When you're expecting a baby, or even waiting for that positive pregnancy test, it's easy to look ahead into the future and just feel like you're w-a-i-t-i-n-g for the day to finally get here, the one you've been thinking about for months (or years!).
I am living that life of limbo right now. I have really great ways to pass my days; I love my work, my family keeps me busy and entertained, and there never seems to be a shortage of chores and errands to tend to.
You may also know that I'm preparing to ride my bicycle from one end of the country to the other. I have less than four weeks before I leave (I might have just gasped when I wrote that). I am also no longer on-call for birth doula work, which means that my energy and attention is fully in "go-mode" in regard to my bicycle trip.
But the thing is, I'm still a fully participating member of my family until I fly out in mid-May. I'm responsible for not only taking care of my bicycle preparations, but the care of my family and home, as well. That's not to say I do this on my own; my husband and I share pretty equally in our family and home responsibilities. I am still here, surrounded by end-of-school-year events for my children, laundry that never seems to quite be finished, bills that have to be paid. I still have lots of todays to live and manage. I have cabinets I want to organize, floors I want to clean, notes I want to make about our garden and general notes about the things I tend to take responsibility for, such as well-check appointments, prep for camp, and deep cleaning bathroom chores.
I have this day I've been thinking about, the day I fly out east, and then I have this whole summer where I'm thinking about the challenges and joys I'll experience. But if I keep my focus on those things, I will most definitely regret all of the todays I missed out on.