Encouragement

This post comes out of not only feeling the need to encourage others, but because I need encouragement, too.  Just a gentle remind to all of us that we will miss 'this' one day....

Some days it's hard--to mom, to adult, to do all the things.  I've been grumbly the past few mornings. When our days begin FULL THROTTLE at 5 am every morning, not by choice, but because that's just how it is in our sensory seeking world, when revamping nap time, when I've been up and down the stairs twenty times in 30 minutes because someone just learned how to climb them, when someone else routinely refuses to listen to direction, and adding this and that to our schedules takes some smoothing out--it can be hard.

I grumbled to my best friend on Saturday that for just one morning, I want someone else's normal.  I don't want mine.  It's too early for this nonsense.  I just want to sleep in.  I just want quiet.  I just want, want, want--something different.

And I have to stop myself--I do want THIS.  I prayed for THIS.  I begged for THIS.  And someday--I'm going to miss THIS.  Every time someone comments on the growth of one of my boys, I realize--I'm going to desperately miss these stages.  Each one of my boys is in a different, unique stage all his own right now.  None of them share their current stage with their brothers.  Each one is making strides and gains and growth all his own.  I won't get any of these moments back, and I won't get these same exact moments with the next child--his experience will be wholly his own, and different from his brothers'.  In all of this, I'm grateful for the moments that set me straight, and remind me to mother with a grateful heart.

And I will say this, too--it's okay to realize there are certain parts of some stages we won't miss.  And it's okay to admit there are entire stages we won't miss at all!  It's okay to want one child to grow a little faster than the other--and recognize that soon enough, they'll switch off and you'll want the other child to grow a little faster!  It's okay to enjoy some stages more than others, and miss others a bit more.  You're human, not Wonder Woman.  I know some days are just harder than others--and it feels like it might be weeks--and bedtime is just too far away.  I know it's hard to look at some moments and think that one day, you'll miss them.  And you know what?  That's okay too.  It's even okay to admit these things out loud!!!  And not feel ashamed!!

Hang in there, mamas.  We've got a tough job, but we've got a very worthy job.  And you, precious one, are totally rocking it!