She Laughs at the Future

I ran a Catholic homeschool co-op with 4 kids under 6 while pregnant with #5. 

"What an impossible job!" another mom said. 

I laughed smartly.

I emailed in my letter of resignation at midnight while changing buckets during a family stomach bug.

"What a time to quit!" my boss said.

I laughed tiredly. 

I made pizza with tomatoes and basil from our garden while teaching my children to make homemade crust.

"What a good dinner!" the kids said. 

I laughed proudly.

I served 5 bags of extra butter microwave popcorn to my children while letting them watch TV.

"What a good dinner!" the kids said.

I laughed gratefully.

I brought 5 kids to Parent Night while pulling 2 preschoolers in a wagon with a toddler on my back.

"What a fun family!" the principal said. 

I laughed appreciatively.

I brought 5 kids to an Author Celebration while their heads were unknowingly but visibly crawling with lice.

"It happens! Don't worry about it!" the school nurse said. 

I laughed self-consciously.

My child told his whole class about Jesus while reading his story at Show & Tell.

"What a good writer!" the teacher said.

I laughed agreeably. 

My child told his whole class about how loudly I yell at home while reading his story at Show & Tell.

"What vivid description!" the teacher said.

I laughed awkwardly.

My kid brought his Bible to read while waiting for a chair at the orthodontist. 

"What a big book!" the assistant said. 

I laughed reverently.

My kid brought Captain Underpants and The Attack of the Talking Toilets to read while waiting in line for Confession. 

"What an… interesting book!" the secretary said. 

I laughed sheepishly.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come. 

- Proverbs 31:25

Photo by Candice Picard on Unsplash

*Also published July 2020 at CatholicMom.com