While grocery shopping today with my two youngest, I had a sudden, strong recollection of my life ten years ago: rushing to finish shopping before nap time so no one fell asleep in the car, feeling the weight of the baby in the front carrier pull on my shoulders as the mountain of food in the cart grew and grew, dreading the perpetually looming possibility of meltdowns and the stares the would make me cower and blush.
I finally made it to the check-out. At that point, I was really missing my older children. My cart-pusher wasn't there. The many hands to help with the bags were not there. The clowns who made the baby laugh were not there. And I realized how grateful I was for them.
Yes, they do grow up.
That is my best advice to mothers with children under the age of five.
They do grow up.
Just when you can't take another day of cleaning up Cheerios and applesauce that had been thrown all over the kitchen. Just when you don't want to attend another event during which you spend the whole time wandering with a toddler through the lobby. Just when you are tired of people removing your plate when you were only half done with your meal.
I've been there. It's not fun.
But they do grow up.
When you are in the midst of it all, you don't see the daily, gradual changes. And then one day, you look back and those baby and toddler years don't seem so long anymore. You wouldn't necessarily want to relive them, but you do see that the suffering, the frustrations, and the tears were worth it. The person whom you thought was lost among the diapers, tantrums, and baby clothes resurfaces– wiser, stronger, and with more love to give.
Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there. Whether you are a mamma, a mutti, a mommy, a maman, a mother of one, a mother of twelve, a biological mother, an adoptive mother, or a surrogate mother, remember this:
God gifted you with the child. He will also gift you with the tools you need to raise this child.
Hold fast. Have courage.
They do grow up.
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