It gets easier…

Bear with me here…this post has nothing to do with a photo session or photography at all. This goes out to my fellow Mommies…may it encourage them a little bit…

The other day (more like a month ago, but I lose track of time) I had the blessing to watch my two nephews for just a couple hours. I’ve watched my 3 year old nephew countless times, but this was the first time I would be watching his new brother (Mama’s got to get her hair did!!) Of course I jumped at the chance and was excited! No big deal…5 kids in the house…what’s the prob? Ages 9, 7, 4, 3 and 6 weeks. Whew!!!

Just a little background information; when you walk into my house, you are immediately bombarded by noise. Loud children, a barking dog very excited to see company, music either from the radio or the piano. You walk into a small entry way where there isn’t enough room to welcome anyone or take off shoes and there isn’t any room on the hooks to hang a purse since there are jackets (why I have no clue since it’s 90 degrees outside!), numerous leashes for just one dog, and canvas totes filled with extra clothes I never emptied from the times we visited Grammy’s pool, weeks ago.

So you walk through my door and what do you see…life. At least the way we live it. Loud. Chaotic. Loving. Busy. So adding another little guy to the mix? No biggie!

I found something out about myself that day…I haven’t had a newborn in my house in almost 5 years…and it shows. I use both my hands to eat my lunch. I can go potty by myself (most of the time – but I still have to call it “potty”, I am a mom you know). I can walk from room to room without anything in my hands or on my hip. I haven’t folded my 7 or 9 year old’s laundry in months, I can’t tell you when was the last time I emptied the dishwasher.

I’m not saying all this to rub it in all you Mom’s faces with young children. I say all this to explain that

Things. Get. Easier. 

Please note I said EASIER…not EASY. Because there is NOTHING easy about being a Mom.

I truly believe that the ages of children 0-5 years old are the toughest years to parent, especially the first 6 months of a baby’s life. In my experience, there is nothing more difficult than managing babies while you are exhausted, overwhelmed and new at the parenting gig.

For example, my kids are getting over colds right now. What is lovely is that they sleep through their stuffy noses, can take cough medicine without screaming about it and even suck on Halls to ease their sore throats. My sister is going through the same thing as me (all the cousins got each other sick apparently!) But she doesn’t have the same luxury of giving her babies cough drops or them even being able to really communicate how sick they feel. We live in two different worlds, but we are both Mommies. 

Now I’ve only been a Mom for 9 years, so I don’t know what it is like to have a teenager, but I do know what it is like to have small children and with every year that goes by…things get more relaxed, more fun…just plain easier.

Don’t get me wrong, I need to explain something to you. I have never been more stressed and overwhelmed in my entire career as a Mom. I am a work at home Mom who homeschools her three kids, runs a business, supports a ministry, maintains a home and juggles family and friends. I may be spread a little thin…but what I am dealing with doesn’t come close to what a Mom deals with when she has a baby, a 2 year old and a 4 year old.

I hope this is encouragement for some Mommy out there. If today is a tough day, lots of temper tantrums and food thrown on the floor (by your babies, not you!) then be encouraged…this too shall pass. 

You know the cliché saying that all the older and wiser Moms say to young Moms…”enjoy them while they’re little!” Well..It is so true it’s crazy!! Because in a flash, things get easier. 

My baby is 4 years old. I am doing everything I possibly can to keep her a baby for as long as I can. Every little milestone she meets brings a tear to my eye because I know she’s becoming more independent. I encourage all my kids to be independent of course, they get their own breakfast and brush their own teeth…but I never force them to do something that is beyond their ages.

So if the weight of being a Mom with young children is on your shoulders today, here’s some advice from a Mom who has been in your shoes.

Take a day off. Put your feet up, turn on “Finding Nemo” and relax. Cuddle your babies and read them stories. Let the food fall to the floor…better yet…put the plate of food on the floor and let them pretend they are puppies while they eat!

Enjoy your babies…because being a Mom is really tough…and it will get easier. 

 

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