As this year moves quickly by, a rather large season in my life is about to come to an end. For the last 12½ years I have been a mother of at least one pre-schooler, and I have fully embraced that role and all that it entails.
Next year we will be sending our baby and fourth child off to school. Our oldest will also be entering High School (and the teenage years - eeeek!!).
I am excited and thrilled, and yet I also know that this will be a rather massive change in my life. I keep telling myself that I deserve a gap year (filled with visiting thrift stores and reading books in our hammock), but who knows what I will get up to (Symon has big plans for me, some of which involved painting our house). I'm glad that I can trust that God has exciting plans ahead (which hopefully don't involve home renovations).
I've been thinking about change and seasons a lot lately when it comes to parenting and motherood, and here are some wise words of advice I've gleaned from here, there and everywhere...
Children do grow up quickly...
You've all heard people say it... "Enjoy them while their young, they grow up so fast". Sometimes when you are in the middle of sleepless nights and tiresome days, you long for the school days (maybe even the growing up and leaving home days) to come as soon as they can!
But, they are so right! Before you know it, your wee ones will be skipping off to school, then University or employment, and you may just be wishing that you could go back in time and make the most of those precious moments you had together when they were young.
Embrace the years you are in and make the most of each day. Less housework and more lingering and loving is something you will never regret (well, maybe you will when you have surprise visitors, but hey, they'll hopefully understand). Look for things to be thankful for and enjoy, even in the midst of the craziness of life.
Make time for yourself...
It is so important to make time for yourself, your hobbies and relationships. All too often people can get sucked into the all consuming vortex of parenthood, that they forget to foster their marriage, friendships and life in general. Keep in touch with your friends and keep involved in life. Yes, you may have to simplify your life a little to adjust to your new role, but when your children grow up and move on, you won't be left feeling like an empty shell with nothing to do and no purpose.
Mothers are Awesome!
All too often we can downplay our role as parents. Have you ever been asked what you do, only to say, "Oh, I'm just a Mum". Seriously - mothers are some of the most influential and important people in the whole world!! Be proud of your role, embrace it and don't make excuses for it.
Motherhood is a privilege...
I think sometimes we forget what a privilege it is to be mothers. I know of many people who dream of having children. Yes, motherhood can be hard, but the blessings far outweigh the challenges. Let's remember to grizzle and complain less, and be thankful a whole lot more. Children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3-5), so let's treat them that way (even when they don't deserve it) and remind ourselves that motherhood is a privilege.
When it comes to seasons, it's important to remember that seasons don't last forever. Make the most of each season you are in.
When it comes to seasons, it's important to remember that seasons don't last forever. Make the most of each season you are in.
Linking up with {Life Made Lovely Monday}
31 comments
this is a great post Kirsty!! thank you for the inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteYou definitely deserve a gap year! Maybe expand the softie business? Do a few markets? Things you love!?
Aww this is such a lovely post!
ReplyDeleteGood pointers to tuck away for the day when I am lucky enough to become a mummy :)
I think your idea of a 'gap' year is great - NOT involving house reno! Do things for you!!!
x
Great advice! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant post !! !!
ReplyDeleteHave you read Widges blog post on a similar topic? As she prepared for her youngest to go to school?
*phew* I have 18 more months to drink in all of this preschool goodness that I love!
Love Love Love your last note - Motherhood is a GIFT!
great post.
ReplyDeleteyou are one of my mummy inspirations. You do this job with class, patience and dignity. An inpsiration to us all.
Agreeing with Jackie there Kris. Motherhood is a treasure and a challenge but where would we be without it. xx
ReplyDeleteso true! i'm feeling the fast changes at mo with my 1st off to school next year...as ard as the young years are, they are also so so special and yes, the best role you can take on! love the post! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post Kristy...I'm feeling the same as I've got 9 months and my baby is off to school. I'm not sure I'm ready to move on yet, but I know I've got to let go. Trying not to think about it haha.
ReplyDeleteBut you are so correct - everything has its season and its such a pleasure to watch them grow.
You beautiful beautiful woman/Mummy. You truly are an instpiration, and such a great Mother! Bless you lots xx
ReplyDeleteoh man I left a probably way too long comment early this morning but for some reason my phone hasn't been letting me leave comments. grr
ReplyDeleteok so take 2 ;)
I have a piece of advice for ya all entering this season which I just fully emerged into last week...LET yourself grieve over all the things that you'll miss. Have a big ugly cry somewhere (I preferred to do this alone) and give it all to God. He understands every seemingly little "silly" thing that we are sad about and it works soooooo good!
