Since my first child was born ten and a half years ago, I have been a stay at home mom. I will admit that the idea of staying at home never appealed to me and I never really thought I would do so. I was very young and did not really have an opinion on the matter. Once my daughter was born, the thought of someone else taking care of her every day, instead of myself, made me sad! So, my husband and I thought it would be best for me to stay home until all of our children were of Kindergarten age.
Staying at home was not easy.
Once my fourth child was born, it certainly seemed I would never reach the day when all four of them were “of kindergarten age.”
Whenever I think of staying at home with kids, I think of the saying, “the days are LONG, but the years are short.”
How many days did I stare at the clock wondering when naptime was coming?
How many diapers have I changed? Hours spent nursing? Hours spent reading? Cleaning?
How often have I tried to reason with a toddler on the necessity of pants?
How many moments did I spend exhausted, discouraged, happy, worried, and blessed? How often had I been frustrated with a child, maybe even put her in bed for a little time out, and then went to check on her and had my heart overflow with love?
Staying at home was my mission in life and my mission seemed never ending!
But yesterday, my baby turned five.
(Little Dude, age 1, taking his first steps)
Little Dude, yesterday, on his 5th birthday.
I feel like I have crossed some sort of imaginary finish line! It was a day that I never thought would come. A day that I had waited for! And it ended up making me feel sad. Even with all the frustration and exhaustion, it was worth it. And I am thankful that I was able to spend all of those moments with my kids. I am thankful for my husband who worked so many long hours so I could stay home. And I am thankful to God for blessing me with four, healthy children.
If you are staying at home right now with small children, take heart! What you are doing really is important! It does matter! And someday, you will look around you and realize that no one is in diapers anymore, needs a sippy cup, needs help in the bathroom, needs a nap, nor has spit up all over them . . . and you might even feel a little sad.
Of course, I am still going to be at home with my kids since we homeschool. But I feel like we are entering a new chapter in our lives . . . and I am going to try and be thankful for all the moments I have with my kids . . . the good and the bad.
***
Back to Little Dude’s birthday . . .
His cake did not turn out as grand as I had hoped. Are you surprised? But he still enjoyed it.
We went camping last weekend and he double loves camping so it was a win all around for him.
(David and Little Dude)
And before I go, I wanted to share with you a funny, albeit horribly embarrassing story involving Little Dude.
The kids and I were out and the husband of someone I know was there and he was saying hello and making some small chitchat. As he turned to walk away, Little Dude shout/asked:
“MOM!? IS THAT YOUR BOYFRIEND?”
Yikes!
And I would like the records to show that I do not have a boyfriend.
***
Today is my mom’s birthday! Happy Birthday, Mom! In honor of her birthday, I thought I would share with you a hilarious text message she sent to me the morning after she got her new smartphone a few weeks ago.
“Help! Everytime someone calls me, I cannot figure out how to answer the phone. I can only text. Can you find out how to answer my phone for me?”
So, I had to Google it for her and text her back.
What would she do without me?
Happy Thursday!
Wow! 5 Already? Happy Birthday Little Dude!
And happy birthday to your mum as well!
Thank you for this. my 2 year old is killing me. I need to practice enjoying every moment and stop dreaming of sleeping in an everyone being potty trained!
The sleeping children are the best…that is the only time my 4.5 year old son is quiet.
I was just looking at him and his long legs, thinking…that is my baby.
Happy Birthday little Man!
Well, I have expressed these sentiments exactly. Time with your children is precious hard work, but the most important job there is. I’m glad they have you for a mom and I’m glad you had your mom. Don’t know what she’d do without you, or you her. So, hooray for happy healthy families! And hooray for birthdays! And hooray for all the moms out there doing their best for their families. We all deserve a medal.
oh, and hooray for any husband who supports these moms. Good fathers deserve a medal too!
very sweet post, teller.
and happy birthday to the one who has a different father. 😉
Hee hee hee.
Happy Birthday !!!
This was lovely Taylor. Happy Birthday Little Dude.
Oh my goodness, I needed to read this. So bad. The days are so long, but YES, 365 of them fly by before you know it. Can I just say that it’s really encouraging to read words from more experienced Moms that aren’t prefaced with evil cackles and sprinkled “just you wait until xyz…” remarks? I get very weary of that. I know it’s hard, but I want to hear that it’s not in vain. That it’s beautiful in the end. That it’s exciting to move forward with each age.
Mom’s with teenagers are the WORST about making you hope the rapture happens tomorrow. Haha.
So anywho, thank you for the encouragement. This Mama of a 4.5yo, almost 3yo and 3 mo needs it.
Happy Birthday to your little dude!