Monday, April 21, 2008

slowing down

Basking in the afterglow of creativity that followed me home from the festival, I jumped out of bed at 4:30 this morning, eager to spend a few hours writing before the children got up. I wrote furiously as stories bubbled up for what felt like minutes, but glancing at the clock, two hours had gone by.

Darn.

Time to unload the dishwasher, shower, and ease myself back into the reality of mothering three little boys.

As I showered, I determined to hold onto this creative energy. Move slower through this day, I told myself.

A lot of good that did me.



















































Apparently, things move fast around here.

Parenting tip for today: If your toddler comes to you looking for water to brush his teeth or soak a paper towel, give it to him. Or at the very least, close the bathroom door.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

So glad the festival was a feast. I'm looking forward to hearing more about what you have learned, and reading some of those words that are gushing out of you!

Llama Momma said...

Charity -- And I can't wait to see you at the next festival! You were missed at this one, though you're so right about the pacing -- I'm completely exhausted. Exactly what you don't need right now.

But I missed seeing you anyway.

Linda said...

Isn't it amazing how fast real life comes back at us? At first I thought I'd lost the glow from Calvin, but it's still there in the memories.

It was so nice getting to know you at Calvin--for real--and now I can read the rest of these entries!

Thanks for the nudges--I've finally posted something!

chrissy said...

Whoow! Wow! Whew! Life happens fast huh!?

Llama Momma said...

Linda -- It was great meeting you too! And, yes, life comes back fast...

Chrissy -- WAAAY too fast for my liking!

Anonymous said...

Did you end up with a clogged toilet, too? Do I sense a post-festival theme coming on? "Plunging" back into real life?

I love how two hours passed in what felt like no more than a few minutes. I think that some guy with a long eastern European name writes about "Flow." Hold on. Let me Google him.

Here it is:

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

You can see why I couldn't just tap it out off the top of my head. Anyway, that's one of his things--that when we get into a state of creative flow, we lose track of time. It happens when I read, and when I write.

Not when I plunge toilets or fold laundry.

I hope you produce lots of great material this week. It left my mind actively whirring.

Llama Momma said...

Ann -- that's it. Flow. I'm in this incredibly creative place and I don't want to let go of it. And, like you, I don't experience it when I'm doing laundry. :-)

No plugged toilet here, but my twenty-month old did resort to using toilet water to accomplish his projects yesterday, since mean mommy wouldn't give him any. Ahem.

L.L. Barkat said...

Hilarious. Well, at least from the view over here. : )

Llama Momma said...

LL -- it IS hilarious, isn't it? Perspective is always a good thing. Moving slower helps me see just how fast everything happens in my home, which gives me grace for myself. :-)

MamaToo said...

I love seeing reality and divine wisdom in the same woman... :) The pictures were exactly what I needed to know that real mothers exist outside my home.

grace to you and thanks for the sweet encouragement.