That magical time of day

This morning I woke up early--before any toddlers needed me--and told myself, "just write."  I spend so much of my life these days doing mama-domestic duties.  And for the most part, I am grateful for this season in my life.  Although my girls keep me busy, this is still a quiet season of life in many ways.  There are many days when we have no scheduled events.  So no rushing off in the morning, and no racing to classes or activities.  We can go to the park whenever we feel like it!  On cold days, or days when Camila or Maya are sick, however, I sometimes feel restless, bored and a bit useless. 

Yesterday, Maya was finally getting over a virus, so we indulged my restlessness and went to the park in the late afternoon.  The sun started setting over the apartment buildings across the street and I was able to show the girls the moon for the first time (outside of book illustrations, that is) on our walk home.  I always love that magical time of day when day slips away and evening begins to emerge.  Since having children, I usually miss my old favorite time because I am busy making dinner or trying to pick up toys before Arturo comes home from work.  So yesterday it was a treat to be outside as we said goodnight to the day.  There was an extra magical element because I knew Arturo was on his way home from work and would be home for a four day Thanksgiving weekend!  So despite the lingering coughs and fevers, the magical fireflies were out in my heart in this moment!

I have learned in my year and a half as a mother to hold tight to the wonderful moments because they make those days when stay-at-home-mama-depression begins to set in more bearable.  And that is why I am writing today.  Because the depressing days are real and I think I need to find more of myself in daily life to help me not just survive this season of life but to fully enjoy and experience its treasures.  So even though I have another baby arriving any day now and life will get busier, I want to value my interests and personhood.  To that end, I am going to try to write and to sew and to write about sewing more than I have been doing.  I have taken the first step this Thanksgiving morning by forcing myself to "just write."