Don't Blink Moma

 No one realizes how fast the days fly by until they have children. Seriously. One day you get a plus sign, 9 months go by (which feels like an eternity at the time because let’s be honest, it’s miserable), and you have a sweet little newborn in your arms. The most perfect little being, staring at you in awe. As if you are everything, because to them you are. And then you blink.

You blink and three months have gone by. And in those three months, all you wished for was sleep and a break because being a new mom is hard. It’s hard running on little to no sleep and being everything for a helpless baby. It’s hard getting the hang of taking care of both baby and yourself. You long for days when you could be well rested again. And then you blink.

You blink and three more months have gone by and your baby that was once new is bigger and so much brighter. Six months old. Full of joy and adventure. They’re learning to crawl and sit on their own, and be more independent. They want to be more independent, but then separation anxiety hits you both. And being apart from them feels like pulling teeth. It hurts. You cry, and then you blink.

You blink, and now they are nine months old. Ever more joyful and sweet. The cuddles, the playtime, the giggles. The beautiful moments you share together that makes time go even faster. Your sweet baby that you almost certainly just had is much bigger and learning so very fast. They’re trying to pull up and walk. “Independence is the goal, right? So why does it hurt your mama heart just a little with each new step towards it?” you think, and then you blink.

You blink and your baby isn’t a baby anymore. They’re a toddler. But that’s impossible. You just had them! They’ve learned and grown so much in just a years time. It hasn’t really been a year yet, has it?! Where did the infancy go? I’m certain it’s supposed to last longer than this… why did I ever blink?

Whether you are enjoying where you are in motherhood today or not, don’t blink. Don’t wish for anything to be different. It’s hard. I know it is, mama. But these are precious moments we will never get back. Even on the hardest of days, they never stop growing. Time never slows down. Try to find the light in your situation. One day, you will miss very much where you are right now.

Don’t blink, mama. Don’t blink.