To the other man in my life at 3 am // 31 Days of Letters to my Family // Angelsea Urban

What is 31 Days?

It’s that time of year again! Starting October 1st, I’ll be a participant in The Nester’s 31 days Writing Challenge. The purpose is to exercise the writing muscles, dig deeper into topics that you want to explore and to practice honing in on your writing styles. Last year my topic was: 31 days to an Organized Life & Business. I wrote about taking some of my own advice and taking you along on my journey to a life reset. I shared some tips on everything from bookkeeping, shopping, managing kids, intentional parenting, work from home mom syndrome, work/life balance, spiritual reset and more. Not because I am the expert in these fields, but because they have worked for me in the past, and I so badly needed them in my own life and often we neglect ourselves while we are busy working with others.

This year we have had some interesting things that keep pointing us back to the heartbeat of my purpose in all of my business, ministry, artistic and personal endeavors: FAMILY. So when thinking about a topic to write about for an entire month, I decided to keep it simple and just write letters to my own family. It’s a activity I ask for my portrait clients to try in the Story of Family Experience, and even emphasize with my coaching and consulting clients when outlining their goals for prioritizing a business life that gets them home in time for dinner with their family. But as we often joke about the plumber’s pipes always being leaky, I fall short of dedicating enough intentional time to writing letters to my own family. And so here we are.

If you are a writer, I invite you to join us in the challenge here:  Write 31 Days

You can follow along on my blog here with this 31 Days Project 2015.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

To the other man in my life… the 7 year old one…

 

Dear Greyson,

 

I don’t enjoy waking up at 3 am when you tap me on the arm and tell me you had a bad dream. My 3 am fog presents me with few options:

 

1. Try to formulate a sentence to convince you to go back to bed, which has a 2% probability of success rate.

 

2. Physically walk you back to your room, tuck you back in, sing songs, lead prayers, help you visualize the puppies and the butterflies playing around in the field as you slowly drift back off to sleep. And pray that you stay asleep so the next time I see you is daylight.

 

3. Acknowledge with you really want: Cuddle time with Mommy. To curl up next to me in the big bed and snuggle warmly under the safe covers together.

 

Buddy. I want #3 ALL the time. Like, ALLLLLLLLL. THE. TIME. I never want you to grow up and I always want to be your favorite person in the world. I will never tire or your sleeping little face squished next to mine as I listen to your tiny breath and you fall back into a deep, safe sleep.

 

I don’t even mind when you snuggle so tight into my back with your elbows and knees rendering any sleep I would get totally useless. As you flail about every .03 seconds. While still sleeping.

 

Just like your Daddy. On the other side of me.

 

I used to opt for #1 and #2 often. But these nights are becoming few and far between and I am cherishing every yawn this morning. Ok, maybe not every one.

 

I’m glad last night I chose #3 and I’m thankful you still want #3.

 

I’m thankful for your sensitive and loving spirit and especially for your tender heart.

 

I pray for your wife continually. That she will hold your heart with the same tenderness. That she will not mind the elbows and the knees because it comes with getting to see your sweet squished face next to hers each morning. I pray that one day she will be your favorite person in the world.

 

And you, hers.

 

So I drink an extra cup of coffee this morning. And wonder if you will even remember these days as I do.

 

At the very least, you’ll have this letter,

 

Sincerely sleepy at 3 am,

 

Mommy,

XOXOXO

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Angelsea Urban is a entrepreneur and photographer helping families to nourish their homes, relationships and businesses through meaningful portrait photography, business consulting and management for entrepreneurs, teaching practical stewardship and home management systems, and creating simple products and tools that maximize the quality of our lives. Her unique photography work focuses on Redefining the Family Portrait Experience by telling the story of  family through personalized foundations while creating a space to strengthen family bonds throughout the experience. As a certified tax professional and seasoned business consultant, Angelsea has helped the careers of photographers, restaurateurs, musicians and general small business owners through teaching, workshops, coaching, and hands on consulting. She serves in several ministries and is a Board Member and the Director of Operations for Starve Poverty International. She has photographed for families, brides, Bravo TV, NFL Films, and more and has been published in multiple blogs and magazine print for her work in photography and in strategic business management. Angelsea teaches and photographs throughout the United States, and resides with her husband of 17 years, their two children, and their barely 3 pound Yorkie near Long Beach Island, New Jersey.  

 

To book your session with Angelsea Urban, please visit www.angelseaurban.com

For education and consulting opportunities, please visit www.urbanrg.com

Follow Angelsea Urban on Facebook

Follow Angelsea Urban on Instagram

____________________________________________________________________________________________________