Sitting without panic

Mama Ruchus...does not sit well. Perhaps that is why for the past 20 years, she has maintained 3 jobs, 3 kids, a marriage, an unkept house, and earned a few college degrees along the way. Mrs. Ruchus is definitely at a crossroads...the road to cross includes sitting. As in actual down time, and mama Ruchus just isn't too sure what to do with that.

It all started a few weeks ago, when she finished her final master's degree...yes you heard it hear first...FINAL degree and found herself with a spare evening on her hands; one that had been filled with the drone of professors for the past two years. On top of that, she found herself with some free time on the weekends, because there was no 'couldn't hate it any more' homework calling her name. To top it all off, the precious one began driving and the joyous one graduated high school. YES! GRADUATED!! No more musicals, award nights, voices performances, bringing dinner, signing permission slips, scholarship applications, finding the missing shoe, prom dress shopping, and the list goes on and on. You get the picture...there is A LOT of unanticipated free time. Mama made the first executive decision about what to do with all this newfound free time and joined a garden club. That only covered one night per month. She found herself with nothing to do (cleverly excluding the years of housework and laundry she is behind).

That first night was awkward to say the least. Sitting by the pond, nope...walking the neighborhood, nope...cleaning closets, nope...nap, nope...none of those things worked to relax her, had deadlines, or were remotely even comfortable.

Until now...

The breezes of summer are blowing. Mama Ruchus has adjusted...or is at least making the valiant effort to try...to sit and just be. The pond has been a wonderful addition although the incessant sounds of the bullfrogs do limit the amount of sleep mama can get on certain evenings....it has been peaceful none the less and mama has learned to sit. So much so, that she believes a patio set is in her future; and a patio; and a house in a warmer climate. Mama may like this sitting stuff so much, that sitting on the patio set, on the patio, by the pond, may become a year long past time.

We're still a little busy here at the Ruchus, don't worry. Summer ball starts tomorrow and the boy is taking his drivers test this weekend. Oh, and then there's the years of housework and laundry to catch up. But for now...the mama is sitting; and getting quite used to it!