Letting Go
I’m at that point in motherhood where the sippy cups are starting to dwindle. I almost can’t even believe that myself as I write it. There was a point where it felt like there would always be diapers, always be pacies, always be sippies, always be babies. When you have four children in five and a half years, it often feels like that season of motherhood will never end. Truth is, I never really wanted it to end. I absolutely loved having a sweet baby to rock. There is nothing like the feeling of a newborn in your arms, but just like everything else there is a time for new and change and growth.
And so my babies are growing. They are learning more independence. They are learning how to do more on their own. They still need their mama, but just in new and different ways. There is a bit more freedom for us all now. There is a bit more ease to our days (and nights; oh, the sleepless nights).
I am learning to embrace the new and find joy in the freedoms. I’m loving to watch them grow. And yet, there are days like today when I unload the dishwasher and clean up the water spilt on the floor by my 3 year old, and it hits me and stops me right in my tracks: the sippy cups are starting to dwindle. And in that moment, my heart aches a bit for the ending of that stage.
As mamas we want our babies to grow and flourish. We want them to hit the milestones and learn the skills. We have our own milestones and skills we have to master on the road of motherhood though; one of the hardest and yet most prevalent ones is the art of letting go. Letting them grow, and learn, and spill, and become more and more independent. There are definite growing pains that accompany this skill, so take that moment, mama. Stare at the spot on the counter where the pacies used to go and the sippy cup lids laid scattered and sigh, or cry, or whatever it is that you need to do to continue to master the art of letting go. But then, mama, do me a favor? Don’t forget to look up at the 3 year old smiling and spilling or the 5 year old grinning as the training wheels are being taken off and see the beauty in the next stage your about to embark on. You’ve got this, mama.
If you like this article, check out more mama encouragement here and here.
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Although it’s been quite some tome ago, I remember the day I realized there would no longer be a need for siipy cups in our home and how that realization stung. But, just like you, it didn’t take long to realize that, although we needed no more sippy cups, my littles still needed me, just in a different way. And really all of that hasn’t changed. Even though my littles are grown now and have families of their own, there are still times when I get a text or a phone call asking for information or an opinion. I have learned that being a mom means being a mom for life. And it is good!
Yes! And hearing things like that from someone who’s already been through it helps lessen the sting! It continues to remind me that each stage is new and beautiful! And then you even get to have sippy cups again when your babies have babies!
You write very eloquently looking forward following your blogs
Ardith
Thanks, so much! Glad you liked!
Ummmm you are going to have me in tears! Well written mama! I’m praying that we both move on to this next stage with peace in our hearts
Thank you so much for that prayer! Peace is exactly what we need! Praying the same for you, mama!