Thoughts on Motherhood…

All we have are moments. Like the one I had earlier today when my two-year-old daughter shut me in the dark pantry to have alone time with her. My heart melted as she grabbed my hand and babbled about her day. It was just a moment, but it was so special.

We are not promised tomorrow and can’t relive yesterday. We have today. Today’s moments, whether high or low, are all we have.

These moments come and go whether we want them to or not. Some we want to savor, others not as much, but no matter our desires, they will still slip through our fingers.

Our kids change, right before our eyes and it seems like as soon as you get used to one season of life, your child has suddenly, and without your permission shifted to another one.

Some of these seasons in parenting seem to fly by, while others, like sleepless nights, linger on [and on and on].

I am working to find the beauty in these middle, not-so-glamorous seasons. These are everyday ones that you wouldn’t normally celebrate or even know to look forward to. These ordinary days are the ones that add up to make our weeks, months and years.

What would it look like for us to welcome these ordinary seasons fully present and wholeheartedly embrace what they have to offer us?

Here are a few ways I am working to embrace change and transitions as they come:

BE PRESENT

Be present in our daily lives and engaged in our children’s hearts and minds. Make eye contact, hold hands, give hugs, ask questions, be curious, encouraging and make sure you know what is going on in your child’s life.

LIVE OPEN HANDEDLY

Live open handedly by not trying to control things or the unknown and instead live aware of God’s sovereignty and work in our day to day lives and the lives of our children.

LOOK FOR BEAUTY

Look for beauty in the ordinary, regular and messy day to day. Practicing gratitude helps us to be present and embrace these ordinary moments and not just let them pass us by.

BREATHE

Breath prayers are a wonderful way to push back against chaos and anxiety. One example of a breath prayer is to:  inhale and hold one word or phrase (ex: “be still) and hold for and then exhale and release one word or phrase longer than the inhale (ex: “and know I am God.”)

FIND SOMEONE ONE STAGE AHEAD AND ONE STAGE BEHIND

Look for other moms to befriend who are one stage ahead of you and one stage behind you. It is so helpful to have a mom a little ahead to give you tips, encourage you that things will not always be this way or give insight to the stage that your kid is currently in. In the same way, it is helpful to have a mom who is a little behind you that you can encourage. This way you get to remember the joys and difficulties of the stage that you just passed through. Both offer perspective and beauty to enrich our lives and our parenting.

As we work to be present, grateful and aware we can openhandedly embrace each season and the changes that come [both good and bad].

Motherhood is a dance. A dance between mother and child, our personalities, schedules, demands and life. As we work to balance and embrace it, we are able to enjoy parenting, no matter the season.