joy of motherhood >> year end
Written by beeber on May 31, 2007 – 10:47 pm -The past year has flown by. I never understood this type of time lapse before having anZel. When we were having a rough day, it seemed to take forever to get past five minutes. Looking back at the year as a whole, it went by as if we brought him home three months ago. The first three months were the most challenging for all of us. Between anZel’s various health problems, breastfeeding and eczema, we were in and out of the hospital 22 times the first three months.
I have always been a talker and have probably enjoyed talking a little too much at times. When we brought the precious cargo home, my dad kept telling me to talk to anZel. I never thought twice about it. I am a talker. I will talk till the pigs fly. Reality sets in. I realize while I enjoy talking, I really don’t enjoy repeating the same thing over and over and over and over again. For the 100th time, don’t touch the plug; eat your oatmeal; don’t eat your shoe or mine; drink your water; don’t stand up in the tub; brush your teeth. I don’t really enjoy talking any more.
As anZel grows more independent, something get easier while others are more challenging. Being mobile is one of them. In a flash, he may be up the stairs or pulling all the content out of a draw. Being able to talk is another. When we were outside talking to our neighbors last night, anZel proceeded to walk down the sidewalk. I asked him where he was going. He said “street”. I was shocked as we have never taught him in such context. I guess talking to kids help but do I have to repeat myself OVER and OVER and OVER again?
I have been asked lately if it is rewarding to be a mother/parent. My answer is between stress of balancing work and family and providing the optimal environment for him, I haven’t thought much about the rewards. The process of becoming a mother happened so quickly that it never occurred to me that I should be looking for rewards. I would feel rather disappointed if I was hoping that parenting is incredibly rewarding. Frankly, the rewards are so far in between that it would be silly to focus on them at all. Instead, I believe parenting is an experience and can be rewarding at times.
All and all, this has been an incredible year. To see anZel’s personality surface is an amazing experience. So far, he seems to be laid back like his dAd. He likes to share (though he probably would like his favorite toy back in a jiffy). He loves to talk like his grandma. And he is gentle. Sleep and eating issues aside, we are truly blessed to be such a wonderful child. Neither dAd nor I can take any credit for who he is as he comes as himself.
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