As I watch you play as two little girls it often crosses my mind that one day you will become a mom. It’s hard to fathom that when I watch one of you crawl around in a diaper while the other is practicing writing her name, but it’s a reality.
I write down things you do, things you say, and moments we have together. I also often write things I want you to remember when you become a mom. Some funny and some sentimental, but they are all important because you’ll quickly learn that being a mom is one of the hardest yet most rewarding jobs you’ll ever have. When you do become a mom there are a few things I want you to remember.
Cut yourself some slack. At least half of the week I make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. I often think how I should be offering you something else. When I look across the table though all I see is happiness. Your feet are swinging and you’re enjoying every bite. I beat myself up over not making other choices for you when really you are just as happy as can be with the one I made. Don’t do this to yourself. If they are smiling and happy then you are doing a fine job; no need to imagine the what-ifs.
Don’t rush. We often are on the verge being late everywhere we go. You see me scrambling to shove diapers in the diaper bag and tell you for the billionth time to please get your shoes on. But then you spell your name or pull up on the couch for the first time. It’s in moments like this that I am reminded not to rush. There’s no reason to rush somewhere when the most important moments are the ones right in front of me. When you rush, you miss the most precious moments.
Embrace the good and bad. I will openly admit that there are some days where finding the good seems near impossible. Embracing the chaos can be so hard. The last thing you want to do is smile when someone is throwing a fit on the floor or refuses to nap, but I promise you that those moments won’t last forever. Don’t let them ruin the good. Embrace the bad and turn them into learning moments. You can learn something from every situation, even the simplest ones.
Just go with it. Control is something that I’m still learning to let go of, but when I do I can feel the weight lifting off my shoulders. Kids are so unpredictable so just go with it. I pull out art supplies to create a well-thought through project just to discover that you would rather glue everything on one piece of paper or create your own project. When I sit back and put you in control I get to see you shine. You’ll learn that going with the flow is in the best interest of everyone.
At the end of the day remember that the simplest moments matter the most. Sing songs, act silly and embrace all of it. I know one day you will become wonderful mothers, but until then we will take baths until your wrinkly, use up the entire bottle of bubbles, and laugh until it hurts.
