A life of little moments

We must be a sight. On a weekday afternoon, you will find me strolling Target, clad in my yoga pants, pushing the unwieldy three seater cart aimlessly around the office supplies. Three homeschooled kids, dressed in outfits piecemealed from Halloween relics and second-hand play clothes, will hang off the side of the cart or run ahead of me in the aisles. An older mom will take a gander at my motley crew, then sneak a glance at me and my hair (which by that point is roughly 80% dry shampoo), and then a smile will play across her lips. I know what she will say before she says it. "Enjoy this time, dear. It doesn't last long."

If I had a dollar for every time I've heard this, I reckon I'd be able to afford the shoes that I've been saving up for for the last nine years. Not that these Loubs would go well with my yogurt spotted leggings in the Target office supply section. But nonetheless, I save for the one day.

In the meantime, it doesn't add up to me-- this mystery of the days being long and the years being short. But women further down the path of motherhood than me tell me it's true. Their hair looks much cleaner than mine, which gives me hope.

I will watch my four-year-old, in ladybug galoshes and an Ariel dress, gallop between the displays ink pens and printer paper. I will listen as my five-year-old sounds out the letters on a pack of crayons. I will feel the warm hand of my seven-year old, almost as long as my own hand, rest on top of mine as I push this crazy cart. And I will get it. Seven years into motherhood, and I am starting to understand. These little moments add up to be a lot more in the life of a mother. So I will save them up because one day I will have time to blow-dry my hair, put on high heels, and smile wistfully at the harried mom I pass between the filing folders.

I like to imagine Melanie Shankle ("Big Mama") as one of those moms, smiling and doling out encouragement to the hot mess mamas like me. Melanie's daughter is wrapping up the 9th grade and no longer insists on following her into the bathroom. Can you even imagine that kind of luxury? I can't. She shared so much wisdom and laughter with us on today's podcast that I can't wait for you to listen.