{"id":5630,"date":"2013-06-04T11:09:45","date_gmt":"2013-06-04T11:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/?p=5630"},"modified":"2013-06-07T20:12:57","modified_gmt":"2013-06-07T20:12:57","slug":"a-target-for-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/2013\/06\/04\/a-target-for-life\/","title":{"rendered":"A Target for Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

I reached into her pajamas drawer unconsciously grabbing the worn polka-dotted flannel that felt like home in my hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose don\u2019t fit me anymore, Mama,\u201d my 6-year-old daughter informed ever so gently, as if somehow knowing those words could literally break my heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure they don\u2019t fit?\u201d I asked with a hint of desperation in my voice. \u201cCould we just see?\u201d I already had the head opening of the pajamas prepped and ready for her curly head of hair.<\/p>\n

My easy-going child shrugged and happily pulled the pajamas over her head to appease me. But as she struggled to stuff her 6-year-old arms into size 4 armholes, we began to laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you were right, \u201cI grinned. But honestly, I wanted to cry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you love my panda \u2018jams, Mama,\u201d my child consoled. Oh yes. That little girl has always been an observant one<\/a>. \u201cBut instead of putting them back in my drawer, maybe you could keep them in a safe place.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was my daughter\u2019s nice way of telling me to stop putting them back in her drawer. And as much as I hated to admit it, she was right; it was time to retire the panda pajamas. But I certainly wouldn\u2019t be stuffing them into a donation bag with other outgrown clothes.\u00a0 You see, the panda was my target when I really, really needed a target. It was my target for letting to go to live. <\/i>It was <\/i>my target for <\/i>a Hands Free life.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

My daughter was wearing these pajamas the first time I turned away from breakfast making, school permission slip signing, and phone ringing to hold her. Just hold her. That morning, I saw clearly that those \u201cthings\u201d don\u2019t really matter when it\u2019s 6:41 a.m. and your child comes downstairs with bedhead and sleepy eyes wanting to be held.<\/p>\n

And so every morning after that, when I spotted the panda coming down the stairs, I saw my target\u2014my target for focusing on my beautiful child, if only for a few loving minutes each morning.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

My daughter was also wearing these pajamas when I started a nightly Heartbeat Check<\/a>. I realized that my hurried existence had caused human touch and connection to wane. And even though she was no longer a baby, she still needed her mama\u2019s touch. So one night I asked my child if I could place my head on her chest and listen\u2014just listen to the sound of her heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut your head on the panda,\u201d my child offered pointing directly to the bear\u2019s face. And so once again, the panda was my target. When I placed my head on the black and white appliqu\u00e9, I heard the sound of calmness and peace; I heard the sound of hope for my hurried soul.<\/p>\n

And so every night after that, when I saw the panda peeking out beneath the folds of a lime-green comforter, I saw my target\u2014a target for focusing on my beautiful child, if only for a few loving minutes each night.<\/p>\n

So you see, these pajamas were not just a piece of flannel material that kept my child warm at night. They were my anchor, my lifeline to what really mattered in a sea of distraction. And my daughter knew this. She saw the way I suddenly woke up when I looked at her in those hot pink polka dots. But what she didn\u2019t know is that sometimes on those hard days when I was trying to find my way to a Hands Free life, I would watch her sleep.<\/p>\n

You see, as I became less and less tied to my distractions, I became more aware of what I\u2019d missed during my distracted years\u2014especially with this particular child who was not yet in school at that time. I often wondered what damage I had caused by being there, but not really <\/i>being there for those two distracted years. But when I crept into her bedroom and studied her face, I saw an indescribable look of peace blanketing her lovely features.\u00a0 I saw that she was going to be okay. And even though I wasn\u2019t emotionally present for part of her life, I could say, \u201cI\u2019m here now, baby. I\u2019m here now.\u201d And just acknowledging that significant fact gave me hope.<\/p>\n

Let me just say this. If you haven\u2019t watched your child sleep in awhile, I encourage you to do so. Creep in quietly and gaze at the peace on your child\u2019s beautiful face. And then look at those pajamas. Those particular pajamas are only here for a season. A season. But that is not meant to make you sad. Oh no, that is meant to make you feel hopeful.<\/p>\n

Think about it like this \u2026<\/p>\n

If you find yourself in a season of struggle, faced with one challenge after another, know that it will pass. Tomorrow you will be stronger having endured these hardships.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself in a season of uncertainty\u2014not knowing who you are or who you want to be, know that you will find your way. Today you are asking the right questions to get yourself there.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself in a season of disappointment\u2014regret for the choices you\u2019ve made or the life you\u2019ve been living, know that tomorrow is a new day. You have awareness that you didn\u2019t have before, and you will choose more wisely now.<\/p>\n

Pajamas have a season.<\/p>\n

Children have a season.<\/p>\n

Each and every one of us has a season.<\/p>\n

Despite what happened last season, today begins a new season. Today you are waking up to what matters in life. And whether those pajamas have pandas, Ninja Turtles, or superheroes, stop and gaze at that precious human being and remember, your children will eventually outgrow those pajamas\u2014but they will never outgrow your love.<\/p>\n

So if you aim to start and end each precious day with love and attention, there\u2019s a mighty good chance you\u2019ll hit the target.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*****************************************************<\/p>\n

What seasons have you been through? What season are you going through now? Do you have any \u201ctargets\u201d that help you focus on what really matters in life? Thank you for taking the time to share you experiences, insight, and wisdom. There is so much inspiration to be found in the comment section of this blog each week. I am truly grateful for this supportive Hands Free Revolution<\/a> community!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/b>Two more things \u2026<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/b>* When Glennon Doyle Melton of Momastery<\/a> and author of \u201cCarry on Warrior: Thoughts of Life Unarmed\u201d asks you to write a guest post for her blog, first you cry (happy tears), then you tell your best friends (and cry some more), and then you write\u2014you write like you never wrote before because you know your truths will be safe in Glennon's loving hands. This story I share on Momastery is for anyone who needs to know that love prevails over failures, flaws, and imperfect days. Because sometimes we need to know our children are going to turn out okay despite it all. Please enjoy \u201cLove as a Reference Point<\/a>\u201d and take a nice, deep breath.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

** From time to time, it is important for me to shut down the laptop for a weeklong rejuvenation. This is a practice that keeps me committed to my Hands Free journey and focused on what matters in life. With that said, my blog and The Hands Free Revolution<\/a> page will be quiet next week as I connect to my family and nurture my inner wellbeing. Know that I will come back with more stories and more inspiration to share with you, my faithful companions on this life-changing journey.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I reached into her pajamas drawer unconsciously grabbing the worn polka-dotted flannel that felt like home in my hand. \u201cThose don\u2019t fit me anymore, Mama,\u201d my 6-year-old daughter informed ever so gently, as if somehow knowing those words could literally break my heart. \u201cAre you sure they don\u2019t fit?\u201d I asked with a hint of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5629,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[1055,1052,1057,1053,1054,1056,1051],"gutentor_comment":68,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/DSC_01811-e1370202165500.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1fUJF-1sO","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5630"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5630"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5630\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}