A week of change around the Manning household.
It's been almost 6 years since we welcomed our litter of children to the fold. We did EVERYTHING for them. Feedings at all hours of the night. Wal-Mart's stock rose because of our diaper purchases. Runny noses. Bruised knees. Poison scares. (Yea, ask Echo on that one...lol) Doctor visits. Learning to walk. Potty training. Pacifier breaking was hellish. Teaching ABC's. Instilling the difference between right and wrong. Echo and I DREAMING of their futures. Talking about "the day they would start school". It seemed SO FAR AWAY.
Not anymore.
Last Sunday was rough. Early bedtime. Fixing lunches. Ironing clothes. Me watching TV...I mean, me helping Echo anyway possible. BOOM! Alarm clock came early. Showers for all. Breakfast. Teeth brushing. Hair combing. Lunch packing. Backpack packing? Prayer. Into the van we go. A LONG 7 minute ride to Harry McKillop Elementary. Colten and Colin are pumped. Eyes wide open. They just looked adorable. We walked with them, telling them how proud we are of them. Reminding them to be good. Reminding them to be good again. :)
Into Mrs. Dockery room they went. Echo crying. Me being "strong". We release them for 7 hours. I go stuff myself with a Patty Melt from IHOP to chase away the blues. I NEVER eat breakfast. We worry. 2:45 couldn't come soon enough. They survived and so did we.
Within the WEEK, they all of a sudden need us no longer. They are eating lunch in the cafeteria. They tell me EVERY morning how they are big boys and want to ride the bus. They tell me they want to walk into the school ALL by themselves. They are ALREADY talking about the 1st grade. By God, I've done all this STUFF for you all along and now you want to grow up on me in a week. How dare they!
They can actually do SOME stuff without Dad's help huh? Sadly, they can and I HAVE to let them in order for them to mature properly, gain life experience, and learn responsibility.
I KNOW, they are only 5. But don't soon forget that "just yesterday", I was staring down baby formula and the mess it leaves behind. Before we can figure it all out, they'll be walking across the High School and College graduation stage. Careers. Grandkids. I'll be headed toward retirement. GEEZ... "Tomorrow" comes so quickly. That's why Echo and I have to make EVERY day count with our kids. I want them to know beyond a shadow of doubt that we love them unconditionally.
Stay with me. Some areas I've matured in my walk with Jesus. Other spheres I'm extremely elementary. There are some areas of my life the LORD has basically said, "Hey Jeff, your big enough to handle this one. I've given you the training, my Spirit, and some real-life experiences to get you by." Other realms, I get hand-walked all the way. I THINK I'm ready, but Dad knows best. He just keeps telling me how proud He is of me. He assures me I'm gonna do great. He proceeds to remind me to be good again and again. Tricky thing sometimes this going from infancy to adult.
After all the clean-ups and teaching, one day I'll graduate. "Well done good and faithful..." And to think, the Ancient of Days doesn't even think about the retirement aspect. ;)
Father of Kindergartners,
jEFF m
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