She stared at the door, waiting for my return. I peered at her from my cool, air-conditioned kitchen, waiting for her response.

He is struggling with who he is, and who he wants to become. He is trying to navigate this place for the very first time, and I am too, as his mama.

What will make an impact not only in the lives of our children now but also for eternity? Prayer has been my first line of both offense and defense when it comes to school.

Now, in a quiet house, I see unfolding time without the blur of the craziness of insistence. I look back un-harried and recognize the precious calling of those years.

If this would be the pattern going forward, could I really be a working mom?

This was not exactly the hammock-swaying, book-reading, iced-tea-sipping camping trip I had envisioned.