A Mama’s Heart Knows the Rainbow is Coming

Our governor announced our state’s “back to school” plan this week, and as I listened I could feel the tears well up in my eyes. I blinked them back.

I was expecting it. I knew (have known for a while) that there would most likely be nothing “normal” about school this fall . . . maybe even this school year.

Still, hearing it was disappointing.

My little girl walked in as he was finishing up and she asked me, “Mama, what will school be like this year? Will we get to go back like normal?”

Unlike me at her age, my daughter loves school. She has the best time, and she loves learning.

I explained that there are still some unknowns as each county has a bit of flexibility, but that there would certainly be some differences this year. We began to talk through what some of those may look like and her eyes teared up as she walked over into my arms.

I hugged her close and felt every ounce of her disappointment and sadness. Though there are certainly much bigger things in this world, much harder things, I understand how she feels.

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She wants to play with friends again. She wants to eat lunch in the cafeteria. She wants to swing on the swings and play ball during PE. She wants to see a friend and be able to hug them. She wants to work with a group of friends on a project and not have to worry if she’s standing six feet apart. She wants to laugh.

I want that for her and for my soon-to-be-kindergartner as well. When I think of my little boy starting school and what his first year will probably look like, it hurts my heart.

Because it all matters to a mama’s heart, doesn’t it?

Even though we know there are many more difficult things in this life, it matters to us because their hearts matter to us. We care so deeply about how they feel. We want what’s best for our children.

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As I stood there today hugging my little girl, I reminded her of a few things. First, I reminded her that we don’t know all the details yet and that we shouldn’t get too upset when there are still so many unknowns.

I also reminded her that it’s OK to feel disappointed—that I feel disappointed a lot too.

And then I said this, “Baby girl, in life there are seasons and some seasons are harder than others. Some seasons hold heartaches and disappointments, but they are seasons. They will pass. But even in these times, when things feel disappointing or hard, we have to remember that there is still so much good and so many things to be thankful for.”

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And I think this is a good reminder for us as parents as well. It’s OK for us to feel frustrated with all that’s going on in the world. It’s OK to feel disappointed. We just need to remember all the good . . . and there is still good.

At the end of the day, I can’t change much of what’s happening in our world right now, but I can control my attitude. I can control the tone I set in our home.

And I can try my best to help my children learn lessons during these challenging times that will help them as they grow up.

Tough seasons don’t last forever.

Storms come and go.

And thanks be to God, there are always rainbows.

Originally published on No Mama’s Perfect