When she can sit up, it will be easier.
When he can understand not to hurt her, it will be easier.
When she can walk, when he is more independent, when they play together, it will be easier.
Those statements are, at least in some ways, true.
And sometimes, in the hard hours around dinner or the early morning, when they cry at the same time or she nurses while I sit beside the tub bathing him, it’s easy to repeat the mantra.
It will be easier. It will be easier. It will be easier.
But to wait for those times, to hope for them, is to lose sight of the present, the now.
Now is where the action and the love and the memories are.
The present is the space in which we live life.
Her fledgling smiles, his musical “concerts,” the way they watch each other.
I know it will come—that day when they both won’t need me quite so much.
The door will slam and they will run outside, to the playground, to the school bus, to their cars.
One following the other.
It will, in some ways, be easier.
But I don’t think I will like it any more.
I adore the focus on the present – tricky, important.
Galit Breen recently posted..Go For It, Always
Oh, you KNOW how I felt reading this. How I would trade one extremely hard day with a little boy and his baby sister at times for the sound of silence that resonates from that empty room down the hall.
Easier, in some ways…but hard at every stage.
You are always right there in my head, from back when I lived your life. Love it….
Sherri recently posted..What is “Special”, Anyway?
love this. It gets easier in some ways and harder in others.
Robbie recently posted..NaBloPoMo Drop Out
Easier, but not necessarily better right? I have to tell myself to be present, even now, before the baby comes. And not to wish time away, as it’s so short as it is. Hugs to you!
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..My 2-Year Old Baby
“I don’t think I’d like it anymore”…yup.
I remember eagerly waiting for each milestone…sitting..crawling…feedding. Now I miss them. I think so many of us want to rush through these wonderful moments just so that life can be easier. But you know what? It’s not. Each milestone brings with it a whole new set of issues.
Ain’t parenting fun?
Kimberly recently posted..I’m A Pretty Big Thing In H-Town
Beautifully said. During the hard times I force myself to sit back and mentally tell myself, “I am right here.” Being present in the here and now is what it’s all about.
Mel recently posted..Elevensies
Enjoy! These moments go by so fast!
JDaniel4s Mom recently posted..Read.Explore.Learn.- An Orange in January
Mine are 13 and 9. I still hear the little voice in my head that says, “Pace yourself. You’re making memories here.”
As my children are getting older, I always wish they were babies/toddlers again because I feel like those were the easy days…although I didn’t realize it at the time.
Runnermom-jen recently posted..Finding the Joy
I have said this so many times, and been completely irritated by the moms with older kids who told me that no, it would not be easier. I think it DOES get easier for some of us who prefer toddlerhood or preschoolerhood to babyhood. And that’s ok, even if we do miss some of those precious baby moments. And I think there are a lot of beautiful, wonderful, easier times ahead before they really need us that much less that it hurts. So hang in there even as you enjoy it as much as you can.
Jessica@Team Rasler recently posted..Our winter wonderland
Sometimes it is hard to appreciate the present when both kids are crying or they both need something from you at the same time. It is easier in the future but it’s also different. Soak in all the moments from right now that you can because they won’t come back.
Jessica recently posted..Pregnancy, Dateline, and Turning 30