Fleeting Moments

As the Fit4Mamas know, I recently became a new Mom again in December (which would explain the utter silence seen here on the blog). As I went into labor a week before my due date, I found myself sobbing in the delivery room at the thought of having a newborn again. The uncertainty, unpredictability, and sporadic schedule of a new soul is daunting for even the most experienced mothers. Fast forward almost eight weeks, and now I’m wondering where the time’s gone.

Life’s in constant motion now and I feel like I’m panting more than taking complete breaths. Although lately I’ve found myself reminiscing about a conversation I had three years ago. The interaction began when I was exchanging war stories with three other new Moms in a stroller-fitness class. We were collectively complaining about teething, sleepless nights, and needy babies. You see, motherhood’s quite isolating and overwhelming, so we mamas jump at the opportunity to show our metaphorical “mom badges” and reach out to find that we’re not alone. The instructor stopped us and said: “Wait – this time and these moments are fleeting. There will be a time where all your “problems” are memories – and you might miss them.” I thought she was crazy at the time, but have come to see the wisdom in her words.

I think as Moms we sometimes fail to simply SLOW DOWN. Honestly, we’re lucky to be in the times of the lives we’re in. What other time in life are your kisses so magical? When will you again have toothless, speech-impediment-ridden, constantly sticky, miniature fans who love you regardless of your inability to shower?

In my endless fights against laundry stains and self-multiplying kitchen floor crumbs, I live in fear I might miss something in my little ones lives. Sure, one day I’ll have me back – my body, my sleep schedule, and my OCD control over household cleanliness. But will I remember the smell of my baby at two in the morning and how he’s comforted by the rhythm of my heart? Will I remember the sound of my three-year old's inability to make the “s” sound with other consonants (“Mom, I need a ‘poon")? God, I sure hope so.

Therefore, I’ve decided to try to take a step back and enjoy these chaotic, fleeting moments. Life is long, but these times aren’t. It’s only a matter of time before the neck area under my chin no longer has healing power and my boys realize I’m actually tone deaf. When those times come, new motherhood adventures await and I’ll be ready to embrace them. Until then, I’ll try to take whole breaths and realize this is really as good as it gets.