Did you ever feel like your day turns out to feel like nothing more than one big routine? That sometimes, your day doesn’t look much different than the one before?
You wipe spilled juice off the floor more times than you can count.
You break up the sibling rivalry that occurs every five seconds. Every five seconds.
You repeat the same sentences like, “Stop it. Don’t do that. Sit down. Eat your food. Did you hear what I said?”
You fold laundry, rinse and repeat.
You hear the word “Mommy” on average 5,634 times a day.
You fold more laundry, rinse and repeat.
You wipe noses, butts and tears.
You wipe and wipe some more.
You sometimes wonder if it was worth giving that career up and trading it with the likes of listening to the high-pitched voices of the Bubble Guppies every single morning.
You constantly feel like you are spinning your wheels, doing the exact same things, speaking the exact same words and nothing seems to change. You begin to feel as though you just want to fast forward the clock. “It will be easier when he’s three or when she’s out of diapers,” and the list goes on…
It’s kind of like wanting to pass away the time to get to the next phase already.
And then…
You glimpse into their eyes for one quick moment amidst the chaos, you remember why you do it.
You rush around and wrangle the kids at an ongodly hour to get out of the house for an appointment, and while sitting in traffic you remember why you do it.
Your paycheck is nothing compared to what you were used to, but knowing dinner is on the table at a decent hour you remember why you do it.
And one day, probably not too far off in the distance, as I complain about this mundane routine I know all too well these days, I’ll probably be wishing it were back.
Wishing I was wiping noses, folding little socks, breaking up fights and cleaning pretzel crumbs from behind the couch.
Yes, this. Tediously perfect. You captured it beautifully!
When we don’t have a routine day, I miss the routine!
Yes, yes, yes. Every day. I wish it all away then feel guilty and wish it all back. Sometimes it is so tiring and draining, but then remember that these days with my son won’t last forever bring me right back to reality and I soak it all up anyway.
This is SO SO true, for every minute I wish we were past “this” phase there are a million more that I don’t want it to go so quickly. Love this post!!!
So true. I need to stop and appreciate it more. Lovely post my friend. xo
Love this! So so true.
Most days I want to stop time, keep them at this place they are – right now.
Here, with me always
So very true! Although I could really do without the wiping!
I try to remind myself of this every time I start toilet the stress creep in. Sometimes it’s mundane, but often it’s just completely beautiful. Yesterday we spent 45 minutes watching snails in the backyard…seeing the look of wonder on their little faces made everything else worth it!
Yes…yes…and yes. Well said.
It is always the laundry that reminds me how much I will miss these years. I already long for more baby and the outfits getting bigger and bigger often stop me in my tracks as I fold. While I hate the wiping, I think I have been doing much better with knowing so clearly that I only get this time with my young children once. I am embracing it. It is worth it. Great post my friend!
You really will miss it one day. I’d love to turn back the clock and have mine back at home snuggled up next to me for a nap. They grow up too quickly. Seems like you blink and they’re grown.
Yes. I have these moments every day. On the weekends when I’m home with the kids and during the week when I’m leaving them. I wish away their lives one second, and want to freeze time the next.
I have so, so been there. And I can completely and totally identify with what you are saying. There are some days (the really bad ones) when I wonder why on Earth I gave up college and a future career to be a SAHM. But even on those worst of days, I see my son and how fast he’s growing and know that I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Thanks for the reminder today … I needed this!
Mine are K and 3rd grade. Sometimes when I see other people’s sweet little babies I get a pang for mine at that age. I already miss those babies so much even though I thought I was never going to make it through their babyhood.
I pray for the ability to see the beauty in my children’s life…and my own…as it is today. Especially when those days are terrifically difficult.
You capture the ambivalence of motherhood so well in this. I had a moment last night, as I was scrubbing gum off the back seat of my car, where I found myself thinking I can’t wait until these days are over. But I can wait. I do want to enjoy these few years with them that will be gone before I know it.
I am so with you on this, both the moments that make me feel insane and the ones that remind me why I do it.
Do I wish my kids were young again? No. It was very hard with my twins, who were active beyond active. My husband was gone 60-70 hours a week, my mom became ill, my oldest needed me to take her places…I had no village and was on my own to hold down the fort. I could never leave the house, as my son darted away, he undid stroller straps and car seat locks…I dreamed of the time they were in school all day.
Now that they are, I do not miss the chaos that once ruled my life. I love my kids more than anything, but I am not afraid to admit that it was hard and I am proud to have survived it.
Beautifully written heather and a perfect reminder to appreciate ever second.
