Do You Wish You Could Go Back?
“Enjoy the early months of your child’s life when she is not yet crawling, walking or talking”, they’d say. “Hold your baby a little longer after feedings because a year from now she’d prefer playtime over cuddle time”, they’d say. “Take it all in; every moment because she will grow so fast”, they’d say.
It’s all true.
Invested In The Challenges And Chores
Their words were not taken to heart until it was almost too late. My daughter, Jane, is ten months old already. She is crawling and eager to walk. Every opportunity she gets, she is climbing on furniture, taking small, unassisted steps and talking (babbling) in response to our words. Her little hands are touching everything and she is curious about the activities around her. Long gone are the days we could set her down on her play-mat and catch up on a few dishes. Long gone are the days we can change her diaper without her trying to crawl away. Long gone are the days when she would take multiple naps during the day.
I wish I could go back to her first few months of life when she would sleep peacefully in my arms; her little body snuggled tightly against my chest for long periods of time. During that time, I let the challenges of being a new mom consume me. I failed to fully feel the joys of being a new mom to a beautiful baby girl. Instead, I discussed how tired I was or how overwhelmed I felt. Maybe it’s a common mistake that first-time moms are expected to make.
The first few months of my daughter’s life was exhausting. Her pediatrician instructed us to feed her every three hours after losing so much weight in the hospital. At times, she was too tired to eat and we were running on zombie mode. By the third week my husband and I openly expressed our excitement for the future when our daughter would be walking and beginning to speak basic words to let us know what she wants or how she is feeling. It wasn’t until recently that my husband and I realized that our daughter is growing into a beautiful little girl and we must stop and enjoy every moment because she changes daily and it’s so easy to miss moments.
Often, I let the little things take me away from precious time with her. The dishes need to be loaded in the dishwasher, that last load of laundry needs to be folded, the bathrooms need to be cleaned and the weeds in the front yard need to be pulled. I have to remind myself that those things will always be there, but moments with my daughter will not.
Stop Worrying About The Small Stuff
What is small stuff? I’d say anything that is not urgent, and takes time away from your child. I am a mom with a full time job as a sales representative in the technology field and I have a part time job selling Thirty-One bags. Needless to say I am exhausted by the time I get home in the late evening. At that time, I usually walk through the door, kiss my husband who has just arrived home with our daughter, then I kiss our baby and pet our dog and cat who are starving for attention. The next task is already on my mind; dinner. I usually plan in advance and have at least half of our meal already prepared, which helps. I also think about what to feed our daughter who is eating solids three to four times each day. As I make dinner, my husband occupies our daughter in the living room where we lay a blanket on the floor with her toys. Additional tasks run through my head as I prepare dinner: give Jane a bath, sweep the floor, fold the laundry, prepare Jane’s food for the following day, load the dishwasher, shower, etc. And this is with only one kid.
As my husband, Adam, and I prepare for baby #2, Adam often questions my sanity when baby#2 arrives. If I find the challenges of parenthood stressful now, how will I manage parenting another child? And how will I manage a third and fourth child? I’d like to think that I will improve and become better at juggling motherhood with full time work and chores. At least that is what I continue to tell myself and my husband. After all, many women find a way to manage motherhood with a full workload and chores. I can too. I ask what the secret is, but I think it’s as simple as just letting the small stuff go and enjoy the moments. What do you think? As a parent, what is your secret?
They Grow In Supersonic Speed
With a blink of the eyes, my daughter sprouted into a giggly, messy, wiggly little girl. Her 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and most 9-12 month clothing are packed in storage bins along with some of my tears. It was difficult to fold her adorable clothing that she only wore once or twice and place them into bins never to be worn by her again. Her tiny socks and adorable onesies are a pastime. She has moved onto drinking from sippy cups and she has graduated from her first car seat to a convertible seat that she will use for a few years. Her slider was replaced by a jumper and her crib is lowered to the lowest level now that she is pulling herself up to stand. With a blink of the eyes, she developed into a beautiful personality that keeps us smiling and excited for whatever is next.
Treasure the Moments
I’d say that our lives speed up the moment we have children. Her first year has passed quickly and before we know it, she will be a teenager eager to wear make-up and excited to get her first job to save up for a car. It’s unfortunate that our children grow up so quickly, rarely giving parents the opportunity to enjoy the moments. After all, the moments are why we have children, right! Before Jane was conceived, Adam and I would look forward to the time we could wake to little voices on Saturday mornings, snuggles in the evening and sweet giggles. My goodness, Jane’s giggles are so precious. It’s important to remember that we must slow down and let things go to enjoy the giggles while they are here. Eventually giggles and snuggles will turn into laughs and embarrassing hugs.
Thank You!
I write because it is my way to wind down and relax. My hope is that my posts are shared and discussed. I would love your feedback. After all, I am a new mom. I learn new things every day and I am definitely not perfect no matter how much I try. I would also like to hear your stories. My goal is to establish a community where parents can come together to discuss in a judgement free place.
Thank you for reading and have a fantastic day!
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