I did this a couple of months ago, gearing up for the big change and I left my baby at school on Thursday for her first real day with a huge smile on my face. I'm actually really excited now cos I've got some cool news I'll blog about at some stage)and I've been a preschooling mum since I was 19 and now I'm fully ready for what is next (even painting our house!!) I almost skipped out of the school gates yelling "WHOOP WHOOP!" though I didnt cos I know some other mums would think I was awful. However, I'd done my grieving, it was all out, life rolls on.
You will rock it P.j xoxo
just what i needed to read after a sleepless night with my quickly becoming not so little little one. a gap year sounds exciting!
ReplyDeleteThis is so fitting for us, we are preparing for our oldest to start school in a couple weeks. While I am super excited for him, I am also a litte sad our baby is growing up so fast. They are babies for such a short time, I feel so blessed that i have been able to be at home with them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Post. We sure do need to roll with the season's and appreciate each day. I was walking the dog down the beach last week and thinking about life in general when I realised that in 10 years my eldest will be 21! That was a real eye opener for me to get off my backside and make the most of these next years with him and his sisters before it is too late.
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts PJ, I often struggle to remember these things in the midst of barfing kids and tantrums, frustration and pure survival, but it is important to keep getting things in perspective.
ReplyDeleteLove it, awesome thoughts!! My oldest started high school the same year my youngest started school too...was like the end of an era :)
ReplyDeleteLove this post. I started staying home with my children 5 years ago and remember feeling like I wasn't doing anything but changing diapers, cleaning the house, playing with my kids. Then I realized this was my time to nurture them, to plant seed of love and compassion, and to train them up in the word of God. I have had tough days and wonderful days and I wouldn't trade this time for the world!
ReplyDeleteA privilege...absolutely!!
ReplyDeleteI really needed this right now. My oldest just turned 6 and I feel as though she skipped from being a baby right into Kindergarten! Embrace your kids and each moment.
ReplyDeletewow, What GREAT comments. I know I will go through something similar, parenting is never easy is it :)
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written post from a beautiful mummy.
ReplyDeleteI was nodding my head at everything you said, yes it goes too fast, yes children are a gift.
When my youngest started school this year I wandered around like I was lost!! I couldnt believe how hard I found it without my little playmate around... the constant chatter and company. I was suddenly thrust into this new world I was so unfamiliar with, no work (outside the home) no constant mothering... and no one to take with me for coffee dates with certain bloggy girls ;)
Now we are homeschooling for a term I am really going to approach her return to school next year quite differently.
Hopefully grieve it before hand like Widge suggests... and find a job if my hubby has his way :)
Hope you have that Gap year, it sounds like a great plan ..one I had too ...lol.
Wise words indeed! I need to remember them often :) Seasons come and go and some I'll never have again. I certainly need to be thankful a whole lot more!
ReplyDeleteAnd P.S. I definitely think you deserve a year of thrifting an reading good books in a hammock! Heaven!
Go the gap year! And house painting if it comes to that! You'll still be a Mum - just have a bit more time to yourself, but Im sure you'll find lots of crafts to fill it up with!
ReplyDeleteMy youngest is almost 5 but I'm holding on to him for another 6 months before sending to school. I'm going to start study so hopefully I will be kept to busy to miss him too much! I read somewhere that when you have children the days go slowly but the years fly by. This is so true.
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Beautiful post....
ReplyDeleteIt is a privilege indeed. Thank you for the reminder xx
Feel I have to chip in here and agree - wise words indeed, and timely for me... my eldest heads off to school on the first day of next term. We watched her have her kindy "birthday" today - and another school visit is being greatly anticipated for tomorrow. My emotions are swinging wildly. It's bittersweet this turning-five thing.
ReplyDeleteThank you! loved it!!!
ReplyDeleteOh I missed this post! Glad I found it now! Thanks for the inspiring post, sheer honesty and encouragement - even for someone who doesn't have children of her own.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post!! My wee man and first born begins school may next year, I'm quietly in denile, but looking forward to this next phase in his life, because you are so very right, they grow up far too fast x
ReplyDeleteAmen. You are so right, Kristy! Great post, though it made me a little teary:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments... I love hearing from you!!!