Last summer, I was drowning in the roaring rapids of new motherhood with a newborn and a two year old. My memories are blurred and my hair is greyer from it.
This year, I’ve managed to raise one nostril above water with a one year old and a three year old. My memories are sharper and I love my new hair color.
Next year, I will have a two year old and a four year old. Perhaps my diapering days will be over and maybe both nostrils will be above water.
The year after next, I will have a preschooler and a kindergartner. Quite possibly my whole head will be above water gasping full deep breaths. I daydream about mornings filled with long showers and the occasional quiet home
I dream about the days when they are both in school full time, a first grader and a third grader. The quiet will be a fine champagne, bubbly and much anticipated.
Of course, this is what I wanted. Two bundles close together. I wanted them two years apart, equipped with a forever best friend. I wanted them to have what was absent from my childhood, a similar aged sibling. I wanted to silence that defeaning biological tick, squeezing them in before 35 (didn’t make it). I wanted to rush thru the diapering stage by overlapping the diapering stage (don’t try this at home). And the fertility Goddess was swift and kind to me. I am thankful for that.
Surprisingly, I find the work less stressful than teaching at the local elementary. There are less meetings, less paperwork and far less grouchy parents. I love where I am and what I am doing. At times, I find the inevitable mess and chaos of the situation to be funny. Other times, it is quite satisfying. But, there are times when I am up multiple times at night with a hacking 3 year old and goopy nosed one year old, when I dream about that sip of champagne. It will be a long, savory sip, with feet up and followed by one lengthy enormous exhalation.
Of course, this delicious sip of the bubbly will be followed by girl scout cookie fiascos and lost ballet shoes, I know, I know. But, for the moment, I will linger in the fantasy.
10 years ago
12 comments:
Me too, me too, me too. Beautiful post.
Good post... any bubbly left over for a friend???
Hey lady! I just wanted to stop by and say HI! <3
In about 13 years you'll be wishing they were little again lol. Time flies by and you'll miss having kidlets for christmas!
I know exactly what you mean...I have a second grader and a preschooler. In less than two years, I will have both in all day school, something I have been counting down to since the oldest was born! However, the other day, my MIL picked up my preschooler from school and kept her most of the afternoon. When she came home, she said, "Mom, I feel like I didn't see you all day, I missed you," and I realized how much I missed her too.
However, I am sure I will get over it!
P.S. Are you still doing Bookworm Wed? I love those posts!
Thank you! I am working on a Bookworm Wed for Christmas Eve!
Thanks for putting into words what I have felt many times over. Now that my kids are getting a little bit older almost 2 and 4 I can see a little daylight at the end of what was a tunnel of hell sometimes. Those weeks of sicknesses in the house are killers of happiness... You seem to put a nice positive spin on it all too.
Most of the time, I don't mind getting up with them in the middle of the night when they have a hacking fit. I run the hot shower and I sit on the toilet with them snuggled in my arms. She will even request it, if she is hacking."Mummy, I want a sowa" I actually do smile.
Sorry for the long comment and you got me a little weepy.
Someday your little ones will be drinking the champagne with you after their little ones are in bed.
Through some crazy and most unexpected quirks of fate, I now have two girls who are five years apart in age. Almost exactly. And not only is this the case, I acquired one that was already well on her way to tweeybopper status.
There are days when I wonder if I've gotten the better end of the deal, or no. ;-}
I so get you.
Em
"One lengthy enormous exhalation!" I cannot wait!
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