Life is lived in the little moments
Life can move so darn fast and if you’re anything like then you don’t always help it slow down. As a mother I want to make the conscious effort to slow down and not miss a moment.
I am sure you are here since you also want to slow down the moments and savor these years with your children.
Why is it so easy to want to speed up time? To move all these moments and years to come and be gone.
I was stressing to cut all the fruit for my daughters 4th birthday party. Working since last night tk give her the party she wanted. I love her so much I wanted her to be happy with it.
But as I hurried to cut fruit my 4 month old got fussy, I was annoyed with my self that I didn’t work fast enough before Lennon got hungry. But I sat down and nursed her I realized the precious moment with her I was in. Lucy is so important but she is 4 and she is going to be so excited just to see her friends and play. She is not stressed about her fruit. (Also the fruit got down before her party)
Lennon just wants me to hold her. And how glad I am that I stopped and took a moment to dive into this moment with her. If I hadn’t slowed down and enjoyed that moment it would have been lost forever. And for what? A pineapple??
Its so easy to get caught up. In chores, in laundry, in life in general. But we should be cognizant that while sometimes it feels chaotic, these moments are swift and fleeting.
Babies and toddlers don’t keep. Slow down, take a deep breath and try to enjoy the fleeting moment you’re in right now.
Being a mother is productive. Being present is productive.
I had so much energy and motivation to get my house chores done but Lyra has a fever and just wants to lay on me. So I stopped sat down and cuddled her.
But by allowing her to lay and rest on me I’m being productive. Crazy right?
By letting her know I am and always will be a comfort I fulfill the most important job. Being her mom.
Holding her, comforting, and being her safe space. Reminding her I am here for you. I care for you. It will help her grow up with more confidence and healthy.
The love of a mother is something God intended his Children to have. So never feel guilty for just being with your kids.
Cuddling is just as productive as laundry or dishes. If not more productive for your child.
Life is made up of those precious little moments that seemed mundane and ordinary. But really they are beautiful and worth being excited for. I pray everyday that I will be able to see the joy in the day I have with my toddlers.
Some days are better then others of course but everyday has so many good moments. I often think that I only have them for 365 days in this age. It put into perspective how short that it is.
And truly it is even less than that. A barely new 3 yr old and a 3 yr old closer to 4 are totally different stages. I found that tough stages with kids do not last long at all. Maybe 2 weeks, they grow and change so fast..
It’s why it is so important to slow down. To appreciate the moment and life you have now.
Live in the little moments.
You will never regret slowing down and taking time to enjoy your kids. Time is a thief if you do not appreciate the gift that time with your kids is.
Also your children will never regret you spending more time with them. they love you and want to be near you. By taking time every day to show them you are there and you savored time with them, you will reiterate they are important.
They will feel supported and loved if they have parents that slow down and live in those little moments. This will also help raise emotional resilience.
Time is your most valuable currency. When you go to work people pay you for your time there. When you’re home and giving you kids time with you, you are showing them that they are valuable and worth your time.
I can not recommend the book “A Billion Hours of Good” enough. I will link it here. It changed my life and how I look at the world. Time is valuable and 14 minutes is 1% of your day. I thought of how much of my day I want to give to my kids and now I try to work my life around that.
By stopping and making sure I spend more time with them then I do on my computer writing motions and emails for attorneys. (Now don’t get me wrong I LOVE my job, but my most rewarding and important job is being a mom.)
This is something I want to show my kids. Mom loved spending time with me and she slowed down to live life in those little moments that mean so much.
She slowed down to have long lasting core memories. If you watch the movie Inside Out, some of Rileys core memories are just little goofy moments she has with her parents.
But what if her parents did not slow down enough to appreciate those moments with her?
Do not hesitate to stop and just enjoy the time you are having with your kids.
Some fun things to do that I try to do everyday to slow down and be with them is:
Sing songs
Read books
Dance party
Cook together
Play on the floor
Take a walk
Ask them about their day
At the end of the day asking about their happiest time today. We call it Happy thought
Play a board game
Even do a task together like mop, laundry or make dinner. Kids like to just BE with you.
A picnic
Swing on swings
Play tag
These are just some examples, find something you and your kids like to do together and just savor the moments and let them be with you.
You got this momma!! You are doing a great job.