I feel like I spend my life rushing through the various elements of my day.  Pushing through breakfast, teethbrushing, laundry, dressing three boys + myself, snacks, lunches, laundry, school drop-off, doctor visits, paperwork, bills, laundry, school pick-up, homework, laundry, snacks, more homework, more laundry, dinner, dishes, baths, teethbrushing, laundry, bedtime, lay down, close eyes, sleep for what seems like ten minutes…..then begin it all again at 6:30 the following day.

Today, it dawned on me that while all those mundane things are the repetitive footprints that form my day….there are far more moments that I wish I could slow way down, or even hold still by capturing them in a little snow globe.  I have noticed over the past year or so that Sam has all but outgrown his open-armed appreciation of a good costume in lieu of ordinary Clark Kent streetwear.  Even last year, when we would drop the big boys at school, Sam would think nothing of throwing on a spidey costume, or donning a cape and mask.  Then slowly, he seemed to become self-conscious.  Not embarrassed so much, as acutely aware of other people’s awareness of him.  Alas, I don’t mind him owning some personal responsibility, but I had hoped that he would hold tight to that spark of originality that allowed him to feel confident in his penguin hat or Flash suit.

So, this morning my heart skipped a beat when we couldn’t find his regular jacket and all I could find was a Super Grover sweatshirt that we made two Halloweens ago.  I asked him if that would do, and he said, “Sure!”  He grabbed the hat, too, and  out the door we raced.  I know he won’t be doing this much longer.  I wanted to stop time for a moment.  It felt good just holding on to that scene in the snowglobe for a moment.