I keep trying to get away. Not on a plane. a train, or for anything exciting. I keep walking to quiet places in the house so that I can get some work done. The children follow me.
They bring me their ruckus: “You can’t play like that.” “Yes, I CAN!” “No, you CAN’T!!!” “Mooooooommmmmmmm!!!!”
They bring me their need: “Mom, Jack hid the Easter eggs too good, and we can’t find them. We need you.”; “Can I have something to eat?”; “My mosquito bites itch. I need that lotion. Can you get it?”
They bring me their boredom: “I’m boooorrrreeeeed……”; “No, I don’t want to sweep the patio.”; “No I don’t want to clean my room.”; “I want YOU to find something for me to do that isn’t work.”; “Okay, I’ll leave and find something to do myself….”
Don’t they know I need to work? There is yard work to do. I need to fix dinner. The dishes are piling up. Laundry is a four-letter word I dare not speak. I am speaking at a women’s event at the church in a couple of weeks. Usually I speak for about three minutes and then pray in between worship and the announcements on a Sunday morning. I think the women will come expecting more than that.
Sigh….
That old Pied Piper stole the children with his lovely music. The piper of life plays it’s music for me, trying to lead me away from what I love most.
But I have four of the most wonderful little pipers. For a few years more, I will miss the quiet and be a bit unproductive, but the music and the ruckus and the need and the boredom will be worth it.
Play on, kiddos!
