There are some weeks that are exceptionally hard. This has been one of them.Tuesday saw Daddy and the twins return to school: Daddy under a new principal and in the second cycle of a split grade; Hannah and Jacob in their first year of full-time school - good bye at 8:15am, hello at 3:20pm.
The days are peaceful with the two youngest as we putter around the house, read books, play at the park and enjoy the quiet of the afternoon.
But then the big yellow school bus crests our hill and deposits our two oldest at the corner.
Jacob comes belting off the bus dragging his new lunch bag along the asphalt eliciting Mommy's reprimand as the first encounter. Hannah comes next - tired and spent. Today, the first day of the weekend, she is asleep on the couch with a fever and a sore tummy.
Jacob's reaction is not as physical as that of his sister. Instead, he launches off the bus in full sail bringing a raging storm with him. He is hungry, tired, and ready to burst at the slightest provocation.
"I'm hot, Mom. Can I have ice cream?"
"Since when do we have ice cream after school?"
"Humph." Feet stomp. Face scowls. Voices are raised. Biggest boy is holed up in his room in tears. Mommy is on the other side in a mix of emotion. And so it goes. Again and again. By this point the weather system has spread to the others and the peacefulness of our home has been turned upside down.
By the time Daddy arrives home, the storm has settled and all four are restored and playing happily together in the yard. But Mommy feels ripped to pieces and Daddy comes home to find her, much like her son, ready to burst at the slightest provocation.
And she does. The next morning.
But she doesn't quite know how to say what she wants to say, or what will help; so we pile into the van and go to Madonna House to find coloured bottles for the new nature table.
Token errand used as excuse to visit oasis of peace.
But we really go to meet Her.
We walk down the wooded path to the Shrine of Our Lady of Combermere and Jacob, in full cowboy gear, runs to the statue and throws his arms around Her waist. Benjamin, in imitation of his older brother, does the same. Hannah stares up at the Gentle Mother and places her hand gently on Her waist. Joseph, walking ahead of his daddy, turns back and grasps his father's hand and smilingly brings him to the Mother. Daddy places his hand in Her's - the habit of a life lived under Her Mantle. Mommy, who has always felt slightly awkward with public displays of affection, follows the lead of her children and that of her husband and places her hand on the coolness of the statue. She is thankful that she is wearing sunglasses as she whispers, "Help us, please."
And She does.
And She will.
Our little ship is in stormy seas; but we have a sure guide, a solid refuge and a lasting peace.
4 comments:
Thank you so much for this post. This was just beautiful, and just what I needed to hear (or...read).
As we drove home from my in-laws' house tonight, the moon was heavy and low in the sky, and just as I was reflecting on how the moon can teach us about Our Lady's role, Norah spotted it. "Oh... WOW" she said. I hope as she grows to know Our Lady (as your kids do), she will have even more wonderment and awe.
What a beautiful post Elena! We were at MH yesterday, and as I sat on the bench praying before Our Lady of Combermere, with the breeze blowing off the Madawaska and the sun shining, the chipmunks chirping, jays squawking (we have neither creature here), peace filled me. Indeed, Our Lady runs to meet our families, and covers us all in her mantle. I too, wanted to put my arms around her waist like Jacob did. I have a beautiful mental picture of how you all must have looked together. I needed a tissue for this post :)
Oh Elena, your last week sounds like the week I'd had previously. Trust me when I say they will get used to the full days (and they do pack them so full) soon and will settle into a routine. Your twins sound like our girls (I get asked for ice cream most days after school!). Clara carries a lot of her stress in her body and she gets sick like Hannah. We find that letting her nap (even just on the couch) after school before homework really helps. They may even need to go to bed earlier. okay, enough of my advice which you didn't ask for.
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