live in the moment

This isn’t necessarily a New Year’s Resolution to live in the moment, although it’s something I could certainly practice more often. Rather, it’s a funny story about Kelly, her recent visit with siblings, and her incessant questioning about what is going to happen next.

Kelly never stops asking us what we are going to do next, and then what, and then what, from waking up to going to bed again. And once we’ve run down the whole day for her, she starts asking all over again, all day long. Sometimes we look at her like, “Are you serious? Yes, we’re going to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner just like we have done every day for the past year.” But we also understand that she has her own issues to battle and needs that sense of security of knowing exactly what is going to happen to her.

Last week her siblings were visiting from Mississippi and we all drove downtown to go ice skating. Here’s the conversation Kelly and I had while standing in line for skates.

K – Mommy, are we going ice skating?

M – Yes Kelly, see the ice skating rink?

K – And after that what we gonna do?

M – We’re going to get hot chocolate.

K – And after that what we gonna do?

M – We’re going to go home.

K – And after we go home what we gonna do?

M – Play. And it’s ok, you don’t need to worry about it.

K – Mommy, after we go ice skating what we gonna do.

M – Get hot chocolate.

K – And after that what we gonna do?

M – Go home and play and you don’t need to worry about anything.

K – Mommy, what we gonna do after ice skating?

M – OH MY GOSH KELLY. Just live in the moment!

K – Mommy, after we live in the moment what we gonna do?

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And here’s to everyone. Happy New Year and may we all, including Kelly, learn to live in the moment.