The Most Important Things
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When the time changed last fall, I received a new alarm clock. My two year old daughter who previously woke anytime between 6 and 8 am, began waking at 5 am on the dot. Every. morning.
This had been my normal waking time before Daylight Savings Time. But, although babies had woken me in the night for the previous 13 1/2 years, I had gotten used to the old schedule that allowed me a good hour or two of quiet time to read, journal, and work on writing projects.
I liked have a little waking time before I officially donned my “MOM hat.” I cherish my “alone” time. Sometimes a little too much.
All of a sudden that time was gone. After that first week of her waking consistently at five, I was ready for a meltdown. Mine.
Sunday night I cried to my husband that I was at my breaking point. She wasn’t going to bed earlier. She wasn’t taking longer naps. Yet, she was waking an hour earlier, regardless.
My “on duty” time was draining me. And quite honestly, I didn’t like it. I was worried that I would “lose it.”
My husband pointed out that the reason I would lose my patience would be because I felt that my toddler was in my way. Sleep wasn’t the thing that was at stake. I was getting up at that time before.
My feelings were a result of my not getting to do what I thought was important. He gently reminded me, “She’s your most important thing right now.”
Ah, yes. She is my most important thing right now. And I had lost sight of that.
I’m not generally one who likes being told this kind of stuff. My brave husband ventured forth to tell me the things I needed to hear, probably wondering how I would react.
I slept on it, knowing he was right. And praying that God would help me feel it as well as know it.
I had to laugh the next morning when I heard, “Mama, Mama,” at 5:04 Monday morning.
And resisting the urge to turn on Dora at 5:05, we cuddled, got breakfast, and otherwise enjoyed some Mom and “Almost-Not-a-Baby-Anymore” time.
Time changes. Seasons change. But, my girl is still the most important thing.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens
I don’t know how I stumbled across this old post, but I cried. I need this. My 11 month old woke up at 4:45am today. She used to sleep until at 6 or 6:30. She babbled all day long like never before. I think she was excited about her newfound skill saying, “ba ba baba ba ba” and wanted to share it with mommy and with daddy before he left for work. I have been feeling rundown so it was a hard day but she is only weeks away from turning one. The time has flown by. Thank you for the reminder and thank your husband for me, too. He is ministering to other women through his gentle words to you.
I’m so glad you stumbled onto such an old post. 🙂 I’m so glad God used it to encourage you. Hang in there, mama. The days are long, but the years are short.
So timely. Lately I have fiund myself really caught between wishing we’d get through these long toddler/pre-schooler years and realizing how fast they are growing up. Our life was so crazy when my children were really little and I feel so much guilt about those years – not getting to savour the small moments, being an exhausted frazzled mom, losing it, not taking care of myself. Some days it overwhelms me. Then I resolve to do better, be that mom now and to savour each step. Thanks for your blog. It speaks to me so regularly and I appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Oh, I am right there with you. I look at pictures of my kids when they were littler and I just cry. But, the lesson, and what I think is the head’s up from God, is that we still have time. Thank goodness we’re not having these regrets at 70. We’re having them now when we can do something about them.
I just had a baby four weeks ago and searched your site to find this entry. I remembered it from January and wanted to reread it. With an infant, it can be difficult not to wish away these quick stages – when she will sleep through the night, when she won’t spit up every other second, when I will have more time, when my body will look back to normal, etc, etc.
But like you said, “She is my most important thing right now.” And having two other children, I know how fast these stages go. So I am making a big effort not to wish any of this away. It simply goes by too quick.
Thank you for your site – your writing and your thoughts are so inspirational and often tell me just what I need to hear.
@Rebecca, congratulations on your new baby! And thank you for such kind encouragement — and the reminder. Bless you!
I’m thinking in a house as busy as yours, your little one needed some alone Momma time, just as much as you…so she found a way 😉 My daughter does the same thing with my husband. He enjoyed the solace of his coffee and breakfast and quiet before heading to work. But our older daughter realized with his new schedule she wasn’t getting as much Daddy time. So she started waking up to have breakfast with him. It is their special time now.
Enjoy…it is so fleeting.
You are very right. 😉