Yesterday I was cleaning the basement. Let’s be honest, it was a mess. After half a week of spring break, with no school, no cleaning, and sibling slumber parties, it was like a hurricane had blown through, leaving toys and clothes strewn in its path.
So I started my work. I didn’t feel like putting up the fight of making the children do it themselves (although I know I should have). Instead, I banished them to the backyard while I worked. Every once in a while they would come in “to get something” and I would bark in my most grumpy-I-mean-it way: Stay outside or you’re going to have to clean! or You better not be making a mess upstairs or else! or Do not come inside, you have to play outside!
After having barked adequately at each child that they actually believed me and had stayed away awhile, I was just finishing up Olivia’s room (the last of my cleaning for the afternoon) when I picked up her bed canopy (which had fallen down last week). Underneath I found a red kitchen towel, folded neatly. I unfolded that to put away what ever she was hiding.
Inside I found an Easter cake – a precious remnant of last week’s treats. They had been gone for days, so I thought. The first thing that came to my mind was “She’s hiding treats, the little turkey!”
And then, beneath that I found a coloring book. Olivia has been making coloring books for a while now – each one stapled together with little illustrations on each page.
And then I read the cover –
“All about me – Olivia. For Mom, Happy Easter” (Or something to that effect, I’ll requote this on Sunday).
Then I read the coloring book (I probably shouldn’t have, but I was instantly charmed and couldn’t put it down.)
The book told all sorts of interesting things about Olivia, complete with darling illustrations.
And then, beneath the coloring book, a card for me, telling me I was the best mom.
And then – there I sat, on the floor of Olivia’s room, my kids, scolded to trepidation to stay outside, and me, with a home made gift Olivia had concocted on her own, days before the holiday, wrapped and securely hidden away for its grand presentation on Easter morning.
And in that moment I felt at once both two inches tall and like a superhero all at the same time.
And it reminded me (again) – (and again) – that having the house clean is not nearly as important as having lovey happy children.
So I went right upstairs, and packed the lovies up, and off we went to IFA to get the seeds I had promised the kids I would get them so they could plant their own garden this weekend.
I sure can’t wait for Easter!
*I’ll update this post in a few days with pictures of the dear little book.