This morning, I woke up of my own accord. My children woke up before me, scooped their own yogurt into a bowl, found a clamshell of blueberries, and were enjoying a show on LPB when I walked into the living room. I gave them each a kiss good morning, and told them to find some play clothes while I hopped into the shower. They were dressed when I was finished with my shower that I enjoyed alone. I scrambled some eggs for a more filling breakfast for all of us. They brushed their own teeth, found their own shoes, and even buckled themselves into their carseats (that I doubled checked).
My children are ages seven and four and are learning to be independent. They can feed themselves and play independently. And miracle of miracles, we can leave the house without a bag the size of a suitcase filled to the brim with extra onesies, extra socks, extra diapers, extra wipes, extra pacifiers, and even extra clothes for me. Life didn’t always run so smoothly. And let’s be honest, sometimes it still doesn’t. Big kids have their own challenges, but those challenges leave me less frazzled than when I had my hands full with a toddler and baby.
Mamas of littles, I want you to know, I remember. I remember what it’s like to be on aisle nine in the grocery store and hearing “uh oh, I have to tee tee, Mama.” I remember scooping up the baby, leaving the buggy, and running to the bathroom clear on the other side of the store to avoid an accident. I remember what it’s like to dress out of a laundry basket, because every time I sat down to fold clean clothes, I fell asleep from exhaustion because the baby wasn’t sleeping at night. It’s hard. They tell you to cherish every moment, and there are so many cherishable moments to savor, but it doesn’t make life with littles any less hard.
Mamas of littles, hang in there. You won’t always have to fight to wipe the smashed banana off her little pug nose and from inside her ears and her sweet baby curls. I actually miss watching my girls learn to eat and the messes that followed. Your little guy will soon be able to reach the light switch in the bathroom. This was big for me. Did anyone else have a little that had SO MANY ACCIDENTS in the hallway because the bathroom was dark and scary? One magical day she’ll swing by herself at the park, and you’ll both celebrate her achievement. But you’ll still push her anytime she asks.
Those littles grow into independent, capable children. But you’ll never stop sneaking into her room after she’s asleep to give her a kiss on her forehead. Because she’ll always be your little, even when she’s big.
