So, ever since I became a parent, one of the things I oddly look forward to is taking out the trash on garbage night. It’s like a mini escape from the chaos of parenting, you know? I live just outside Boston, and as I drag those plastic bins down my driveway, I take a moment to look up at the stars. Sure, I can’t see as many as I used to when I lived in California, but I can still spot Orion, the Big Dipper, and some other familiar faces. Staring up at the night sky takes me back to a time when I felt truly free, like when I was backpacking through Death Valley and the Milky Way was my personal GPS.
Now, as I’m getting older and dealing with all the responsibilities of parenthood, those stars remind me of the different versions of myself I’ve been. It’s like a mini trip down memory lane every time I take out the trash. Parenting can be tough, you know? It’s easy to lose yourself in the day-to-day grind of raising kids. But those stars up above, they ground me in a way that nothing else does. They connect me to all the different parts of who I am, from the adventurer to the tired mom.
The other night, I dragged my husband and son outside to share that magical moment with them. We huddled together in the freezing cold, pointing out the different stars and planets. It felt like a timeless lesson, something that parents have been doing for generations. It made me realize how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of things, but also how connected we are to something so much bigger than ourselves.
I’ve always dreamed of taking my family to a place where the night sky is truly dark, where you can see every single star. But even just standing in my driveway, looking up at those tiny pinpricks of light, is enough to bring me peace. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of the chaos of everyday life, there’s something bigger out there. And honestly, that’s pretty comforting. So, next time you’re taking out the trash, take a moment to look up at the stars. You might just find a little piece of yourself up there.
