented and loved. I see those who aren’t-and it’s heartbreaking in middle school to see what they have become.
messymimi says
May 31, 2012 at 9:26 amHappy Summer, MizFit and Family!
PavementRunner says
May 31, 2012 at 11:22 amFantastic post… damnit, now I want to hug my baby (again).
Quix says
May 31, 2012 at 11:44 amAll I have for you is this…
D’awwwwwwwwwwwww. (super cute!)
I know you will have a fantastic summer with the soon-to-be-first-grader.
Madeline @ Food Fitness and Family says
May 31, 2012 at 11:47 amI love this. Thank you for sharing! Life is all about those moments.
Talia @ Bite Size Wellness says
May 31, 2012 at 12:15 pmHow adorable! I don’t have any children yet, but I can imagine how proud and loved you must have felt in that moment.:)
And, as a complete side note, having a lot of watermelon on hand is not a problem to me!
Roz@weightingfor50 says
May 31, 2012 at 4:12 pmThis REALLY warmed my heart!!! I’m waving at you across the miles!!!
Gia @ rungiarun says
May 31, 2012 at 8:07 pmI’m a fairly new mother … I have 19 month old twins, and I spend my days attempting to prioritize. I’m far from perfecting it. Your dedication to live your priorities is beyond admirable and something I can only hope to achieve one of these days. Thanks for being such a great role model 🙂
Rachel @RunningRachel says
May 31, 2012 at 8:41 pmHugs! Tomorrow is my oldest boy’s last day of kindergarten. I am charging my camera (and phone) and ready to pohto bomb my IG feed and blog with emotional photos too… <3
They DO grow up so fast!
MCM Mama says
May 31, 2012 at 9:53 pmI heart this.
And as my few remaining days of the school year (aka days I can get stuff done not at midnight) are filled with end of year school activities, I remind myself that my kids are my priority. Projects can wait.
Charlotte says
May 31, 2012 at 10:04 pmtoo cute & sweet! Love it <3
Jasmine says
May 31, 2012 at 10:15 pmWonderful and touching. You will find a way to keep the second wave going. I just know it! Have a fabulous summer!
Deborah (Schmiet) says
June 1, 2012 at 12:53 amEven I got misty-eyed. How treasured those kids must have felt / feel!
Deb
Hanlie says
June 1, 2012 at 3:50 amI love this post! Just. Love. It.
Carrie @ Season It Already! says
June 1, 2012 at 8:15 amLove this! So glad you posted today. I’ve got the warm fuzzies now. 😉
Kim @ The Family Practice says
June 1, 2012 at 10:43 amI have to admit that since you first mentioned the skipit, months ago, that I have desperately been looking for one. I want one sooooo bad! I several as a kid and wore em out ten times over. Where did you find one? I checked online and can only find a fake knock off version just a flimsy little thing.
Bonnie says
June 1, 2012 at 10:22 pmCatching up on reading posts and your words just made ME tear up, Miz! What a neat moment for you and the other parents…to feel loved is such a valuable thing and I love that you and now the other parents are displaying that by being present and not driven by your own agendas…You are impacting a community and kids’ lives! 😀
Amanda@HappyMotherRunner says
June 1, 2012 at 11:05 pmThat is so great. One or maybe a few kids on that bus didn’t have a parent do a first wave, let alone a second. Seeing you there waving at them probably started their day a little better than it would have been.
charlotte says
June 7, 2012 at 2:10 pmBeautiful, my friend! And congrats on the end of a very successful school year – for both of you!!