Finding Comfort in Chaos and Nurturing the Magic
I’ve been rereading the Harry Potter series for the 873rd time and find myself wanting to channel some of that Mrs. Weasley energy. I always used to be inspired by Hermione (hard worker, always stands up for what’s right, loyal friend), but in my reread of the books this time, I love the matriarch of the Weasley family more and more.
I’ve always admired her, of course. She’s the mother to a whole gaggle of kids (7, to be precise) and also brings Harry under her wing. She knits him a sweater and bakes him fudge before she’s ever really even met him, just to be sure he feels loved at Christmas. You’d have to be made of steel not to feel something when she goes after Bellatrix at the end of the series when she tries to attack Ginny. And while she can be found yelling a lot, you can feel the undercurrent of love under every admonition.
This time, something struck me in book two, during Harry’s first trip to The Burrow. Their house was messy and noisy, and it must feel like chaos reigned- with the ghoul in the attic making noises, the twins practicing experiments in their rooms, gnomes wreaking havoc in the yard, and kids everywhere. She must spend 90% of her time cleaning and preparing meals- even with magic. But Harry describes it as an extremely welcoming place. He thrives that summer in a nurturing environment that he’s never had.
When I’m sitting in my house listening to Mew carrying on from the office, Reggi and Turbo wrestling, and the TV blaring one of our favorite shows, I get stressed quickly. Things get spilled, the floor needs to be vacuumed, and everything is messy. I can’t help thinking all this chaos must mean I don’t have control of things. I’m a terrible mom because everyone and everything isn’t quiet and peaceful. But that’s not the way of things.
We all know which house was the cleanest, most organized one, right? The Dursleys- Harry’s cold, unfeeling, and unwelcoming aunt and uncle- who put a strict ban on everything magical. I’m learning that sometimes having a noisy, rowdy crew means allowing them to be just who they were meant to be. You’re not squashing the magic out of them, and that’s a really good thing.