Thursday, August 9, 2012

Celebrating Motherhood with Little Victories.

Mothering is like one long celebration of life's littlest victories. I didn't realize this much with my first, nor did I celebrate or revel in our little victories. Mostly because I didn't know any better. Mostly because I didn't really know how to mother. I took the days as they came, set lofty goals and powered through them, often disappointed in myself if, by the end of the day, my entire "to-do list" wasn't scratched off, meaning the laundry wasn't folded and put away, the floors weren't freshly steamed and dinner wasn't prepared, let alone served piping hot the minute my husband walked through the door.

I learned more as my first grew and eventually, together, we got the hang of things and I quickly realized how big of a deal just getting into the shower was. Freshly steamed floors? Ha! 

With my second, I'd like to think I had a much better idea of how to mother, although I had absolutely no idea how to mother two. After seven weeks, I still don't but I've learned to really celebrate the little victories. Like making it to the end of the day without losing someone, leaving them behind at the grocery store or breaking open a bottle of champagne at 10am. Can you say, "Mimosas?"

If you're a mom to more than one child, I know you're nodding your head at this point, recalling all those times you've reached behind you in the car to check for legs. Those infant bucket seats are sneaky- all rear-facing and baby-hiding. Every single time I run an errand, without fail, ten minutes into our drive my heart sinks into my chest as I momentarily freak out, "Did I leave the baby in the driveway!?"

My toddler, all dirt and noise that he is, would be impossible to leave behind. The navy-eyed 11lbs of quiet is a whole other story. 

I've written before about how parenting a toddler is like survival of the fittest. At the end of the day, the one with the greatest wit and survival skills remains standing and I'll be damned if that one is my toddler. 

So when we're all dressed by noon? I'm giving myself a pat on the back, even if The Toddler insists on wearing last night's jammie shirt with his khaki shorts. If we've made it out of the house for an hour, even if most of that hour was spent just driving around in the car? High-fives all around. Throw in an actually grocery shopping trip and you know I'm feeling like Wonder Woman. 

I've learned not to sell myself short. Those little victories really are a big deal. Even my littlest thinks so. 




20 comments :

  1. Cute Ashley! I feel this way with one toddler monster, (and one on the way). I can't even imagine what life is going to be like when this little one arrives.

    I'm banking on hibernating inside due to he/she being a winter baby.

    Keep it up Momma!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I find myself violently nodding in agreement and I'm only a mother of one 12 week old. Lord help us all if I have another.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dudette- you're a total winner in my book. I work full time and I swear, that's the only way that I manage to keep any of my sanity.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amen! I was not prepared (and how could I be?) for being a Mom to one, then 2 and a surprise third. I have definitely had my moments and sometimes I'm proud if we all make it through the day clothed, fed and semi sane. :) Loving the Mac expressions!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ahh I just posted on this today. Thanks for sharing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's true! If I get any kind of housework done while my two boys are at home I feel like a rockstar (even though I usually have to clean up the other mess they made while I wasn't looking) :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are absolutely right! Every little thing counts! Oh and if I can get them both napping at the same time? That's the ultimate victory!! lol

    ReplyDelete
  8. I used to be appalled by the stories of people leaving a child in the car or escapee toddlers wandering the neighborhood streets alone, but now when I hear them all I can think is "shit, that could be me one day!" It is all about survival. My number one goal? Not to end up on the news...let's hope I can at least accomplish that one lol!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't watch Jersey Shore {no really, I don't}, but even I know that's a fist pump for mom! So precious!

    You are an amazing mama, and don't ever forget that! You're an idol to me. I hope to be half the mom you are someday! {and if my kids are half as cute as yours, then i'll be set...}

    ReplyDelete
  10. You should definitely celebrate those victories! As a mom of one, I spend more time feeling guilty about what I didn't do instead of feeling proud of what I did (like you did). Reading this makes me think I should stop that and celebrate as well. Thanks for that!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love this picture of him. He is adorable.

    I do agree I think you should celebrate the victories. Parenting is hard working. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ha, great picture. And it's all so true. I've only got one, but I can only imagine how true this is with two.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That picture is adorable. And, I think I feel with two the way you felt with one because although I have two kids, I had them at the same time so I'm STILL figuring out the motherhood thing. I just don't know any better yet. It's funny how that happens.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You are totally rocking the mother of 2!!!! Your boys are some lucky little men. And that little man, he cracks me up every time!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Keep up the great work, Mama! I can't even imagine with two to keep track of; I had that "Oh, (stuff) - did I leave the baby in the driveway?!?" feeling all the time with my one & the infant seat.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I know how frazzled I felt trying to get out of the house with one. Can't imagine two! You are rocking it mama! Wish I could celebrate the little victories with you and a margarita!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Before Ben, I was delusional enough to believe that I actually would have a clean house every single day, with a neatly checked off chore chart, a gourmet meal for dinner every night... and... to top it all off... Pinterest-worthy cupcakes every week. Legit. My dreams of motherhood included perfectly coiffed cupcakes. Pink cupcakes, no less.

    Can't tell you how many times I've had that is-the-baby-in-the-car panic attack. Gets me every dang time...

    I seriously, seriously, do not know how you do it. Can't imagine!

    ReplyDelete
  18. You are victorious, especially leaving the house with two. I tried once and will never do it again, lol!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Mac is totally all "fist bump mama cause you rock my world!" and I tend to agree with him.

    ReplyDelete
  20. So true!! I have a 5 yr and 1 yr old twins, I am constantly doing a body check in the car when leaving the house and heading back home. It's a good day when I get a shower in and everyone is fed and the house is still standing. Your lil man is adorable!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for reading ILYMTC. If you have any questions about a post or want to get in touch with me (or any of the cast of characters here at ILYMTC) email me at iloveyoumorethancarrots(at)gmail(dot)com.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...