I have a confession to share: I rushed through the first two years of my son’s life, and now I’m left with a sense of regret. When I first welcomed my boys into the world, I cherished every moment—the snuggles, the feedings, the diaper changes, the cooing, and the kisses. But then reality hit me like a heavy frying pan, and I found myself utterly exhausted and longing to speed up time.
When will this baby finally sleep? When will my stubborn belly pooch go away? When will my body return to normal? (Oh, right, it won’t!) When will I start to feel like my old self again? (That’s up for debate.) I began eagerly anticipating the next stage instead of embracing the present one. “It’ll be so great when he’s sleeping for three hours at a time.” And when that happened, I thought, “How wonderful it will be when he only needs to eat twice a night.” The same pattern followed with every milestone—crawling, standing, walking. I kept wishing for the next phase to arrive, unknowingly wishing away precious moments.
The days often felt long, and the nights dragged on with hourly feedings, but somehow, the years flew by. Now, I find myself yearning for the feelings of carrying life within me, the heartbeat echoing through the Doppler, and watching the ultrasound technician reveal our baby’s tiny movements. I wish I had memorized the moment the doctor announced, “It’s a boy,” as he placed him on my chest for the first time. I wish I had embraced those late-night feedings instead of merely enduring them, half-asleep and dreaming of returning to bed. I wish I could experience again the joy of him crawling, walking, or even saying “mama” for the first time. I want to relive it all.
Realizing how swiftly time passes has changed my perspective. I no longer look ahead; instead, I savor every moment we’re currently living, one day and one spill at a time.
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Summary:
Reflecting on my parenting journey, I realize I rushed through my son’s early years, wishing for the next stage rather than cherishing the present. The exhaustion of sleepless nights made me overlook the beauty of those moments. Now, I appreciate each day, savoring the experiences we share and understanding the importance of living in the moment.