On this New Year’s Eve 2019, I think it’s safe to say most of us have been reflective of the past decade.
I was putting these sweet little leather boots on my youngest son today and noticed that the soles were coming apart. My oldest son, who is now 10, wore these sweet boots for a white Christmas. My second son wore them for playing in crisp fall leaves. My third son wore them as he tromped through puddles and climbed to heights never reached before by his for-brothers, and now my baby has the joy of being their last wearer as he runs to keep up with his older siblings.
My 2010’s were marked with roundabout 10,000 diaper changes, days and nights in a fuzzy pink and white striped bathrobe, time in the hospital and birthing center pushing out this boot wearing army, and around the clock nursing. Much like those little boots, I’ve seen some adventures in this big wide world; playful afternoons at the park, Saturday’s at the ball field, and mornings running a track pushing a double stroller, beside my running child and husband pushing another stroller!
These little boots are broken, and they’re about to be retired. Their decade of fun has come to an end, and so has my first decade as a mommy. It’s been amazing, and as I look to the 2020’s, which will mean tackling the excitement of multiple school age children, smelly teenagers and seeing a child hit adulthood, I only hope I have as much stamina and longevity as these little boots.
To the 2020’s! May they feel like the supple, worn leather of these little boots, and be broken in through the joy and hard work of learning what it means to face each new day with childlike innocence.