Learning About Limitations....an "Aside" Lab

We bring you a minor interruption to the CollageLAB schedule.......

So this weeks "lab" is a little side step from the book but still a lesson to be found in here somewhere.  My husband (Lowell) and I traveled to South Carolina this past weekend from Massachusetts to attend the graduation of the middle child (Jenna) at CCU.  It was an amazing way to spend the mother's day weekend, surrounded by all of my children and their significant others and extended family as we all proudly watched Bean as she is known to us, walk the walk of Magna Cum Laude on Saturday morning under the blue skies of coastal South Carolina.  The afternoon was a flurry of celebratory lunch, laughter, jokes,  packing boxes and cars full of the school experience then off to watch the CCU baseball team (4th in the nation) bring home yet another big win this season.  Being the baseball family that we are, it was the perfect end to the perfect day. 

 Mother's Day was spent with my kids on the beach, eating (way to much) and really, just being together before we all popped back in the cars and headed up the coast again to our various locations, (West VA, PA, MA and CT).  I couldn't have asked for anything more.  A short introduction to my family (sans "the boyz")

     [me, Leila, Rian, Paul, Jesse, Jenna, Corey & Lowell]

On Tuesday after depositing the newly graduated daughter's belongings (along with her and her fiance, Paul) at their new home in CT, where Jenna started graduate school yesterday.  All the time I'm wondering why is she pushing herself, why not take a break and enjoy the summer?

Apparently, apples (or nuts as my children like to say) don't fall far from the tree.  Last night when I got home from work at 6:30 I realized that I had the following on my plate for the evening; Lab work and post blog, make the four new pillows for the couch so that they match the party decor for Sunday's graduation party, clean my apartment (where we live in Nantucket),  laundry and pack for my trip down to PA after work today.

This is on the heels of leaving work last Thursday night (the 5th), hopping the ferry to the mainland and driving to PA, arriving at midnight, then hopping in the car Friday morning and driving the 10 hours to SC.  7:30 am arrive at graduation, have a great weekend with family, hop back in the car at 7:30 am to drive to PA, pet the dogs and remind them who I am, sleep, hop back in the car and drive back to MA, hop on a plane because I missed the ferry (hazards of living 30 miles out to sea)....back to work at 6:30 am Weds morning and working 3 12 hour days because when you work for a landscaping company in the spring that's what we do....and now, I am headed back down to PA after work to throw a party at our home in PA on Sunday to celebrate the graduation.

Somewhere in my brain I thought I could do it all.  Obviously, my limitations have been breached and choices have to be made.  I am not offering this up as an excuse as to why the lab isn't posted today.  There is no excuse...I simply planned poorly and put too much on my plate, for that I apologize.

The difference is, instead of stressing out and feeling guilty about it, I thought as I was sewing pillows and washing clothes last night that there is a lesson in all of this. 

We all fill our lives with obligations and commitments and set ourselves up to disappoint and be disappointed by doing so when we over extend ourselves and breach our limitations.  We WANT to do it all...there is some driving need in women to "do it all".  Especially women of our generation(s).  The supermom who works full time and still takes care of the needs of the family and still "has a life".

Where do we find time for what we want and what's important to us?.  The truth is, it's all important, the family, the work, ourselves and the art.  For me, the art is what enables me to get through all the rest of it with energy and care....it's the carrot that I dangle in front of me.

 
With all of this in mind, I am looking forward to the weekend of more graduation flurry but selfishly, I am looking forward to returning to Nantucket on Monday and settling back into my simpler life of work and art and my boyz (Lowie and the dogs)....a quiet rhythm found that will encourage and stroke the muse within.  By not posting my lab as planned, I haven't killed anyone, this isn't brain surgery so I figured out that I need to be kinder to myself and more tolerant of my shortcomings when they surface.  In other words, be as understanding to me as I am to others.  So, that is the lab for this week....Find ways to forgive yourself, make room for the important things and know that as long as you're happy and loving those around you to the best of your ability it's okay not to do it all.

In the meantime....please remember to post a comment to last week's lab to be eligible to receive the Budda piece.  AND don't forget about your ATCs....would love to start posting them soon.  That quiet rhythm didn't last too long did it?

Comments

[Musica]

My most sincere congratulations for having graduated, and that is something that everyone dreams in life and very few get to achieve.

[Chicago Cubs jerseys]

I read with great interest.Your article looks great! I love it.

[deb]

Hello!

I just stumbled across your blog and wanted to say hi!
I just love your thoughts here and agree with them totally. We can't do it all but that doesn't stop us from trying. :)

[ugg.com]

Thank you for the article, I saw after the enlightened, my idea like you, just not good at expression