There are few times in parenting where a window of opportunity arises. Some times the window is open for a few minutes, a few days, or even – in very rare occasions- a few months.

These windows come at moments when they seem to be needed the most. When you can’t handle anymore, a window cracks open.

Some early windows comes to mind. Those first few weeks and months are tough. There is no sleep, the learning curve is very steep and stress levels are high. But there is one thing that I wistfully remember now that my boys are 2 and 3. Immobility. You put a baby in one spot, leave the room, come back and the baby is still exactly where you put him…. what I wouldn’t give for that now – especially at put on coats, hats, mittens and boots time!

On the flip side of the immobility window is the relief of mobility. Just as those sweet, chubby, little babies start to turn into chunky, wiggly, heavy as hell almost toddlers and the thought of carrying them another step makes you scream  they start moving. My back is still sighing of relief.

Maybe these parenting windows are just another reflection of 1 Corinthians 10:13. God will give us no more than we can handle.

Whatever it is, tonight my husband and I pried open a window that was, to our surprise, ready to be opened.

We went out to eat – with the kids! And not just to McDonalds or other fast food joints with some variation of an indoor playground. We went to a sit down family Mexican restaurant (my stomach is gurgling and moaning as proof). We ordered off the menu for the boys. They served the boys milk in kiddie cups with lids and a straw -Read this as: We didn’t have to worry about not having sippy cups with us! The boys sat nicely while requesting pictures to be drawn with the restaurt crayons, vroomed their cars and munched on chips. When the food came they ate. THEY ATE! And even more remarkable and noteworthy, T and I ate, at the same time. Were weren’t  juggling spoon feeding, entertaining or strapping them down we were eating as a family! All four of us at the same time. The same time!!!

Towards the end they were growing a bit impatient, but not before T and I had finished the bulk of our meals (if I ate any more I would have burst). T winterized the boys and headed out to load them into the van while I paid the bill.

This is new to us. I don’t know how long this window will last, but we plan on enjoying is as much as we monetarily can.

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