the importance of 'homework" // the day he turned 10...

this post has nothing to do with “homework” in the typical sense of the word and yet it has everything to do with the work that we do “at home”. my handsome, intelligent, caring, loving, chocolate Kendall bear turned ten whole years old. we started the day cooking his breakfast of choice, and unwrapping a toaster oven/ air fryer for our budding chef who wants, more than anything, to cook meals all by himself for our family!!!

we spent the morning exchanging ‘happy birthdays’ with his great-granny a.k.a his “birthday twin” and responded to “happy birthday” text messages from other friends and family. we took a trip to the store, grabbed lunch, watched his movie of chose and sang ‘happy birthday’ blew out the candles on his cake of doughnuts with a side of water ice. it was both simple and simply exhausting all at the same time. i spent the end of the night holding him in my arms as he cried tears of sadness and joy to see his birthday come and go another year.

“this has been the best birthday yet”, he said.

rewind twenty minutes or so to the moment he first began to cry. in that moment, i felt frustration and anger considering ‘the nerve of this ungrateful child to want even more from me after spending my entire day attempting to make him happy’ (ya’ll, remember… i’m birthday exhausted, lol) but, first i paused, took a deep breath and refused to misunderstand his emotions. it was in choosing patience, cuddling up right beside him and holding him in my arms that I understood he felt safe here. he felt love here. he felt safe & loved… here at home.

i often question if i am getting this wife, teacher and mother thing right. i meditate on a long list of things that i wish i could do better. i allow the strength and swing of emotions i feel to dictate how I think and feel about myself and what i’ve accomplished in my life. the fact that i receive no awards, no annual bonuses, no pay and no accolades and yet, it is in these moments where the acknowledgements are clear. these moments where i use my faith to believe, with the whole of my heart, that this ‘work-at-home’ matters.

this home work that we are doing has given them a safe, loving place to grow, live and learn together where they say things like “i love my life”, “I really love learning with my family“ and, “i’m excited for a new adventure today” on a pretty regular basis. this important home work that i’m reminded of on the day that you turned 10!

thanks for being a daily blessing to my motherhood & life my handsome, intellegent, caring, loving, chocolate KENDALL-BEAR 🐻

with all the love + here for the journey,

syreena