I created a second version of this painting recently:
Finding Her Place
As Mogs went to bed tonight, I had the little thrill I get every night at this time. Anyone who has had kids knows how sacred the time is when your kids are finally tucked into bed for the night. The noise and rush of the day have faded along with the setting sun. It is the time when I can turn inward and quietly pursue my own projects and activities. In the early postpartum days there wasn’t any pattern to my day. I would find myself rocking and nursing her every hour for days and weeks on end. As she has grown and a daily routine has emerged, I find myself revelling in the freedom that a few hours to myself affords me. I really have no idea how I filled my time before she arrived in my life. I wasn’t nearly as productive or alive back then even though I had unlimited free time…but, I do miss going to the movies with Tony.
They say that you know you are parenting well when you can’t wait to put your kids to bed at night and also can’t wait to get them up in the morning.