Crazy is our new normal.
Crazy
is
our
new
normal
.
With two teenage boys and three little boys, our family is restless--to the baseball field, track field and piano lessons.
With
two
teenage
boys
and
three
little
boys
,
our
family
is
restless
--
to
the
baseball
field
,
track
field
and
piano
lessons
.
Even though we've limited each boy's activities and try our best to defend our family time, it seems that we're in a constant state of flight.
Even
though
we
've
limited
each
boy
's
activities
and
try
our
best
to
defend
our
family
time
,
it
seems
that
we
're
in
a
constant
state
of
flight
.
"Embrace it.
``
Embrace
it
.
Roll with it," my husband, Lonny, says, "It's going to be like this for a while."
Roll
with
it
,
''
my
husband
,
Lonny
,
says
,
``
It
's
going
to
be
like
this
for
a
while
.
''
He is right.
He
is
right
.
It's likely that life will continue to go forward before it slows down.
It
's
likely
that
life
will
continue
to
go
forward
before
it
slows
down
.
But I remembered the still, quiet days that our family used to enjoy.
But
I
remembered
the
still
,
quiet
days
that
our
family
used
to
enjoy
.
I missed long walks through the park when we held the boys' little hands.
I
missed
long
walks
through
the
park
when
we
held
the
boys
'
little
hands
.
I longed for lazy Saturday afternoons under the tree in our backyard.
I
longed
for
lazy
Saturday
afternoons
under
the
tree
in
our
backyard
.
I wanted to slip back a few years, when busyness was the exception and not the rule.
I
wanted
to
slip
back
a
few
years
,
when
busyness
was
the
exception
and
not
the
rule
.
One night, after a particularly full day and evening games, our family gathered on the porch for ice cream.
One
night
,
after
a
particularly
full
day
and
evening
games
,
our
family
gathered
on
the
porch
for
ice
cream
.
Two parents, two teens, and three small boys piled on one old swing and a couple of rocking chairs.
Two
parents
,
two
teens
,
and
three
small
boys
piled
on
one
old
swing
and
a
couple
of
rocking
chairs
.
We were together, in one place, for a small slice of time.
We
were
together
,
in
one
place
,
for
a
small
slice
of
time
.
The moon was full.
The
moon
was
full
.
The Mississippi River, flowing past our home, was smooth as glass.
The
Mississippi
River
,
flowing
past
our
home
,
was
smooth
as
glass
.
I wrapped my own arms around the son who sat on my lap and breathed deeply to inhale his little-boy scent--dirt and sweat.
I
wrapped
my
own
arms
around
the
son
who
sat
on
my
lap
and
breathed
deeply
to
inhale
his
little-boy
scent
--
dirt
and
sweat
.
My heart was still and content.
My
heart
was
still
and
content
.
I realized that while crazy is our new normal happiness is as usual.
I
realized
that
while
crazy
is
our
new
normal
happiness
is
as
usual
.
They may look different from before, but they are still there--even if they're in the form of a single moment on the porch.
They
may
look
different
from
before
,
but
they
are
still
there
--
even
if
they
're
in
the
form
of
a
single
moment
on
the
porch
.
Maybe I just need the eyes to see.
Maybe
I
just
need
the
eyes
to
see
.
Crazy is our new normal. With two teenage boys and three little boys, our family is restless--to the baseball field, track field and piano lessons. Even though we've limited each boy's activities and try our best to defend our family time, it seems that we're in a constant state of flight.  "Embrace it. Roll with it," my husband, Lonny, says, "It's going to be like this for a while."  He is right. It's likely that life will continue to go forward before it slows down. But I remembered the still, quiet days that our family used to enjoy. I missed long walks through the park when we held the boys' little hands. I longed for lazy Saturday afternoons under the tree in our backyard. I wanted to slip back a few years, when busyness was the exception and not the rule.  One night, after a particularly full day and evening games, our family gathered on the porch for ice cream. Two parents, two teens, and three small boys piled on one old swing and a couple of rocking chairs. We were together, in one place, for a small slice of time.  The moon was full. The Mississippi River, flowing past our home, was smooth as glass. I wrapped my own arms around the son who sat on my lap and breathed deeply to inhale his little-boy scent--dirt and sweat. My heart was still and content.  I realized that while crazy is our new normal happiness is as usual. They may look different from before, but they are still there--even if they're in the form of a single moment on the porch. Maybe I just need the eyes to see.