Greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Things have been busy. I am still a working mom of three, working full time who is trying to make a difference. I do a lot of things and try to be present so that I can learn from them. I share them on this blog so that we can learn together.
Below are some thoughts, hacks, and/or lessons that I have learned from navigating my world.
"Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world."— Susan Lieberman
Traditions have a way of defining a family, provide stability and give hope. They are especially important for woking moms who spend so much time working to provide for their family that they may miss some of the "traditional" mom things like bake sales, volunteering at the book fair, and a host of actual and seemingly made up holidays. They are also important for families trying to reinvent themselves in the wake of divorce. I fall in both camps. So, I work hard to maintain traditions and provide my kids with a sense of normalcy.
Even though I cannot stand, pumpkin spice lattes, I do enjoy fall traditions. And, one tradition I have come to cherish over the years is our annual visit to the pumpkin patch. And, this year, we ventured out to the pumpkin patch again. However, this year, we visited with our Jack and Jill chapter!
This year’s visit came with a little twist. Our trio of kids became a duo for the day—our oldest was under the weather and had to stay home, snuggled up with blankets and cartoons. While we her humor, sharp wit and general teasing we all made the most of the day anyway.
It was a near perfect day. Renshaw Family Farms was bursting with color—rows of pumpkins in every shape and size, hay bales stacked like forts, and the sweet scent of donuts frying drifting through the air. There were a series of events to thrill. Apple launchers, hay bales to climb and a bouncing floor made for fun to be had by all!
We took a hay ride to the corn maze and as soon as the ride stopped, the kids raced away. The parents were close behind trying to keep up so that we did not lose them in the sea of corn! Peeling cobs of dried corn became a serious effort. It was fascinating to see how each kid worked hard to find the one that was just--perfect.
After that--and it lasted a long time--the kids climbed on tractors and more hay bales. Then my little guy became obsessed with picking out a pumpkin. We delayed the obligatory photo while he made his way through the pumpkin patch entranced with the intensity and focus of an actual farmer. Finally, he found one!
Visiting the pumpkin patch is a time to slow down, soak in the season, and make memories that stick like cotton candy on your fingertips. And we tried to enjoy all of the things. We took a series of photos, ate ice cream, and almost melted in a puddle of tears because the line for hot dogs was too long to endure.
There was laughter, joy and a lot of running. And while my daughter was missing, we had a good time and brought home extra stories to share with her. It's funny, even though she wasn't with us, her presence was woven into the fabric of the entire day. Sometimes traditions bend a little, but they never break—and that’s what makes them so special.
Here’s to fall, family, and finding joy in every season—even if you are reinventing your family as we are, day-by day.
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