The March of Time

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“Patience is a bitter plant, but its fruit is sweet.” – Chinese Proverb

I’m not friends with March. As a month, it’s long and slow. It has no holidays, in the U.S. at least. It feels like a placeholder month to me. March is the month in which I’m more likely to be irritated that my eight-year-old daughter, Miss O, has used my Tupperware for slime, my four-year-old son, Mr. D, only brushes the outside of his teeth, and Cooper the dog thinks that keep away is a fun game.

March wreaks havoc with my already-prevalent tendency towards impatience. It feels like the month that the year is most pregnant. Something great is about to burst onto the scene but for now, it’s nothing we can see or hold.

So, yesterday, on my third day of my penance, also known as March, that I made waffles with jam inside. Miss O said, “We are so lucky. And it’s not just me that’s lucky, but our whole family.”

Dang. I’m being an ingrate. But as she said that, I also realized that what I’m pregnant with at this moment is hope. Yes, the laundry hasn’t been done, the dishwasher needs to be emptied, I haven’t started my taxes, and the yard looks like a mud pit interspersed with construction toys.

But I’m hopeful that some of the projects we started will get done. That some of the lessons we’ve been learning will stick. And that I will learn to be patient while the Higher Power works hand in hand with sunshine to make it happen.

For all of my childhood, one of our biggest family celebrations was Easter. My mom would spend all of March making me a new Easter dress, measuring, sewing, trying it on, usually right up to the night before.

Maybe that’s one of the seeds of my impatience with March. Waiting for the resurrection. Whether or not that matches your theology, I think Spring brings the hope of better things to come. I just have to remember to be grateful. And also note that bird song, blooms, and better sunshine are worth waiting for.

(featured photo from Pexels)

55 thoughts on “The March of Time”

  1. Hang in there, Wynne. March is when we emerge from the dark and cold winter months and I think that’s what contributes to it feeling long and sluggish.

    I always look forward to daylight saving time (this Saturday!) when things start to feel a bit more hopeful and Spring like.

    We have Spring Break next week and you bet we’re counting down every minute till a bit of a break.

    Hope you enjoy your week ahead!

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  2. Spring and summer. We wait. A good chance they will come. Ask teachers and students. They are counting on it with you, Wynne. Cooper probably isn’t. He lives the gift of not counting the time.

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    1. I’m howling, Jane! If I tried to do that, I’d be begging for March to be longer so I could get it done. 🙂 Good point – I’m glad that’s not a thing anymore!

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  8. March does drag on at times doesn’t it? Alison was due to be born in mid March. She made me wait until March 29 to make her entry. As the 3rd child, after 2 who came on time, I knew she was going to be special! Being impatient is being human and being human means being a lot less than perfect sometimes while we wait for brighter days.

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    1. Oh wow – two weeks late as the third child? Definitely a special child! 🙂 Yes, being impatient is human for sure. Thanks for keeping me company, Deb! 🙂 ❤

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  9. March is a trickster. Here today, for instance, it is calm and warming up, but looking at the forecast, I can see we are for a temperamental ride this month. I feel your impatience

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  11. Oh Wynne, you’re not friends with March. March is really hurt. It would love to be friends with you! Ha, ha. Oh, I’m just teasing. I get it completely. I would throw April in there too. I’m not one too to jump ahead in the calendar, but I wouldn’t shed a tear if we skipped over mud season and went straight to late spring/summer. I would love to be friends with late April and May!!!! Ha, ha.

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  12. No holidays? It has Ides of March, Pi Day, St. Patrick’s Day, & First Day of Spring. And this year the whole Easter shebang. Plus the best thing about these holidays is that they’re no fuss, pretty much based on food, celebrate your own way. 

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  13. I agree with VJ — March CAN be a trickster. Yes, yes. And what’s better than a dose of Miss O – my favorite little philosopher? Cheers to waffles with jam and gratitude and moments that matter.
    xo! 🥰

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  14. March IS a long month. I remember my mom sewing my Easter dress. Then one year she just gave up on it–and church, for that matter. Makes me sad to think about it. But you’re right–there are resurrections to ponder, whether you are a part of that faith or not. There’s a lot going on in March that we don’t always see!

