Today isn’t particularly special. It’s just a Thursday. Its nobody’s birthday. There’s nothing written on the calendar (which by itself seems somewhat special).
It’s just Thursday.
But it feels different.
Better.
It’s the first Thursday of summer break for Maddie. And this is the first time I haven’t been working during summer break. We are busy all of the time, in fact, I think I’m busier now then I was when I was working, but it’s different. There’s no real schedule to our busyness. I’ve been working hard in the yard and house getting ready to put it up for sale. I’ve been helping my in-laws with their house renos. I’ve been helping my cousin get ready for her wedding. But none of that requires a timed schedule.
And I am loving it.
Right now it is 24 degrees, the sky is partly cloudy, but those happy, wispy, summery clouds that you just know mean its a beautiful day. I am sitting at the park, it’s farmers market day so this place is bustling.
And it’s amazing.
The grass is covered in blankets and towels and families. The spray park is filled with kids who don’t care that they don’t know each other, they’re just happy to be playing together. There is a gentleman playing his guitar and singing behind me. There are vendors selling jams, breads, cookies, honey, vegetables, fruits, crafts, the crunchiest most delicious crackers ever, organic home raised meats, baby bunnies, pretty much anything you could ever imagine.
We came down here to meet my cousin for lunch and to wander the market. While we were here Maddie ran into one of her best friends who was playing in the spray park and she begged me to stay. We already had lunch plans so we couldn’t but I told her we would talk about it later (which, to be perfectly honest, is usually what I say when I’m hoping she’ll forget!).
Normally I would have things I NEEDED to do. Things that required us to be away from this amazing park. Things that would leave Maddie playing by herself. But this time I didn’t. Out of habit, I started to say “not today” and then she asked me “why not?”.
And I didn’t have an answer.
Why was I saying no? Our house is clean (not that that is as important as putting a smile on my beautiful daughters face), my cousin didn’t need any help today, I’m not needed at my in-laws house until tomorrow. Why couldn’t we spend the afternoon at the park?
So we ate lunch. We went home and she changed into her bathing suit, I grabbed my computer (thank you MacBook, knew you were a wise investment!) and my big comfy fold-up chair and headed back to the park.
Best decision I have made in a long time.
While I type this I can hear my daughters infectious laughter. She has the kind of laugh that makes everyone around her laugh too. She’s out-going, hyper, creative, enthusiastic about everything, and extremely loud at times, but she rarely has a bad day and she is NEVER in a bad mood. She’s the kind of kid who lights up every room she walks into, usually because she has to be the centre of attention and she is honestly the funniest person I know. She’s 8 now, and the last 8 years have flown by. She’ll be a teenager before I know whats happening so I’m trying to soak in all of these moments. Maddie has never met a person she didn’t like and we always joke that she is just like her grandfather – there is no such thing as a stranger, just a friend they haven’t met yet. Which means that every single kid in the spray park, whether they are 2 or 15, is her friend and playmate. She never discriminates against age, sex, or colour. If you’re willing to play with her, you’re her friend. The world could learn some things from her.
And as I look around me, at the families lounging in the grass, at the vendors selling their wares, at my amazing daughter I feel so grateful for my life.
I am so grateful to my incredible husband (still feels weird saying that!) who works so hard so that I can be home with Maddie until I decide what I want to do with my life. I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place that still feels like a safe place to raise our daughter. I am so grateful to have 3 beautiful children (2 of them are adults I don’t see nearly often enough!).
I am just grateful.
And happy.
Deleriously, blissfully, joyfully, happy.