The Tough Get Going.

Tough.  It's an interesting word.  One that describes all sorts of situations.  From days with children who have meltdowns to days where I miss them so much while they're at school.  Tough stands for that moment when my child is so sad that he or she can't hold it together enough to communicate his or her feelings and tough stands for that moment I drop my child off at school and have to walk out the door because lingering causes him to get upset.  Tough stands for how I'm going to manage a summer with children who are so used to routine and tough stands for children (and me) who are so ready for summer that getting ready in the morning has become a tedious task.  Tough stands for everyday.  Because let's be real.  I love my children, with every ounce of my being, but being a parent is... TOUGH.  And we all know that with the tough, comes the not so tough.  The amazing.  The beauty. The love.  Oh man, the love.

I don't expect to stroll through life without the tough days, but I do expect, (hope) them to get easier.  I hope that one day my children and I will have a clearer line of communication and the meltdowns will be less frequent.  I know the tough will translate into other moments and like the current I will "get going" on handling those also.  I also cry.  I think it's important.  I cry when I need to, although almost never in public or around friends.  I will admit though that the other day I was having an exceptionally tough day and instead of driving my children home from our lunch date I went into auto pilot and drove straight to one of my dearest friends house.  She opened the door and even though she had no idea we were coming she welcomed us with open arms.  And in her arms I fell.  And cried my eyes out.  And I gotta tell you - it felt damn good.  The tough day that had so recently caused me to just melt quickly "got going" and I felt better.  So grateful for understanding, kind, beautiful friends.  There is nothing better than letting out a good cry when a tough day comes to an end.  Emotions are good.  And good friends are even better.

Something my amazing daughter has taught me is to truly grasp the beauty of the rainbow.  I've always loved the colors, but her beautiful, free spirited soul has shown me something else.  The colors in the universe are splendid and capable of so much.  Sometimes they run and sometimes they gray.  But no matter what - at the end of a tough, ("rainy") day those colors appear to remind us of just that. And when the going get tough.  The tough get going.  Without fail.

My Krew.

Overcoming "the tough" one day at a time.