get down on their level. or get in the snow.

It was a good morning. Make that a great morning. We started homework early and I sat with the boys working on their spelling and reading. Our entire world was blanketed in snow — snow that has been strangely lacking and missing almost all winter. I could feel the energy and excitement in boys who were just itching to go outside.

Brennan was already wearing his boots at the table.

After I reminded him {countless times} to stop bumping his feet on my shins {after all he had on those heavy snowboots} I realized that perhaps the spelling words might need to be put on the shelf and the mittens pulled out of the bucket to go along with those blue boots instead. I looked at the boys, and at Grace working away, and I knew that at this moment I simply had to finish this lesson and then send them outside.

We bundled up. Gloves, boots, hats, snowpants, coats and again. One after another. I opened the door and sent them outside into the white winter wonderland. I stood there in my, oh, so very quiet, house and rested in those moments of peace. I watched them from my window over the kitchen sink, the same window on which my daffodils rest, and grinned as they tried to push that very heavy snow around attempting to make a snowman.

I knew what I needed to do.

I needed to grab my boots, my gloves, my big checkered hat, {no snowpants}, and go outside with them. Even though it was blissfully quiet in my house and I had some Teavana White Chai in my teacup. I knew I was to let go of this inside moment of quiet and go outside in that snow.

I threw on my stuff and wandered outside. Caleb saw me and let out a yell — you’re outside mom! you’re outside! Mom’s outside everybody!!! His little face filled with joy, with excitement. All because I put down my tea cup, and left the peace of inside, and gave of myself to be with him outside.

We started pushing snow around. Around and around and around we went. Our snowball grew and grew until the point where it took Caleb and I working together to even get it flipped one more time. One, two, three, push Mom! he’d yell as his little face beamed with pride. Finally, once it was as tall as Caleb, we stopped and started on the middle piece. This time we had to get Hannah to help lift piece two on the base. Then we rolled the head and placed it on top — taller than me. Gracie, Elijah, and Brennan joined in and their laughter filled the backyard.

I was having fun. Tons of fun. We laughed and ran and threw snowballs at each other. I fell in the snow and Elijah and Caleb pelted me with wet, drippy snow laughing with their mom. Their mom who was present and there and intentional with them. Who didn’t care that she was soaking wet or what the neighbors thought or that spelling words were sitting on the table.

I could have stayed inside sipping tea.

Instead I was doing life — being intentional and present with my children. It is critical. As each day passes and those little ones grow I’ve come to realize the absolute necessity of being present and getting down on their level to enjoy life with them. Peace and quiet will come, but they’ll be grown. Being a mother isn’t just about watching. It’s about doing, cultivating, sharing, giving, and living fully with those we’re blessed to call our children.

I was totally blessed.

{I am also totally sore.}

Now, every single time I look at that window {with the daffodils on the sill} and see that snowman,  I remember the joy found in an afternoon of intentionally playing with those kids . The blessings completely outweighed  a cup of chai and fifteen minutes of quiet. Friends, step back — put down what you are doing and enjoy life with your family in the now. The benefits are so worth the time. You WILL be blessed.

And, by the way, just so you know,  that snowman was huge.