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  15. Wynne, I’m one of those who actually look forward to Fall and Winter more than Spring and Summer. My annual “awakening” comes when those temps cool off, the football fires-up…and the trinity of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are at-hand. That being said, I think I could make room for waffles with jam inside at any time of the year! I also know Spring is a rejuvenator for many folks, and I hope yours is a great one for you and yours!

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  16. Personally, I never had an issue with March, since the days were getting noticeably longer and the weather better. January was my hibernate or grimace month, February was bearable because it wasn’t January, and March would soon be there!

    Hang in!

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  17. I feel somehow like that but in January because I would hope that winter is almost over but it has just started…patience is really the key word, but sometimes I don’t have enough.

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  21. National Horse Protection Day
    National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
    National Pig Day
    National Welsh Corgi Day
    World Compliment Day
    International Rescue Cat Day
    National Banana Cream Pie Day
    National Day of Unplugging
    National Grammar Day
    National Pound Cake Day
    National Cheese Doodle Day
    National Oreo Cookie Day (today!)
    National Cereal Day
    Sock Monkey Day
    National Proofreading Day
    Discover What Your Name Means Day
    National Barbie Day
    Popcorn Lover’s Day
    National Get Over It Day
    Harriet Tubman Day
    International Bagpipe Day
    Middle Name Pride Day
    World Plumbing Day
    National Plant a Flower Day
    National Earmuff Day
    Celebrate Scientists Day
    National Learn About Butterflies Day
    National Pi Day
    National Save a Spider Day
    National Potato Chip Day
    World Kidney Day
    National Panda Day
    St. Patrick’s Day
    Global Recycling Day
    National Sloppy Joe Day
    Transit Driver Appreciation Day
    National Poultry Day
    International Day of Happiness
    National Ravioli Day
    National Crunchy Taco Day
    National Rosie the Riveter Day
    National Single Parent Day (shout-out to you on 3/21)
    World Poetry Day
    American Red Cross Giving Day
    National Goof Off Day
    Cuddly Kitten Day
    World Meteorological Day
    National Cocktail Day
    Tolkien Reading Day
    Waffle Day
    Epilepsy Awareness Day
    Manatee Appreciation Day
    National Hot Tub Day
    International Mermaid Day
    National Pita Day
    National Folding Laundry Day
    Take a Walk in the Park Day
    Crayola Crayon Day
    Eiffel Tower Day
    International Transgender Day of Disability
    Oh, and Easter

    That’s not even 1/3 of them! What were you saying about “no holidays in March”?

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  22. Patience, yes, believe it or not, is a tough one for me too. Though I have learned the lessons also. I love how you phrased March as being pregnant. I’ve never thought of it like that, but it’s true. And now I always will. Here’s to spring!

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    1. Given how well you can slow things down, I am a little surprised that patience is tough for you, Alegria. But I’m glad to be in good company as we learn the lessons together! Here’s to spring!

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  23. I love the way you related March to pregnancy…waiting for the birth of something more! The Resurrection, spring, flowers, grass instead of mud, warmth….can we hurry up the pregnancy and get to the birth? 💞

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  24. I enjoyed your perspective in March as it is so unlike mine. I think of March as a beautiful pause. It is the month I start the seeds for my garden indoors watching the seeds turn into plants that never get old. I also utilize the month to deep clean and prepare for the next season without feeling rushed (yeah to know holidays!), and vetting and/or calling the window washer, and the landscapers.

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  25. Is it raining all over the world? Soaking here in the UK, with plenty of mud. Still at least it’s now light enough to see it morning and evening and there’s chocolate (sorry, Easter) at the end of the month. Hang on in there!

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    1. Ah, the chocolate at the end of the month. Good point about something to look forward to. Thanks for the encouragement. Hope it dries a bit for you!

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