One of the greatest things about keeping up the blog, aside from meeting some pretty fabulous people, is that I’ve basically chronicled our life from the time I found out I was pregnant with E till now.
It’s interesting to go back and read those posts and just reflect on how far we’ve come in three years. When E was just 2 months old, I wrote a post about how life has changed since he was born.
So now that MiniE is here, I thought about not just how life has changed but what having two children has taught me.
(But before I go into that…I just reread that last line and freaked out a little. I have TWO KIDS! Really. Sorry, sometimes I just can’t believe it.)
So…as I was saying. Here are a few of the little life lessons that I have really taken to heart since April.
1. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
With E, I was always so concerned and worried about every decision I was making. I was always second guessing myself and worrying that I wasn’t doing the right thing or enough of the right thing.
Well, he might be crazy but I’m pretty happy with the boy he’s growing up to be. He’s unbelievably aware of others and their feelings and is always willing to make someone feel better if he sees that they aren’t feeling good for whatever reason. Seeing that has made me realize that I must be doing something right.
2. I can wait.
When E was a baby, I was always saying..
” I can’t wait till xxx (fill in milestone here).”
Knowing that MiniE is our last and that I’m not going to experience these milestones again has made me really savor every single second. I CAN wait till she crawls. I CAN wait till she walks. It will happen and when it does, I don’t want to think I wished all the time away. I love and cherish everything I do with her (and E). Life can wait. Right now is about creating memories.
3. Give it all you have and then some
This doesn’t just apply to fitness. This goes for parenting too. By the time bedtime comes around every night I’m tired and it would be really easy to just kiss them goodnight and head downstairs but there is so much bonding and memory making that can happen at these moments when you just don’t think you have an ounce of energy left.
Take, for example, trying to teach E what it means to be grateful: Every night we say our prayers and then I tell E one thing I’m grateful for and why. Then I ask him the same thing.
E, can you name one thing you’re grateful for?
The first night I asked him he thought a minute then said…
mmm…Couch.
I chuckled under my breath and gave him a huge hug.
A week later…Same thing. I ask:
E, can you name one thing you’re grateful for?
Again, he thinks and says:
mmm…Daddy cause he plays baseball with me.
Yes, I would’ve liked him to say Mommy, but that’s not the point. The point is he’s learning and that wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t stick with it just a little longer. I love this kid so much and I can’t wait to build special memories like that with MiniE.
This one still gets me all teary eyed: The Most Perfect Memory
So just when you think the day is done, just remember that there are probably more memories to be made but only if you give just a little more.
And whether your a parent or not, I think it’s good to remember all these lessons. Life goes by so fast make every single day the best it can be.
What lesson have you learned or relearned lately?
I love #2. Times goes oh so fast, I live that you want to savor the time, and just take it as it comes.
I really do. I never want to regret.
Love this! Sometimes it’s hard to savor the little.moments in the midst of everything else but when you can, it’s truly special.
Totally agree! We must savor.
Love this! Sometimes it’s hard to savor the little.moments in the midst of everything else but when you can, it’s truly special.
aw so sweet! my fourth grade students are so real and bring me down to earth all the time! 🙂
I can only imagine. Teachers spend so much time with their kids. I imagine your bond is pretty strong.
Now that my kids are technically “adults” I will add that it really does all go by so fast. So don’t sweat the small stuff but do savor those tender moments!
I’m with ya!
I have to say that the “I can’t wait” is so true with the first! Now, since I am not sure if B is going to be our last or not, I plan on savoring every single second and will happily wait for each milestone since they will be (potentially) or last FIRSTS.
totally. Its so strange to think about.
I love “I Can Wait”. I am not a mommy (yet) but I am constantly worrying about rushing through life. Sometimes it is important to just enjoy the journey. Way to go Mama!
I can’t wait to see you with babies! Totally!
Learning to slow down and appreciate every moment in-between. 🙂
I’m learning. It’s tough but I’m aware! 🙂
What an awesome post! It’s funny how you are more relaxed with child #2! I’m like that with my second one! He also gets away with more things lol! I LOVE making memories with my boys…so important because it goes by so fast!
Thanks! I can see how that happens. 🙂
So sweet…and things I long to experience.
One day
I love how you worded the entire post. Kids are great, right? 🙂
Thank you!
Excellent post, Katie! After parenting for going on 13 yrs now, it is easy for me to pretty much send both kids off to bed at night w/o much thought. And I’ll admit I do this sometimes, so thanks for the reminder to “give a bit more” at the end of the day. So important.
And yep, you realize how much more relaxed you are/can be when the second one comes, don’t you?
Thanks friend! Bedtime is so special to me! I’m exhausted but I stay in the moment as long as possible with them.
Having a child with special needs can amp up the contrast between first and second child even more. Shark Boy, our eldest, has always been really dynamic and active, but a lousy sleeper. When we first got the Lightning Kid’s diagnosis (Down syndrome) we cursed ourselves for wishing for anything more placid and calm, because that was the stereotype of a child with DS – passive, and somewhat unengaged. Well, that turned around quickly enough, as LK is just as active and dynamic (and an even worse sleeper).
Now, as we start speech therapy for him, we wish we’d appreciated and savoured every time Shark Boy mastered a new word, even if it was mispronounced.
I can only imagine. You’re an amazing dad! Your kids are very lucky!
So true. I always say just as they have firsts, they have lasts. Like the last time you pick them up and carry them around. Cherish everything, even the chaos. Being a mother is truly an amazing gift.
I totally agree!
When my kids were going through the developmental stages as babies, I too, was anxious for the next big step. It’s kind of sad looking back, that I rushed through it all.
There’s just so much going on that it’s so natural for us to keep looking ahead.
Love this Katie. All of these lessons ring true for me. But definitely, by the end of the day I’m so ready for the day to be over and for the kids to be asleep that I rush through bedtime but those moments before bed are often the sweetest.
I love those moments. Truly some of our most special of the day.
Bedtime can be so precious. I love those moments and you’re so right about the second one, I’m much less anxious for those milestones, more savoring the moment.
Glad I’m not the only one. 😉
This is beautiful. I especially love the “I can wait” realization! What a great reminder to enjoy each moment.
Thanks laura!
I can’t wait to have a little one to have experiences like this. I do see it with my nephew though, even though he is only 5.5 months- seeing his progress and changes is amazing, I can’t wait till he is old enough that we can really play and start talking too!
🙂 I can’t wait to see you with little ones.