Updated: Aug. 13, 2015
Originally Published: July 23, 2012
The other evening, my partner kept texting me updates, “on my way,” “almost home,” and “waiting for the bus,” yet it was nearly 7 PM when he finally walked through the door. I don’t know if it was fatigue from the kids, my own exhaustion, or perhaps even a full moon, but by the time he arrived, I felt like I was about to burst.
I find myself at my wits’ end more often than I’d like to admit. Life with little ones can transition from heartwarming and magical to chaotic and frustrating in the blink of an eye. My emotions ride a rollercoaster, swinging from euphoric highs to the depths of despair, often within mere minutes.
Just the other day, my children were playing together on the upper bunk in my son’s room. They were nestled among pillows, with stuffed animals and blankets, giggling like happy puppies. My son had his sister in stitches, and she was tickling him and returning the teasing. It was a beautiful moment filled with sibling affection, and I felt an overwhelming sense of pride for the wonderful kids I was raising. Everything seemed perfect.
But just moments later, while I turned away to brush my teeth, that blissful scene crumbled. Laughter transformed into shrieks, giggles morphed into cries, and cuddles turned into shoves. Toys began flying across the room, and my heart raced as I rushed in to prevent someone from tumbling off the bunk. Both kids were in tears, and it felt like the world was ending in their preschool universe. In that instant, I just wanted to throw in the towel.
As a child, if something didn’t suit me, I quit. I gave up competitive swimming, gymnastics, and even arts and crafts, all because I wasn’t the best at them. My worldview was very black and white: pursue only what I enjoyed and excelled in, while avoiding the tough stuff. This mindset served me well when I was the only one I had to look after, and it even worked for a while after my partner joined the picture.
However, the months and years that followed my transition into motherhood were some of the toughest yet. I can hardly recall how I survived the sleepless nights. The fierce love I felt for my newborn son (and later for my daughter) taught me that just because something is incredibly challenging, it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. Those precious little beings, whom I nurtured and cared for, even while tears mingled with theirs, are gifts I cherish.
I’ve come to realize that feeling overwhelmed and wanting to give up is completely normal. Anyone who claims that parenting is a picture-perfect experience is simply not telling the truth. Raising babies and young children is like being on a never-ending ferris wheel. Unfortunately, there’s no friendly operator to hit a button for a moment of pause to catch your breath.
All we can do is revel in the joyful highs and fleeting perfect moments. We should inhale these experiences deeply and capture them in photographs. We can snuggle against our son’s warm cheeks, trace our daughter’s dimples with our fingers, and cradle her tiny feet in our hands.
Let’s preserve those beautiful memories so we can call them to mind during the times when chaos reigns, and we find ourselves slogging through a challenging day while the ferris wheel dips once more.
This article was originally published on July 23, 2012.
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Summary
Motherhood is a journey filled with emotional highs and lows, often resembling a never-ending ferris wheel. Embracing the fleeting joyful moments can help parents navigate the chaos that comes with raising young children. It’s essential to acknowledge the challenges while cherishing the love and laughter that come with family life.