~Dear Mama Friends~

Dear Mama Friends,

I'm writing this farewell letter to all my sweet Mama Friends whose kids are getting back to it tomorrow or whenever. It pains me to say it but it's already that time again. It's like we are all about to be swallowed up and I miss you already.

School is starting. And if that were it, JUST school, there would be no need for this note. BUT.
We all know that's not it. Couldn't be that simple.

There's school, homework, parties, fundraisers, fall festivals, work, football, soccer, cheer leading, ballet, gymnastics, tennis, coaching, teaching, piano, guitar, violin, traveling, holidays, supper, board meetings, early risings, exercising, husbands, packing lunches, signing forms, folders, binders, laundry, and sleeping.

All that. ALL THAT is the reason I feel the need to say this:

I love you. I love that we are all in this together. Please forgive me when I forget to call you back or worse still, don't even hear the phone ring because I'm on it, emailing a poor, unsuspecting teacher that my child or I may be doomed to failure and that all I'm asking is that she not kick us out. 

If you pass me in the car, as I speed out of the neighborhood on two wheels, you wave, and I don't wave back, it's not on purpose. Don't call the police. I'm not texting. I'm most likely looking for a good place to turn around to go back and get the lunch box somebody forgot. 

If I call you crying, or ranting, please humor me and listen. I'm sorry ahead of time. I'm prone to a weak moment every now and again and try as I might to limit my verbal vomit to Brad, my mom, or sister, there is the rare occurrence that they are all unavailable. In that instance, you girls are up. So be ready. Remind me that it's going to be okay. And with the curveballs life is sure to throw me, you'll still love me. If my sweet kids go loco, you'll still love me. I promise to still love you. My Steele Magnolias.

So, as we pass each other  at 7:30 a.m. in our kid heavy SUV's, make-upless,  baseball caps pulled down low, smile and say a prayer. 

"Lord, bless my crazy friend. She is as busy as I am and we all need a little extra mercy from You. Help us to find peace in the busy and give us the wisdom to know when to stop what. Help us not loose sight of our purpose and calling. Show us how to train these precious kids you've loaned us. They are 100% our primary job right now and we want to do it right.
Amen." 

~stacey