“There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.”
--Ecclesiastes 3:1, NLT
Children are not terribly convenient. This is contrary to what our culture expects, and it really frazzles some parents, but it’s true. Conventional wisdom encourages us to push babies from one stage to the next as quickly as possible. Many folks want to put parenting on fast-forward . . . get them weaned, sleeping alone, eating alone, out of diapers, off to school, out of the house as fast as possible so you can . . . um, do what exactly? Go back to your life before children? Hmm.
Might I suggest, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, if that is how you feel, perhaps you should have gotten a ficus instead. Or maybe a cactus. I hear they’re real easy to take care of.
I know it’s not easy when you are in the trenches. I’m living that right now . . . the day-to-day can be brutal. Multiple kids brings multiple drama. Sweet little girls can turn your living room into a wrestling venue. Just this week I was again reminded it is entirely possible for a tiny infant to poop so explosively that you are cleaning poo from his hair . . . and ears. I also recently removed peanut butter from my child’s *eye* . . . for those of you keeping score: Julia, of course. Parenting is glamourous, for sure.
When all else fails, remember: This too shall pass.
Consider this a gentle reminder to slow down and enjoy the season. This isn’t always easy, or fun. Right now my “season” involves a four-year-old needing constant reassurance and guidance from Mommy as she learns to navigate the world independently; a rather defiant, strong-willed, and feisty (some of the nicer words I can come up with right now) two-year-old; and an easy-going but nevertheless time-consuming infant. Believe me, some days I’d like to time machine myself out of this stage. But, this is the way my children need me right now. This is *my* season. Are you enjoying yours?
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