We have spent our last five Friday nights doing the exact same thing in our house. Pizza movie night featuring Vivo on Netflix. Please, if you haven’t checked it out, you now have plans for this Friday night. If you are a Lin Manuel Miranda fan, watch it right now. I’ll wait. The music is very reminiscent of Hamilton, the colors are vibrant, the main characters are dynamic, and it has caught the attention of every single person in my house, ages 1-33.
Our obsession has seeped into our day-to-day life with the soundtrack on in the background as we clean, eat, cook, play, drive, and dance.
We did family Halloween costumes and dressed as the main characters and the music has already shown up in our top played tracks on Spotify. But there is one song that I cannot stop thinking about. I have listened to this song on repeat and it has become my mantra for motherhood.
Remember the size of the world before
It was you and I, just you and I
And now the horizon holds so much more
And it’s do or die
Yeah, it’s do or die
Sometimes it’s hard to think back, but do you remember the world before your babies? It was just you and your partner and the world was full of endless possibilities. But then, this tiny life was placed in your care and suddenly, somehow, the world was full of even more beauty than before. Even so, you are filled with questions. Mainly, how can I possibly be responsible for this sweet, precious life? But you figure it out because you have to.
All I can do when the road bends
Is lean into the curve
And all I can do when the tank’s run dry
Is see what’s in reserve
And all I can do when the plans break down
Is stay on my feet
And all I can do at thе end of the day is play on
Play on and keep the bеat
I mean, we all know those days, weeks, months, years where we have to dig deep to get through. We have no other choice but to make adjustments and keep going because there are little humans that rely on us to provide their most basic needs. Not only that, but to show them how the world works. How to work hard, make friends, take on responsibility. How to handle conflict, how to change your plans when things don’t go the way you wanted, how to be empathetic and generous and kind.
Lately, I’ve been feeling like my tank has run dry. There have been tears and lost tempers and nights where we all just need a break from each other. The good news is I’ve found a reserve in my own strength and, also, asking for help. My reserve is filled with my husband’s partnership, love and support, and my friend’s and family’s listening ears and validation. And with all those things at my disposal, someway, somehow, this too shall pass. And while I not so patiently wait for this to pass, at the end of every day, I will figure out how to play on and keep the beat because there is nothing more precious in this world than my people.
