My boys had been begging me for days to take them to the park. I finally agreed to a nice afternoon at the park and away we went.
When we got to the park, I picked a bench in the partial shade where I could see them from just about every angle. My job was to sit and watch and relax. I listened for the non-stop, “Mom, watch!” and just sat. It felt good to just stop for a while. We had had several busy weeks and it felt nice just to be.
After only a few moments of sitting on the bench, a young mom asked if she could sit at the other end. Of course, she could. We made small talk and tended to our children as they came up to their respective moms with various needs.
Then we began talking about any subject that came up. Her recent Disney trip and what she would do differently, her moves (as her husband is in the service), the names of our children, the playgroup she was meeting… the conversation went on for quite a while. She then excused herself to go meet with her group, and just like that Melissa left the bench.
I remained on the bench, enjoying every single second.
A few moments later, a sweet older woman came over and asked if she would occupy the other end of the bench. Of course, she could. She was there with her grandson and asked who I was with. We chatted about grandchildren, as I had just become one a month ago. She shared with me about her grandchildren and her children and that she had a brand new grandbaby due in just a few weeks. I happen to have the same (two more grandbabies expected by the end of the year), so we talked and laughed and smiled. She hopped up and headed over to her grandson, who was crying, and just like that, Granny left the bench.
I remained on the bench, enjoying every single second.
We had been enjoying the park for a few hours at this point, and I still wasn’t ready to budge. The boys were still playing and enjoying every jump and swing and climbing apparatus. A few moments later, Katarina sat down. She had two boys, too. They were similar to the ages of my boys and our boys began to play together. So naturally, we began to talk. We talked about parenting and about school. We talked about how kids play and how they change us as people as they grow. She gave her kids a five-minute warning that they were going to go, and just as she warned, they left five minutes later.
I remained on the bench, still enjoying every second.
I looked down at my phone and noticed the time. Three hours had passed since we arrived at the park and the boys began to play. Three hours of great conversations and learning about others and sharing in life with other moms and grandmas.
As I got up from the bench and told the boys they had five minutes left, I reflected on the bench and who sat on the bench with me today. Then my mind wandered as to how many people sit on that exact bench and shared in life together.
I can’t wait to go back and see who I will meet and learn from.
Don’t miss out on sitting on the bench – stop, sit and enjoy every second.
