Karla’s Korner: Nine Months

I am proud to introduce a new column to Madame Deals! I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

Nine Months….

This past week was full of celebrations and emotions.  First, my daughter celebrated her 19th birthday by coming home from college and spending the night at home.  Later in the week we celebrated her last day of college and brought her home on Friday after successfully completing her first year with great success.  Also on Friday my preschoolers celebrated with their “Moving Up” ceremony by performing special songs for family and friends.  And while these were all celebratory occasions, I found myself crying at each one.  For those who know me it is no big surprise that I cried, I cry quite often.  But as I reflected on the week and the significance of each event I realized that each one has a common thread.   Nine months.

For nine months I carried my daughter in pregnancy.  I spent nine months communicating with her in a way that only a mother could.  I remember how often she had the hiccups or how she jumped at the sound of music.  Today, she loves music, owns three guitars and has a beautiful soulful singing voice.  Those first nine months belonged to just the two of us.  So as she celebrated her birthday I remembered those nine months and the years that followed.  She has grown into an incredible young woman who has forged her own way in her own way.    Nine months ago, I wrote about taking her to college and the grief I felt as she walked away from me to begin life on her own.  That day, August 20, 2011 was the first day of her first year of college and the beginning of a nine month journey for both of us.  As we loaded her stuff into my car and drove away I couldn’t help but remind myself that summer is short and soon it will be August again and I will return my girl and her stuff (including that ugly lime green rug) back to school for another nine month stay.

For nine months, I had the privilege of teaching my class of preschoolers.  This year was unique because I had the privilege of teaching what I like to call “repeat” children.  No, they didn’t fail preschool or get held back, they are siblings of children I have taught previously.  Out of the 15 students I had this year, seven were repeats.  As a matter of fact, I remember when several of them were born.  For nine months I have nurtured, loved, taught, laughed, cried, celebrated and learned with these children.  In those nine months they became part of my life and on Friday, they marched off the stage into their parent’s arms and out of my classroom; but not out of my heart.

Thinking about the commonality of nine months in my life’s events, I am reminded how quickly time passes and how quite often we think we are never going to make it through adversities when in reality those adversities are not usually as bad as we think they are.  Time has a way of ticking by whether we want it to or not.  What’s important is how we use the time in between that really matters.  Making each day that we have count for something is important.  Had I sat around for the past nine months sad and wallowing in my daughter’s absence I would have wasted the opportunities I had to make a difference.  As much as I missed her being at home, I knew that it was her time to shine and my time to continue on at home with my son and husband and focus on the life I have to live.  I am however, happy to have her home.

As I thought about the relevance of time and how important it is that we use it to the best of our ability and not waste it with anxiety or the worry of what is going to happen next, I came across a quote by Muhammad Ali: “Don’t count the days, make the days count”.  What are you going to do to make your days count?  For me, I will strive to take each day I am given and fill it with good thoughts, good deeds and good memories.  After all, summer is only three months long and soon the next nine months will begin with my daughters return to college and a brand new group of three year olds will march through my classroom door and no doubt into my heart.  Make your days count; no matter what you do, do it with a purpose!

Peace,
Karla

 

Check out all of Karla’s Korner articles here.

Also, please visit Karla’s Lifetime Moms page and read her articles.