Spencer is starting exhibit signs of a normal, growing, energetic baby. It is causing me to freak a little. He can push my hands away if he doesn’t like what I am doing. He can scream if he wants back something that I took from him. I can be a mother of a little infant. I know how to take care of big diaper blow outs, use that blue thing to suck out nostrils, change another big blow out, wash soiled cloths, sing, make silly noises and faces, change yet another big blow out and wash more soiled cloths, tickle, clap, laugh, give baths, another blow out…no problem, fed, hug, sooth, dress, carry…I have that all down (well, mostly). But can I teach the alphabet, numbers, colors, opposites, the Gospel, safely, social skills and moral values? Can I wipe crayon off the wall? Can I stop a tantrum? Can I deal with back talk, spitting, yelling, kicking and biting (not that my children will ever do anything of the sort)? Can I potty train? Do I know what to do when there is a blow out without a diaper to catch at least some of it? I just don’t know. I can be the mother of an infant but can I be a mother of a toddler? A 5 year old? A 10 year old? A TEEN AGER? Some days I am not sure how I will do. I know I will make mistakes (and lots of them) but I want to be the best I can.
Do you have any advice or words of comfort for me?
Could he possibly be anything but a perfect angel?
8 comments:
At least they grow little by little. I felt the same way when Kate hit about that stage. The infant tantrums dial it up to toddler tantrums and by the time you learn how to deal with those they up it to preschooler tantrums... I have always felt like as soon as I get a handle on a phase a new one starts! A vast majority of learning comes from daily life, example, and routines. I have never sat down to teach Sabrina her numbers but through simple exposure in life she was sitting in Sacrament Meeting yesterday and wrote the numbers 1-5 perfectly! I had no idea she could do that! Just remember that the Lord knows this is the perfect child for your family and you can be the very best mother imaginable for Spencer :)
laugh about a lot, and don't sweat the small stuff
Repeat after me: I am a fantastic mother and my child loves me! That's all you need to remember. At least I hope so, cause you just listed every single one of my fears and that mantra may be the only thing that keeps me sane!
Oh the JOYS of parenthood. There are days I think I can't go on then for some awesome miracle my children do something so simple yet so pleasing. It is the little things that count. You will do fine.
PS.. I just live by the knowledge that I will NEVER be given anything I can't overcome.
i love your blog, and its good to be in touch after all these years.....
hermana....I've felt how you feel....I feel like that now...my son is 18 months going onto 18 years old.....No, Stop, and Fatt butt are his favorite words. No mami....stop Mami.....Fatt Butt mami.......
Just like the other mothers that replied...you laugh....and you learn.....they are sponges...and the things that my son does, he learns from his fav pal (my neice)..and everything around him. Patience is the biggest thing that I am learning. (and will continue to learn)
Remember its a team effort. My husband is just as involved in our child as I am, and it should help with some relief. But parenthood is a learning process....you grow just as much as your little bundle of joy does..... my son can't even sit through sacrament without running somewhere or crying for something. We have a special gift that our Heavenly Father has given us to raise our children........Love. Love him if he screams at you, Love him when he throws a tantrum or talks back, love him if he rejects you.....just love him....and the lord will do the rest... :)
Good luck......I know I need it! lol
Well Tami, you know I think you're the greatest! Spencer is so lucky to have YOU to always love and take care of him. I have no doubts that you are and will continue to do an excellent job in every aspect of your life. That's just who you are and why I love ya!
Well, 7 months ago you didn't know anything about being a mother, and now you are comfortable with what you can do. So, I think it all just happens as the baby gets older! In another 5 years you'll look back and wonder how you did it all without even thinking about it!
Life by the inch is a cinch. Life by the yard is hard. You don't become a parent of a ten year old, just like you don't get married for 30 years. You get married for a day, and another day and another day, so you be a parent for a day, and another day, and another day and you learn it as you go. . .
You're the best!
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