For When My Kids Have Kids

When McKenna was five weeks old we had a surprise birthday party for my Mimi.   It was the first time some of my cousins met our first born.   I remember it like yesterday when one of them held her for the first time and said, "Wow, you forget how small they are."   That comment struck me as so odd at the time.   In the trenches of being a new mom I couldn't imagine not remembering how my brand new daughter fit so snuggly in my arms.    Nine plus years later, I have lived that comment.  There are lots of things that unfortunately, you forget.   Sometimes I think it's a survival mechanism.  If we remembered all the bad parts like the miserable moments of pregnancy or the recovery from birthing children, I'm fairly certain the human race would cease to exist.    But in forgetting the not so good moments we sometimes lose some of the nice moments too.

But I digress.   This blog post is for my kids.  For when they have kids, I want to remember these times.   And I'm not talking today about the "oh, I love being a mother, this is so wonderful, my children are angels" days.  I want to remember the days like today.   I've spent the last six weeks nursing one kid or another through a variety of virus', ear infections,  and crud.   Just when I thought we were through it all and heading toward calm waters, Cooper graces us with a sore throat and fever.   I'll be honest,  I stayed in bed a few extra minutes this morning.  I just did not feel like facing another day juggling a sick kid and a recovering Kinley, all while trying to be a good mom to McKenna.   It came to my mind that it can always be worse.  Always.  Let's face it, my kids are super healthy and this is just part of raising a family.   The part I want my kids to know some day is that it's okay to be disgusted.  It's okay that you're tired.  It's okay that after spending two hours at the clinic for a well child check, you feel like you want to have a meltdown.   It's okay to literally pray for a drama free day.  Being a parent comes with some really crappy days - how else would you differentiate between the great days.   I just want to remember that.  I want to be able to look back and say to my kids, "Yep, I remember the day, when Kinley and Cooper and I spent 2 hours in the waiting room at the clinic.  I thought I was going to lose my mind that day."    I don't want them to think that I forget what it's like to have three kids.  I don't want them to think that I forget how hard it is to be in this season of raising small kids.    I want them to know that I remember the days when you're out of snacks and milk and almost out of patience but the thought of making a trip to the store with kids seems a little like climbing Everest.   I want them to know that even days when everyone is awesome and you couldn't ask for better behaved kids, you will still be bone tired and craving a 10 minute nap.  But you probably won't get it.    What you will get is more time to wipe runny noses and clean dirty bathrooms and cook another meal.   Thank goodness that at some point in the day you'll also get a smile, a laugh, and when you're really lucky, a big  hug from smallish arms.   Don't forget that!