The Little Moments

I think it’s easy to get caught up in life. To become overwhelmed by the day to day stress of getting out of bed, brushing your teeth, paying the bills, ingesting nutrition. It’s so easy to let all those things become your life, where you are merely a passenger along for the ride.

How many days pass where all you can hope for is getting to the end of the day? Making it through, having this day finally be over! I know those are words I say much too often. And trust me, I know! There are days that just getting up in the morning, and going about your business doing all the things you need to do, and making it to the end of the day, falling face down on your bed at night, is the most you can hope for!

But how much better would life be if we reminded ourselves in some way, every single day, to cherish it. Make something special about every day. Make a memory every day. Not just the days that make great photo ops. But the average Mondays that getting through them is a challenge all its own.

I think as parents it’s so easy to save up all the memories we want our kids to have for those special days. The big vacations, the day at the beach, the fun adventures we plan to “create memories”. But what are kids will remember are the little things. The time we let them help cook dinner. The games we play, the books we read, the stories we tell, the traditions we make. Those are the little things that take place in our lives every day, that so much of the time get rushed through or forgotten, but that make an impact nonetheless.

The best part of my day is when the baths are given and jammies are on and it’s bed time. Each of my three little ones has a different tradition that has just evolved over time, and in those quiet few minutes I get to spend that precious time with each of them. Giving them, one by one what they need from me.

Kanen from the day he was born, I have sung “his song” Hush Little Baby while rubbing his back, which is followed by the exact same prayer every night.

“Dear Jesus, please watch over Peanut (him), Mama and Papa, Mira and Izzy and all the people we love, keep us safe and sound. Jesus name, Amen”.

This has been the exact same way I have put him to bed every night since his birth and can’t imagine the day when he will refuse this amazing tradition.

Believe me there are nights when I try to power through that song! Try to skip a few lines and rush to the end. Nights when I give a half ass back rub and am just counting the seconds till everyone is actually asleep. But if I’m cheating, I always get caught! He won’t let me get away with it, and I have to start from the beginning. So I’m reminded, to slow down, cherish this time.

Mira, likes to hold both of my hands in hers and wants me to sing “sh-lill-bebe” followed by the same prayer while rubbing her tummy.

Izzy, need’s “Dadadas”, me rubbing her tummy while humming Hush Little Baby, no actual words.

With each of them, I get that moment with just them and I. We look into each others eyes and they are calm and happy and I want to burst into tears, every single time. These moments are the ones that fly by. The ones that pass in the ordinariness of a day. The ones that for them and I, will endure forever. These are the moments I don’t want to miss.

I want to be there in body, in soul, and in spirit. Be present. Laugh at all the moments that warrant it….out loud. Smile every time my child looks at me. Light up when they see me first thing in the morning, or when I pick them up at daycare. Be the mom that is THERE. Really, and truly there.

And when it comes right down to it. That’s all I can do.

Click to listen: “I Hope You Dance”

*The images in this post are of my children and may NOT be used without my permission.