As much as you can, TRY to live in the moment. It’s so easy to get caught up with things you need to do: Did I pay the power bill? When did I feed the dog? I need to remember toilet paper at the grocery store. What am I making for dinner? Children never ever think about the future or what they did three days ago. They live in the present. All that matters to them is what is happening at that very moment. They know how to just exist in the moment and be content. I wish I could live like that sometimes!
This too shall pass. I tell myself this every night when I pour myself into bed exhausted from the day. Every hard phase that you’re currently in WILL PASS, I promise. Pretty soon the sleepless nights will be a distant memory and you’ll have another set of obstacles to overcome: potty training, temper tantrums, talking back, and not listening in general. Just remember, with every rough patch comes a silver lining. Having wonderful conversations with Henry and seeing how his little mind works is amazing and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Sometimes, it’s OKAY to not want to be around your kids. I have fully embraced this one. The toddler years are NO JOKE. They are harder than those first newborn weeks and harder than fussy babies. Escaping from them for even an hour a day to give your mind some peace can do wonders. I am lucky enough to have a friends who live close by with children the same age and they understand how important a night out can be. Even a trip to the store alone can make you feel like a new woman. I’m also so thankful for my husband and mother who have helped so much in making sure I don’t have a breakdown!
No one has it all figured out. Even after 5 years of parenting, I still don’t know what I’m doing most days. I would describe my parenting style as “winging it”. Sometimes things work and sometimes they don’t. I usually do what feels right at that exact moment. Whether it be giving the iPad to the kids so I can have 20 minutes of no fighting, or an impromptu water balloon fight to get the kids outdoors. Whatever you’re doing, it’s probably working for you, so don’t compare yourselves to others!
Asking for help does NOT mean you are weak. If you are fortunate enough to have family near by, ask them for help when you need it. When a friend offers to help, take her up on it! I promise she isn’t just saying that to be nice. I loved when my group of girlfriends set up a meal train after baby #2 came. It was so nice not to have to stress about food and making dinner. There are so many services out there which I utilize weekly and wish I knew of 5 years ago. My hands down favorite is getting groceries delivered to my house in under an hour. There are also companies that will come pick up your laundry and dry cleaning too. And let’s not forget how amazing cleaning services are. Mother’s shouldn’t have to bear the weight of all the responsibilities. In addition to services that make your life easier, there is also a wave of baby products and foods designed to help busy moms. Happy Family Clearly Crafted™ pouches are a life saver. With my first baby, I made all of his food and never gave him anything I didn’t make until he was almost a year old. Unfortunately when my second arrived, I didn’t have too much time on my hands with a toddler running around and also working a full time job. Happy Family foods became my go-to for Evelyn and she still eats them today. Happy Family Clearly Crafted™ pouches are full of transparency (literally!), with high-quality, organic ingredients and on-the-go convenience.
Be sure to visit your local Walmart where you can purchase the new flavors: Apples, Guavas & Beets and Apples, Kale & Avocados. Evelyn is obsessed with both of them! Click here to learn more about Happy Baby’s Clearly Crafted™ organic, trustworthy ingredients and their commitment to transparency! So tell me, what is something you’ve learning in motherhood? What advice would you give to your pre-mom self? Let me know in the comments below! xo
