In Honor of Mother’s Day
A little late as Covid struck me again
Kraft Mac and Cheese.
Pretty much every kids favorite, right? This was especially true for my daughter, Krysta. When she was around 8 years old, she wanted it everyday for lunch. I homeschooled so it was fairly easy to grant this daily request. (Sorry, but I’m “that mom” who let my kids have Kraft Mac and Cheese, hot dogs, dunkaroo’s, and way too much soda). So when I spotted a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese on the top shelf of my pantry last Sunday evening(of which I have no idea why I have a box of that!), my mind immediately triggered a memory that took me right back to a far off yesterday afternoon in our Maryland home when Kraft Mac and Cheese was on the lunch menu.
My 4 kids(at the time)ages, 11, 8, 5, & 3 came quickly to the table when I called out, “Lunch is ready”! They entered the kitchen, grabbed their plates and headed to the dining room table.
It was the time of day we all looked forward to.
12:00 Noon.
Lunch together…a break from a long morning of reading, writing, and arithmetic lessons.
We thanked God for our food with the same lunch prayer:
God is Great, God is good, Let us thank Him for our food, by His hands we all are fed, Give us Lord our daily bread. Amen.
I don’t think they were all eating Mac and Cheese, but Krysta sure was.
And it was one of those sweet lunch times that I noticed something… Krysta was almost done with her lunch, but we had only just begun to eat. I continued to watch her and then realized…oh my goodness…the child isn’t even chewing her noodles! She’s just swallowing them whole!
“Goodness child, “ I said. “You are going to get a tummy ache if you don’t chew your food!”
And that was the memory that popped in my head all because I spotted a plain ole box of Kraft Mac and Cheese in my pantry.
Seasons of Motherhood
As Mom’s, aren’t we so thankful for memories! Especially when our kids are all grown up, memories become priceless.
I share this memory as a Mom who is almost an empty nester and who treasures these precious memories from those yesterdays gone by.
Maybe you’re still raising the littles and making the memories, which honestly, may seem like a chore to you right now.
Life with little ones is so draining and you feel exhausted so much of the time. It’s as if you are on call 24/7 and honestly you are!
Then, before you know it, they grow into teenage years and their emotions run wild and you struggle to keep up with what’s happening in their world and how best to lead and guide them…praying constantly that is for sure!
And then…one day…they bring home that one person…the one they want to spend the rest of their life with and you realize these sweet babies of yours are almost all grown up and in-laws are added to the brood. And you find yourself sitting back and smiling at the sweetness of it all.
Adjusting
As our children grow into their different stages, we too find ourselves adjusting.
Before we know it the littles don’t need car seats, and honestly I found that wonderful! Instead, we fill our minivan with their best friends and drive them to the mall, ball practice, and wherever else they need to go until…a few more years pass by and you are no longer in the drivers seat, but rather teaching them to drive! Now that was a challenge!
But through each stage we are their constant.
We continue to hug on them, encourage them, and put them first.
We are intentional as we take them to church and tell them about the goodness of God and pray they will one day know the Lord like we do.
Keep Doing That Sweet Mama
Your love and devotion to them is a voice they need to hear in this “gone crazy” world.
So please enjoy every singe stage your kids are in. Be mindful not to say, “I can’t wait till the kids are older,” because they will be all too soon.
My kids here on earth are now 33, 29,26, & 24 and the years have gone by so quickly.
And Motherhood finds me in yet another season of life and I’m learning to navigate that.
We Mother Still, But in a Softer Sort of Way.
Because now I watch my grown-up kids living their best life, starting careers, and making plans for their future and I am beyond proud of each one of them. I am no longer “That Mom” who is on call 24/7, who drives kids around in the minivan(although I loved my minivan!) or having a late night talk in their room before bed, but now we enjoy a walk together, lunch out on their lunch break, a weekend getaway, or an unexpected phone call for advice. Our dining room table looks different now as its filled with more kids(some may call them in-laws). And Krysta girl, well she’s been married for 6 months now and doesn’t swallow her Mac and Cheese whole anymore. She actually makes homemade Mac and Cheese as I taught her.
She makes it for family gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas and Summer Cookouts.
It’s creamy and cheesy and oh-so delicious.
And just like that one box of Mac and Cheese sparked all this, we too can savor the sweetness of whatever season we are in.
And I think to myself.
What a Wonderful World
Till next time,
Crystal
P.S. Just in case you’re hungry or need to feed your kids some lunch, here is the recipe for Mac and Cheese.
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