"Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes, The rest sit 'round it and pluck blackberries."

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh

Thursday, August 18, 2011

On how to do your laundry...

This is how I liked to do laundry: every single load on one day. 
This was my reasoning: I only have to do it once a week and then it is done. 
This is what my mother said: "You should do one load of laundry every day." 
This is what I said:  "No thank you.  I like it my way."  (Insert M's whiny "my" if you'd like.)


This is what happened about one month ago:  I decided to try doing one load of laundry every day instead of doing it all on one day.  I do not remember why I tried, but I remember that it WAS NOT because I was listening to my mother.  (Insert M's opinionated "No I didn't" if you'd like.)
This is how I felt about it:  "This is great!"
This is why I thought that:

1.  I cut the amount of trips up and down the stairs carrying big heavy laundry baskets down significantly.
2.  Laundry was almost over before it began.  I can usually fold yesterday's load while putting today's load in.
3.  We are not left with our most worn-out, unmatching clothes for the end of the week.
4.  Our clothes are not wrinkled from sitting in the laundry baskets while I get around to folding them.


This is how I felt about sending E to kindergarten: Not excited.
This is what I did last year when I could have sent E to kindergarten: I didn't.
This is how I felt, and continue to feel about that decision: Great!
This is what my mother said about sending E to kindergarten (and Justin, and everyone else): You should send E to kindergarten.


This is how long I stewed about sending E to public school kindergarten: 1 1/2 years.
This is what I considered doing instead: homeschooling.
This is why:  I could not figure out why - if I believe that it is my sacred duty to teach my children, which I do - I was sending her away for the major portion of the day to get this learning from someone else.


This is what I knew deep inside me: That even if I really felt the above to be true, E was supposed to go to public school kindergarten.
This is when I finally knew it was I supposed to do: In the Temple right after little Clark left us, when I sat and thought about my children.
This is what I did: I signed E up for kindergarten.


This is how E feels about kindergarten: GREAT! (Do not be fooled by those frightened faces below.  She has been dying for this day to come.)
This is how Justin feels about kindergarten: GREAT!
This is how I feel about kindergarten: Slightly irritated, but content that it is the right thing.
This is how my mother feels about kindergarten (and everyone else):  It's about time!







This is: E off to kindergarten

This is what E is wearing: Her "Hello Kitty" shirt from Grandma, her purple pants ("I will wear all purple today") and her "Hello Kitty" socks.  She made sure to keep her socks up high enough on her legs that you can see her socks.  Justin was WAAAYYYY excited.  Me?  I like the personality of her dress choices.  And hey, I never knew how to be trendy anyway.


You know...

I have a feeling it will turn out like the laundry.
I will like it better than I thought.

8 comments:

Annie said...

Way to be strong Jamie! I was all for waiting a year to send her to Kindergarten. :)

Libbi said...

She looks so darling:)
I hope you are feeling good, and I hope she loves it. Olivia starts 7th grade in the morning and Annie 1st grade on Tuesday......and Samson is going forever - BOOHOO!

Donna said...

This is such a good post!
She's going to love school!

nielsons*love*family said...

well she look adorable. i cried like a baby when ALL My kids left for kindergarten. i guess i'm just a baby. :O)

Jessica and Danny said...

Oh my goodness how exciting! I wish I could have given her a big hug and kiss before she went off to her first day. She's going to knock their hello-kitty socks off with her smarts!

Paula Wood said...

All I have to say is that I AM CRYING!!!!

Being a grandma HURTS MY HEART...ALMOST ALL THE TIME!!!

TOOOOO MUCH LOVE!!!

THANKS FOR SHARING ALL OF THIS, JAMIE!

You will only know how much it means when YOU HAVE GRANDKIDS SOOO FAR AWAY AND MISS THEM SOOOO MUCH and hopefully one of your children or grandchildren will do this for YOU like you are doing it for us (well, you probably aren't doing it FOR US, but we still are benefitted as much as if you were doing it FOR US and I am JUST AS GRATEFUL!!!!!!)

THANK-YOU THANK-YOU THANK-YOU!

Love,
Lonely Grandma Paula

Mark & Bek said...

Amazing. Keep us updated on how it goes. I am glad we are not at the point where we have to start making big decisions about school.

The Sorensens said...

So glad it went well and that you are feeling okay about the whole thing. I hope Ava's goes as well. She is still nervous.