At about 22:00 the other night I pulled a sewing kit out of the junk basket to mend Lemmy’s bed and a T-shirt of Liam’s. Without skipping a beat, Brent quipped ‘And now she puts on her seamstress hat.’ I laughed so hard and then let that sink in a bit.
It was a hilarious quip because of all the hats I had worn in just that one day.
I wore the chef’s hat in making dinner for my family. I wore the housekeeper’s hat running around picking up after us all. I wore the botanist’s hat watering all my plants and choosing seeds for this spring’s planting. I wore a decorator’s hat insisting the curtain rods be installed to spruce up the dining room. I was a psychologist for Ellie as she processed the day’s highs and lows. I was the lightning rod for Liam’s angsty teenager tongue. I was a boss and then also a subordinate. I was the sun and the moon to the dog who can’t go anywhere without me. I was an uber driver getting Ellie to volleyball and I was a cheerleader to my husband so he may know how proud I am of him. I found slippers and ordered birthday presents for far away family. I was a taskmaster insisting that homework get done and the dishwasher was unloaded. I was a teacher walking the kids through science articles and current events. The birds outside got fresh seeds. I was a daughter and a sister and a best friend. And apparently a seamstress too!
I run around wiping, checking in on progress, project planning, supporting, redirecting, driving, encouraging, worrying and even sewing. I am so grateful to be able to play these roles and I try to remember how limited these days are. I can actually see the end of this tunnel where the kids don’t live at home anymore and I terrifies me. I get tired and sometimes I go to bed at 18:30 to lay in bed with my iPad who demands very little of my energy. It makes sense to everyone that I get tired – we all do. Fortunately we all take care of each other to a similar degree so I can scroll through TikTok knowing that I am part of a well-oiled machine. For that I am so grateful.
Been wearing all sorts of hats for many years-