Well, we’ve entered the final year of having “little kids.” The twins are 12 today, and I can’t help but think about the song my dad loved “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds (also based on the verses in Ecclesiastes 3):
To everything (Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
I have felt especially in this year the shift that comes with seasons of parenting. Sure, our big girls are out of the house. Amelia is getting ready to make a college decision. Jack will drive in the spring, but the twins? These girls are stepping into a different space in our family. Gone are the days of “what about the twins?” I can’t tell you how many steps had to be taken before going anywhere. I thrive with organization and logistics, but for years a work trip, away ballgame, early out, etc., etc. took an act of war to cover care and entertainment.
With this new season, we’re into a new “time to every purpose,” able to do a more side-by-side management style of schedules. While still a matched set, the twins have branched out, joining different activities at different times. They’ve shifted from the little ones in many circumstances to being the bigger kids: helping with little ones on the bus, stepping into leadership roles at dance with younger classes, participating in all the things in junior high. Our girls are growing up and finding their purpose, and it’s exciting.
I still catch myself a little wistful for the previous seasons, but not enough to do anything but scroll to videos on my phone to remind me of the season of chaos that started 12 years ago. They were sure cute, but those days are foggy. I don’t know how we managed our life 12 years ago, but we did, and we did it knowing that everything is a season, hoping that we’d move through those hard seasons quicker than others!
As I think about the next season for our twins, the purpose of my job as a mom feels so clear. I see my big kids walking through life’s uncertainty with confidence, not without strife, but with confidence in themselves and the knowledge that they can meet whatever challenge lies ahead. Our twins are just embarking on this journey, with the benefit of big siblings walking ahead of them. I see the girls watching them all: enjoying the fun stuff, admiring their accomplishments, and seeing how they move through life strengthened by the best parenting win Joe and I can claim. Their faith reminds them that their worth is found in something bigger than what the world sees and calls them to keep working toward a higher purpose.
Dear Mary and Caroline,
Twelve years ago, I had no idea who you would become, or how we would figure out this twin thing. But over these last 12 years, it has been a delight to watch you grow into your own personalities while also growing closer to each other and to your siblings. With every season of growth, I have watched you become more fully who God intended you to be. I am so thankful to see you stepping into that with confidence and love.
You may be the last in the Webel row of kids, but you are the sunshine we didn’t know we needed. We are so thankful for you today as we celebrate your birthday, and always.
We love you and love you.
Mom