It Won’t Last Forever {Seasons of a Child’s Life}

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Age-old writer’s wisdom says to “write what you know.” I struggle with that sometimes because I’d really love to offer advice about things I know nothing about, like crafting, couponing or being a non-yelling mom. But I do know some things.

As mama to three boys and one girl, all five-and-under, I know messes. I know Goodnight Moon by heart and could easily perform a interpretive recitation on request. I know that the sweetness of one post-nap snuggle can impossibly redeem a difficult morning. I also know, after seeing five years of motherhood pass by, how quickly and drastically the seasons of a child’s life change.

In the early infant days when baby is waking all hours of the night everything blurs together—existence is a vortex of feedings and diapers and naps. It will seem like you will never get another full night of sleep again. Then something changes. A growth spurt carried on angel’s wings will deliver a five-hour chunk of rest and then longer. The sleepless season passes. (If only for a time.)

One day you’ll walk in the room and realize that the baby isn’t exactly where you left him on the floor. The season of mobility (which will hopefully last the rest of his life!) begins.

The season of babyhood has a subjectively fuzzy end, but the day your baby is the 18 month old cooing over a stranger’s infant car seat and you’re grinning and saying, “Yes, look at the baby, but don’t touch!” sure seems like a watershed moment. You’ll look into those bright blue eyes and wonder how mere months earlier your child was a delicate infant tucked into the carrier.

Not too long after that the same child will start crawling on the toilet seat, all but asking to be potty trained. You’ll step in pools of pee on the floor and murmur out loud, “Oh that’s where the accident was”, throw a towel over it and go on making lunch. (Or maybe that’s just me.) It will seem like forever until the kid can do their own elimination-business on their own. But one day the season of independent potty-going will arrive and you’ll be tempted to make celebratory mimosas.

That baby will grow into a tall boy who is curious about how things work and who volunteers to make all the beds in the house in one tornado of five-year-old energy. I don’t know what to call this season, but I sure like it.

I know this: so much of mothering feels like it will last forever but the seasons don’t last. Developmental stages are very temporary. If you’re in a rough patch: hang in there, Mama. Something will shift with the next growth spurt and you’ll find yourself in uncharted territory. If you’re in a great place with your child, soak it up for all it’s worth. Don’t we all know: it won’t last forever.

2 COMMENTS

  1. I love this so much. I was just thinking recently it felt like just yesterday we had 4, 5 and under. It felt like I was constantly living in chaos and diapers and tantrums. While I still feel like we live in chaos a lot of the time 🙂 it’s different and I wish I would’ve slowed down, been more graceful to myself and really embraced the season when they were all so little. These seasons go by quickly.

  2. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement Lindsie! I know in my heart that these years will fly by in retrospect…. but you’re right. Chaos and diapers and tantrums is right! 😉

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