Anna Kate Donovan

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Most people have heard this adage in some form or another. Something that is beautiful to me may not seem beautiful to someone else. Easy enough.

Today, beauty comes to me in the form of a washer and dryer. Materialistic? Yes it is. It is horrible of me to even think of a washer and dryer set as beautiful but the arrival of the appliance store truck almost brought a tear to my eye this afternoon.

The laundromat is not for wimps and my last trip was apparently taken on a very wimpy day. Three hot girls, their sweaty mom, three baskets filled to capacity and a rolling duffle big enough to hold a rhino brimming with dirty clothes. We were hot, in foul moods, bored, without a bathroom and just not up to the task of entertaining ourselves. Then we ran out of quarters. Not a great moment in Donovan history.

Before you get on your soap box, let me add a disclaimer. I know how fortunate I am. I know how lucky I am that I live in a world where I have running water in my house, more than enough food on my table and power to heat and cool my home. I know that there are still huge masses of people who bathe and wash in the same river as their animals. I know that my life is a life of ease when compared to millions of others. I know how blessed I am to have a husband and family who love and support me every day. I have three smart, healthy girls. I am thankful for all that I have each and every day.

BUT…in my little mommy world, being without a washer and dryer has been a splinter in my heel and the day of reckoning has finally come. The inaugural load of laundry is now in my new washer and my mommy self is at peace knowing that everyone will have plenty of clean socks and underwear by morning. I say this knowing full well that the excitement of doing laundry will wear off far too quickly. Much like new car smell. But I digress.

Today my eye beheld beauty in the sight of my girls riding their bikes up and down the street ad nauseum, in the fact that half of the garage is now empty of boxes, in the youngest Donovan giving into her need for a nap after playing outside all day, in the sight of Robert lighting the grill for dinner and yes, in a new washer and dryer.

We tell our girls that they are beautiful a lot. We also tell them that they are smart. Sweet. Bossy. Kind. Creative. Loving. Obnoxious. Helpful. Life is about balance, honesty and love for ourselves and each other. Beautiful!