I agree… we really do rush them through sometimes, when we should just enjoy every single cuddle, every soft & mushy kiss… every half-eaten cookie (ok, maybe not THAT much)
Every day is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present!
Sometimes it’s hard to look past the things that drive us crazy to see what we love about staying home with the kids. Thanks for the reminder.
I can so relate–I’m sure every mom can. . . there are days when I feel so guilty for wanting to be away and for even being away. And then there are days (usually Sunday afternoons around 3:00) when I want to run away screaming. 😉
So, so true! Recently I wrote a blog wondering what I did before mamihood! In the midst of things, my little girl will come up to me and wrap her little 17-month old arms around me and I know.
I am not blessed to stay home with her every day. Know that those of us that don’t get to do that every day are actually jealous! Can you imagine! Great post! Thank you for sharing.
This is so true! Every milestone I am wishing for the next but as the next comes I am always wishes it didn’t come so fast. I think it’s the circle of life.
Yes, to all of the above…I love this post!
That’s wild. We must be going through the same “May is tiring” feeling b/c I wrote something very similar today. I have specific times of day that are really hard (I call it unhappy hour) and then other times of day when I just want to eat them up for the love I have for them. And I know I’ll miss it so much when they’re all grown. But there are days where it feels endless, aren’t there?
So agree – I am back at work (and have been for a while) and now I am missing what I used to have at home. Ahhhhh, the “perfect” balance has to exist somewhere, right?!
Well said! I’m only a little over a month in to my SAHM transition, but I can see what you’re saying so clearly. And even though it can be a grind to be in the middle of the madness, I’m so glad not to be missing it anymore. Well, most of the time
Ladies,
It will truly be a blink and they will be gone! My 2 youngest are 18 and 20. The 20 year old will finish school this December and be moving in with his fiance and baby. My youngest will be moving in 2 weeks to go to school (3 hours away).
I have waited for the days that the hall bathroom counter would be free of hair care products and the front porch woudn’t be cluttered with car parts and tools. And now that day is almost here. I do miss the younger phases! I was watching a young mom of a 1 year old in church yesterday. He literally did not sit still! He was constantly spinning in her lap, round and round! I DON’T miss that kinda stuff!
Try, try your best to enjoy the moment you are in!
Bernice
Why I love Twitter
This is so true.
I started keeping a handwritten journal called “Dear Girls.” I write down things they did that day. It will be neat to read in a few years what they were doing at that time.
It will also be neat for them to read it when they are older and see their lives through my eyes.
When I write down the good things they did that day it makes me remember why I do it!
Oh yes! I too feel like a broken record and have been keeping a list of my sayings. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
As I face the reality of my son having only two years of high school left, there are many times I wish I could turn back the clock and have the monotony again! Well said.
It happens to the best of us, but like you said, “you remember why you did it.” It’s totally worth it. Those wet, sticky kisses and amazing hugs… LOVE them!
So perfect, so true! When I am on the brink of tears as I wipe the bathroom counter for the 100th time in a week and feel like I am re-living Ground Hog Day I try to remember that not long from now I will be aching for these days!
Hi I’m de-lurking to say what a beautiful post! I’ve missed this type of post from you. Thanks for the reminder to stop and “remember why we do it”.
I needed this little reminder this week. It’s certainly been a rough one!
You said exactly what my heart’s been feeling. I wish moments away but then there are always a million more moments that I wish it all back. Wonderfully written!
Oh I was just talking about this with someone this past weekend. My kids were so loud and jumping all over the place and someone said, “Oh I miss my kids when they were that age…if only I could have it back.” It stopped me dead in my tracks…she is so right. I need to embrace it more, because they are only little for so long.
I recently wrote a love letter to my mundane mama routine (http://www.leadingmama.com/2011/05/letter-to-my-love.html) because I missed it so much on vacation. Sure, it isn’t glamorous to wipe noses and butts all day long. But there is comfort in knowing what I do is essential to my kids’ growth and happiness. Thanks for the reminder!
It’s so easy to let the repetition get to us!
Heather, you hit the nail on the head for me. This is where my head is these days, with my son getting ready to graduate from high school in a few short weeks.
I love this post….and you are so right. We all know why we do it the minute we look into their eyes.
This post is perfectly written!
Tis true. Reminds me of a post I wrote on Thursday about happiness and parenting. Never did I think – back when my son was an infant and everyday was truly a struggle – that I would miss that. It was hard and frustrating and tiring; I kept looking forward to the future when he was more independent, etc. Now, I watch video clips and wish I could go back for one day of it so I could appreciate it because I didn’t appreciate it enough then. So, then I think, what does that say about TODAY?