Almost every new mama writes down her baby's firsts. I was so good at that with Hunter. I think I even wrote down the date the first day that he wore jeans.
As I have been potty training my last baby, my mind has wandered to the other lasts that have come and gone without notice.
Sometimes I try and think about the last time that one of my older boys came into my room with a bad dream, or the last time they needed help tying their shoe.
When was the last time he grabbed for my hand in public and wasn't embarrassed if anyone else could see?
One of my sons went through a fanatical Mickey Mouse Clubhouse stage, I literally thought that hot dog song would make me go crazy. But now, I can't even remember the last time has asked to watch it.
Since when do the big boys use glasses from the cupboards instead of multi-colored plastic cups?
My baby girl doesn't even really like to be snuggled at bedtime anymore, instead she is telling me night night as she is eager to get into her own bed and go to sleep. When was the last time she needed a song to quiet her sweet little head?
For all of you mamas who are thinking that whatever stage you are in right now will last forever. It won't. Right now you are thinking that it (whatever annoying little hang-up they have right now) just might be the death of you, but before you know it, you won't even remember how it faded away.
I do this eye-blink thing when I don't have a camera handy and I want to remember a moment forever. It is my way of physically taking the time to store a memory in the files of my brain. I am finding that I am doing that more often these days. As we say goodbye to the baby stage a little more each day, I am painfully aware that these days were some of the best. I also know that many of the hard days put me into survival mode: don't even ask me how we all survived 4 babies 4 and under.
People still ask if it is all worth it. 1,000 times the answer will be yes. It will always be yes.
Here is the reason why:
I am learning that even more important than the last is the present.
If I can truly learn to live in the moment of the minute, I will never again worry about missing a last or recording a first. If I am present with my children in the moments that I have with them, then checking the accomplishments off the list becomes intangible because I will always know that I made the most of our time together.
I challenge you today to throw out your expectations of the hour, and stop worrying about what you might be missing. Instead, take the time that you have been given with your babes and live in the moment of the minute. If this becomes a habit, then your list of mommy regrets will begin to fade away and will be replaced with everyday memories of time spent together. I promise.
