What is enough?
Teetering on tiptoes, I reached overhead...into unknown compartments stuffed with, well, stuff...to find the dry ingredients for chocolate chip cookies Sunday afternoon. In a slight sweat, my pulse raced in anticipation of almost-empty bags of flour and sugar. (After all, it has been a long time since those items had resurfaced on my weekly shopping list and I just promised my toddler we'd make a special treat.)
"Uhhhh; I hope we have enough," my sing-songy voice rose and then fell pancake-flat as my normally heavy canisters felt dauntingly light.
"What is enough?" Reid asked, not skipping a beat.
Like a unbalanced seesaw, my thoughts soared and bottomed out. Philosophical response or easy
one...philosophical one or easy one? The great parental debate.
"Enough is when you have exactly what you need," I replied sensing an immediate connection to his query..
"Enough," my little parrot chimed in.
Measuring out first the sugars and then the flour in full, I felt blessed beyond our mother-son baking experience. For months now we've been in a small, temporary apartment while we search for a new house. For as many days and nights, my husband and I have been at odds over where we'll grow our family. For many mealtimes, I've grumbled about not having all my utensils and bakeware and containers with matching lids for leftovers because most of our housewares are in storage. And, for many daydreams, I've pictured us...walking out of this experience fulfilled and richer for the struggle.
Even though our situation isn't exactly what I want right now, our needs are met. We're warm. We're clothed. We're together. {We're not stressed out by cleaning because our apartment is so small.} We have just the ingredients we need. Enough.
Write on,
b
You have what you need, so you have enough. I like that philosophy! I'm sure my husband wishes I followed that a little more closely. Good luck house hunting. I don't envy you.
ReplyDeleteI always take much away from your posts, b. Definitely we are receiving the philosophical! As you can see, I love "philosophical one or easy one? The great parental debate." I hope you find your new home soon, but small & cozy isn't all bad either, as you say. It certainly is easy cleaning. Having what you need is often just right.
ReplyDeleteYour son is lucky to be inheriting your perspective! This slice makes it clear that YOU are more than enough when it comes to slicing and (IMHO) parenting!
ReplyDeleteI just love your connection between the "easy one" and the philosophical one! I bet those cookies were even better in light of having enough.
ReplyDeleteGood reminder about enough, I was just having a discussion with a friend of mine about "being enough" and I love your phrase: enough is what is needed.
ReplyDelete