Is anybody out there?

Things are going to slow down this summer; I say so.
Cause, you know I have control over everything, you know. NOT!

It has been a pretty busy year. We've had Sarah join our homeschool, so there are three to teach.  Well, offically, I mean. What part of parenting doesn't include teaching?

I mean, we need to train our kids to be polite, use their manners, do their chores, and of course the ever popular lesson for toddlers: don't hand me the entire contents of your diaper, from your bare hand to my bare hand. Please, please just use the potty.

But I digress.

Parenting is hard work. There is the never ending steam of household chores, the children to train and raise, and for some, we also take responsibility for the schooling of the children. It's an endless stream of busy that can leave you feeling as though you're treading water and not sure you're gonna make it.
Nearing the end of the school year is like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for me.
Here comes the lifeboat;)

For me, The baby is now a year old, and *this close* to sleeping through the night. I can feel it.
I have one child finished their school year, and a couple hot on their heels. There *is* the foregone conclusion that marking will be involved, but then maybe be can settle down some and actually get out to enjoy some outdoor time. And, there is the pat on the back that comes with catching up a child that was struggling enough that you had to start the school year over at one point. Whether anyone else acknowledges the work you put in, YOU know that the work will be worth it.

Our summer will still include learning, make no mistake, it's impossible with the limitless curiousity of the group we have here.... They come by it honestly. It's hereditary.
What some people call nosey, I call inquisitive, and really, isn't that the way it should be?
I once heard someone say that if you stop learning, you stop growing.
I would agree with that statement.
But, I have to say that I am going to enjoy a slower pace. It will be my saving grace, not to be pushed by the concept of how many lessons left til the end of the year; whether we've got a certain concept covered well enough, or even whether I'm living up to other people's expectations.

I think it's important to have that time to take the pressure off. To refill the pitcher that is your life so you can continue to pour out to the ones around you.
One thing that refills my pitcher is to know I'm not alone in this thing. To know there is someone else out there that has had struggles and has survived. To hear that it's possible to do the hard thing and make it, no, thrive. To be encouraged to keep on, not quit, find answers, and hang on just one minute longer than the hard times last.

Sometimes we as people want to just be encouraged.  In the dark times, sometimes we internally want to say "Is anybody out there?". Somebody? Anybody?

With this in mind, I think I'm gonna purpose to find the people in need of encouragement. Make a point of saying something uplifting to them. I've heard it might just change their whole day. And on the worst of days, who couldn't handle being told they're doing something right?
Who knows? It might just fill their pitcher a little too....