Tag: Parenthood

Before you have kids

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I read an article once that made me crack up. I just tried to find it but to no avail, so if anyone knows knows of it or the author – let me know! It was hysterical. The premise was this: before you have kids, relish in the simplicity of the pre-kid life. The example they used was leaving the house. Step outside, they said. Just step outside your door. It’s that easy – you’re out! Once you have kids, this will become a daily obstacle.

Truer words have never been spoken. It takes forever to leave the house. I actually don’t think that it takes all the much longer with two kids as compared to one, but the jump from zero kids to one was massive. Now before leaving the house I have to change diapers, juggle nap schedules, pack the diaper bag (which inevitably takes forever), convince my 2 y/o that leaving the house is a good idea, fit the stroller into the car, find everything to put in the diaper bag (takes longer than expected since the house is almost always a disaster because who has time to clean!?), and usually come back into the house once or twice because something was inevitably forgotten.

The thought of this exhausts me!

So parents-to-be, do yourselves a favor: if you want to do something, relish in the ability to just do it. You won’t have this opportunity again for many, many years.

On Children, by Khalil Gibran

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I think about this often. My life at the moment revolves around my kids – a 9 month old and a 2.5 year old. When I am at home, I do not have a minute to myself. The days fly by in a blur of mealtimes, nap times, and activities to entertain the kids. The hours pass while we watch the kids play in their playroom, stroll outside with one baby in the carrier and one on his Strider bike, wash dishes, do laundry, clean pump parts, cook – the list goes on. These are lovely moments – reading books on the window seat, playing peek-a-boo, and even answering the same question over and over again. I have already seen how these little people are born with their own desires, disdains, and personalities. I know that it is only a matter of time before they fly away from me. They will make their own friends, create their own worlds, and go on to have busy, busy lives. It is the nature of things and I am trying to prepare for it. For now, I am soaking up these precious days – trying to be as present as possible despite so often being exhausted. And in the back of my mind trying to remind myself that these children are not my own.

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Sleeping again (maybe)

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My youngest turns 7 months in a week. This is truly unbelievable and I can’t believe how quickly the past few month have flown by! One of the perks of him turning 7 months is that he is now sleeping through the night – hurrah! This is happening because we’ve worked on it (by letting him cry and self-settle, more on that in a later post), but also because he’s getting older and doesn’t need to eat every 2 hours. Admittedly, he was eating every 2 hours approximately 2 weeks ago, at a time when he most certainly did not NEED to eat every 2 hours, but these little babies sure can be manipulative!

In any case, I am again amazed by how sleeping through the night gives you a whole new perspective on life. Granted, it has only been two nights, and I’m an old hand now – I know that regressions are around the corner – but WOW does it feel good to sleep without waking up every 2-3 hours! I can actually think more clearly, and act more quickly, and I have a much better temperament. Also – the possibilities seem endless! Now that I’m sleeping through the night, perhaps I will actually wake up early to go to the bi-weekly exercise class I signed up for in January. Or maybe I will blog more. Who knows? Again – endless possibilities.