MamaLaw #6 – Stop and Smell the dirty diapers
Posted on 12.13.06 at 9:46 am
Well, you know what I mean. These precious moments of our kids’ childhoods will be gone all too soon. My Youngest is already 9 months old and crawling. It feels like just yesterday when she and I were sitting in the hospital room together hours after she arrived. For me, the pang of sadness hits once they become too big for you to cradle them in your arms – that’s when I realize that they are no longer a teeny tiny baby! Last night I fought traffic after work as usual, hoping to make it home before Youngest went to sleep (since she’s usually out by 6:45pm). I ran in the door at 6:20pm, only to find out that was already sleeping! I kid you not, I immediately was overcome with sadness – tears started to well up in my eyes and everything. This was the second night in a row that I missed her. Then the guilt set in. Was I a terrible mom for working full-time during these first years of my kids’ lives? What kind of mom only sees her baby for 1 hour in the morning every day during the week?? All I wanted to do was see one of her huge gummy smiles and smell her sweet scent. I suppose I could have woken her up, but how selfish would that have been of me to interrupt her slumber…Then I felt even worse for being visibly upset for missing Youngest while Oldest was still awake! So, I got myself together and spent the next couple of hours enjoying QT with Oldest. It was great. But I still hate the fact that Youngest has only been here for 9 months and I’ve spent 5 of those months working. But, I guess I have to do what I have to do. So, in looking for the positive in this situation, I decided to make the most of the time that I do have with both of my girls, whether it be an hour or a weekend. Remember: in the midst of the hustle and bustle of each day, make a special effort to stop and smell the dirty diapers. Because before you know it, they’ll be asking to use the potty.
