Mow Therapy

I love to mow my grass. I really do. I just love the monotonous back and forth. The mono tone sound of the engine that sorta hypnotizes you into thought. It really gives me, a mother of five, an hour and a half of solitude. Practically therapy. Time to think things over, have conversations in my head (especially the one I wanted to have with the clerk at the grocery store the other day but I would have been a very bad example to my 3 year old). What bugs me is that I am surrounded by male neighbors who love to take care of their lawns also. I just never understand that look of sympathy I get as we wave to each other while they are riding their very nice riding mowers and I am walking behind my Toro. I mean a few of their mowers are really small farm equipment they are so nice, but hey, we all have our toys. So are they feeling bad that I have to mow, or that I have a walk behind mower? I always want to just stop, walk over there, and reassure them I really do want to mow my yard. If I did not, I have a very capable 15 year old son inside who fills in when I am not in need of therapy. One of my favorite things about mow therapy is when I start reminiscing. I love to really ponder on fun memories. I had a great memory come flooding into my mind today as I was mowing.

A few years ago, as I was mowing the grass I was really working out some tension. It was hard time in our lives and we had a new baby. I really wanted to mow and then take a long bath but there never seemed to be time for me to relax much at this phase in my life. The kids needed baths, chores to do, homework to get pack up, and 5 loads of laundry to get put away , then make dinner, eat and bed. I had better just take a quick shower. Other than mowing, baths are my stress reliever. Oh well, another day. So, after I finished up the yard I went in to get cleaned up. I went to take my shower, however the shower head was removed and soaking in CLR and drain-o poured into the drain. OK, I will use the kids bath room. As I walked into the bathroom I just stared at the shower curtain in confusion. The shower curtain had been cut in half. Horizontally. I was really trying to imagine the reason that this would need to be done. I was stumped. Then, I heard a sort of thump/crash sound in the boys bedroom. I turned around and there it was. The other half of my shower curtain. It was tied around the neck of my 3 year old, serving as a much needed cape in an effort to improve his fight skills as he jumped off his top bunk. I just had to laugh. He said "look Mommy, I made a good cape". "Yep, you sure did baby, Mommy is going to take a bath now." I always take a bath now after I mow. Its a tradition.

Spring has sprung, loud and clear.

Wow! Spring has finally sprung. It feels so great to be out and about in our yards, on walks, waving to neighbors again. Waves that seems to say “hey, I haven’t seen you since you were doing the Christmas lights” or “woo wee, hibernations over”. But there is one thing that I always manage to do that really makes me not forget that Spring is here. Today as I was “discussing loudly” the fact that we have now lost the 4th Gym suit this school year I felt the cool breeze come in through the window. The open window, one of many open windows. Oh man, how many of my neighbors heard me yelling, I mean, discussing loudly, at my daughter. You’d think I would have remembered from last year, and the year before. Later, I was out on my front porch planting pansies. The sound of my neighbor’s voice caught my attention. She was right behind her front screen door “discussing loudly” some thing with her son. I really have no idea what it was. Then she looked out. Our eyes met. I saw a familiar look in her eyes. I gave her the “nod of understanding”. Letting her know I completely understand. No worries neighbor. Happy spring!!