I bet you woke up with a list of things you needed to do today.
I did, too.
You knew it was ambitious. You had appointments to schedule and bills to pay and yes the bathrooms will get done today!
And sure it will be hard but dammit sometime in between unloading the dishwasher and changing the sheets (how often do people do that anyway?) and emptying the recycling bin you WILL make that phone call to the insurance company that you’ve been needing to do for weeks.
And yes you know you still have a dozen emails to respond to but how will that happen when you have to make it to a meeting by noon?
And I’m guessing that maybe (just maybe) you struggled to get to the dishes first thing, like you meant to.
Maybe a little hand reached for yours (which was reaching for those dishes), wanting for you to pick her up and hold her for awhile. And then she needed a snack and a tickle and a diaper change.
And so the dishes sat there a bit longer than planned because someone else needed you more.
So you got it all done, you see.
And when you decided to do the laundry during her morning nap, 10 shirts into folding you heard a whimper which turned into a cry. So you went and straightened her blanket and rubbed her back and sang her a song. And the shirts remained in their unfinished pile because someone else needed you more.
So you got it all done, you see.
And you got home from work and started to cook dinner, which who has the time between homework and baths, but you saved a recipe from earlier in the week and you picked up the groceries on your lunch break and you were ready.
But math homework was really hard that night and then the little one cut his finger and mom could you review these flash cards with me, after you get the bandaid please??
And so you set aside your recipe and you kissed a bandaid and you called for a pizza and you sat down with the flash cards because someone else needed you more.
So you got it all done, you see.
And on your way to his baseball game you were planning to make a few calls; schedule a physical and that haircut that you keep putting off.
But as you reached for your phone he looked up from the backseat just long enough to catch your eye in the mirror. And you could see that something was on his mind and so you pulled your hand back from your phone and you asked him what was up.
And although he’s often guarded now, he told you about the friend at school who had hurt his feelings at lunch. And you could see in his eyes the welling of tears.
And so you listened and listened and then talked some yourself. And you never made those calls because someone else needed you more.
So you got it all done, you see.
And sometime during the day, in the middle of the things that did and didn’t happen, your breath caught in your throat (for an instant) as you watched your baby (no matter how old your “baby” might be, now) from across the room.
My breath caught too.
He is the best thing you’ve ever seen. And when you look straight at him, he looks straight back.
We got it all done, you see.
Love (and needed) this! – thanks!
Thank you! I needed this.
Ditto everyone! This was much needed. My baby turns 1 tomorrow.
Awww…love this Liz!!
Thanks Maura!!
This is a great reminder, especially to cazy, type-A Moms like me who feel so stressed by a messy house or an overflowing laundry basket. There are so many more important things… And it doesn’t hurt to have a husband who does most of the cooking.
Best blog yet! (though I love them all). Just when I’m expecting a good laugh as usual, you pull on the ole heartstrings, causing me to choke up at work. I agree with Johanna, well played, Liz, well played.
I’ll have to reference this on Saturday as I attempt to get “everything” done on my “to do” list. 🙂 PS, Are you the Nolan doppelganger in that old photo!?
Thanks Briana! And yes I am kind of sneaky sometimes tossing in these tearjerkers to the humor blog 🙂
Oh and I’m the older mulleted child toward the front of that photo. My little sister is in the back in my mom’s arms. I think she is the doppelgänger 🙂
Thank you. 🙂 As a new first-time mom (only 1 month ago), I keep feeling like I am not getting enough done during the day. It’s really hard most days to convince myself that it’s better she nap in the crib so I can get stuff done, when really I just want to cuddle her and let her nap on me instead. 🙂
Cuddle her! She will nap in the crib soon enough. And oh man those first few months of having the socially sanctioned time to just let the baby nap on you and let the housework slide are gold 🙂 Congratulations on becoming a mom!
Thanks again! It is nice to hear that I’m not messing things up by letting her cuddle and nap on me instead. I’ve been loving everything about your blog, the humor and the cute pictures, and bits of advice. 🙂
Thanks Monica! I’m glad you like the blog!
Liz,
This was so beautifully written! I teared up when I read it.
You are so awesome. 🙂
Thanks Elizabeth!!!!
Thank you for this. I got to stay at home the first year of my oldest son’s life; now I’m well back to work while my second is just 4 months old. It feels wrong, and I feel all over the place when all I want to be is right there with both of them. I’m learning—trying to learn—that it’s okay to let all the other things fall. It helps to hear it from another mother. Thanks.
Colleen – I think we all just need to be easier on ourselves in terms of what we can realistically get done. I’m at home with my son but working about 20 hours a week on the blog, and I always feel like there is no way I can get to all the tasks I’m supposed to get to. I end up staying up really late and still not getting it all done. I think its universally hard, and if we realize that most people experience something similar we can feel less badly about how we are doing ourselves…