My Pledge

A day lasts 24 hours. A year 365 days.

When you have a newborn each hour feels like an eternity and a second all in the same breath. They grow so quickly. Each stage lasts entirely too long and flies by entirely too quickly. It’s a strange thing.

Newborns cry. A lot. And I often found myself wishing that stage would pass. As my son turns 1, I find myself longing for those sweet snugly days and forgetting about the crying that often punctuated the snuggles. As my son climbs on my end table, I find myself wishing for a time when he couldn’t even hold his own head up.

I vividly recall one incident where I heard the words “cherish every moment.” I was in Target. One of my first solo trips with a newborn and a toddler. The newborn was not happy, the toddler was sick of listening to the crying newborn. I wanted to curl up on the floor of Target and cry, or sleep. A nice woman saw me aimlessly wandering around in the candy section, searching for something that may have made that moment better. She smiled, asked how old they were, and said it “cherish every moment.” I wasn’t cherishing anything at that point. I would have cherished silence, or wine.

One year later, I get it. They curl up in bed together. My toddler tickles her brother and I hear squeals of joy. He chases her around the house and she thinks its hilarious. She comes running into the kitchen to tell me that he has climbed onto the end table, again. He can climb up, but he can’t get back down. She thinks that is very funny. They discover things together, and are growing into amazing and fun little people.

I try to savor every moment. It goes so fast they say. When your three year old is demanding pirates booty and your infant is banging his cup demanding water, it’s hard to remember that. Its hard to remember that five minutes before they were laughing hysterically. Each stage has its ups and its downs. I often get so caught up in the challenges that I forget to look for the positives.

My son. Spitfire. Full of energy and curiosity. Loves to explore his world. Constantly seeking something new. Loves to cuddle when he’s tired or nervous. Holds my finger when he’s sleeping. Big wondering eyes. A smile that can brighten even the darkest days. Makes sweet sounds to engage and interact with everyone he comes across.

My daughter. Energy personified. Vocabulary that rivals some young adults. Loves to read, paint, and sing. Plays with her hands when she’s nervous. Smiles almost all day long. Forgiving. Loves to snuggle at night. Asks questions all day long. Seeks information, knowledge. Wants to know how things work. The story behind it all. Includes everyone.

These are the things I need to focus on. My social media, my life is filled with focusing on the negative aspects of small children. We forget that they will not be small for long. Each day they are older, and with age comes new skills, wisdom, and knowledge. One day my worries won’t be snuggling, they will be driving and homework and college. For now, I embrace the mess, the chaos, the uncertainty that comes with toddlerhood. From now on, I pledge to focus on the good. The bad will be there, raising children is not easy. But it is rewarding. Remember that as your child pulls your hair, throws their food on the ground, or runs away. Remember that not long ago, they were small and unable to do much of anything. See how much they’ve grown and remember that there is more to come. Savor it. Every moment. Every giggle. Every latch. Every smile. Relish in it. Time goes so very fast.