touché, ocean
A few observations from the big blue this week
I got sick on my writing day this week so I’ll share an abbreviated version of what’s been in my head. The ocean.
It’s a fickle one who only plays by its own rules. Anyone who partakes — the adventurous, those stupid enough, oblivious, or a good optimist — comes along for the ride. My husband and his friend co-own a boat and our families united this week to enjoy San Diego, the beach, the boat, and our time together.
The highlight of the last few days was when our combined 5 kids saw magic 7 miles off shore. Dolphins swam alongside our boat. They shot out of the water, played, and kept following our boat, letting us watch in awe. For a moment, I was too wrapped up in thinking about my kids’ experience and then I decided to shift my mindset. My kids aren’t going to look back at this moment and wonder how mom felt about it so I better enjoy it because no one else will for me. I was present and reveled in this experience for myself. I love the memory this way.
The ocean also delivered raw truths. I was saddened at the small reminder of our massive pollution problem when we saw balloons in the ocean. Our friend dove in to the chilly waters to fetch it out. But the ocean did not care for her little act of kindness. During her first fishing trip on the boat later in the week, she got sea sick the entire time, except for the last 5 minutes on the way back to the dock, of course.
At the beach, one kid got a massive amount of sand in her eye. While dealing with it, I wanted to freak out yet I had to do it in silence and pretend I was calm. But, really, for a moment there, I thought I’d never get the sticky sand out from every deep crevice of this 3-year-old’s tiny blue eye. After many screams and cries (not my own, I promise!) I carried her back to the house to shower and I got it out. By the way, 10 minutes on the beach with 5 kids feels like 1 very slow hour.
So, yeah. The ocean: 10 points. Me: 2.
I’ve been enjoying The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin and I love when books deliver exactly what I need to read:
+ 3 ocean-related substack posts/newsletters you might enjoy:
Beautiful memories... solid kudos to you for remaining calm. Your kids will only recall the dolphins because mom was under control. 💞🐬
Parenting is miraculous and hard... awesome and exhausting... heartwarming and heartwarming
Above all else, it is worth it. My baby is 27, his older brother is 28 and the first edition, also a boy, 31 in August.
The sand and screaming don’t last forever, I promise. 💞
Ah the ocean! It fulfills me, then dumps me. Yet I keep going back for more. It’s a love-hate relationship. One phrase I use to describe the ocean is “Toughlove”. But the “love”part is indescribable!