“It’s just a phase.” I always hated when people said that to me. Want to know why? Because it keeps the perpetual mindset of having to “just get through “. And you know what comes after this phase? Another phase. I don’t want to live my life hunkering down to get through “this phase”. I want to live (and parent) intentionally— not trying to just “get through” it. Plus, as a mom of many, I’ll be in “this phase” plus seven more pretty much continuously for the foreseeable future. I just don’t want to wish my whole life away. I don’t want to wish their childhood away. I think the healthier way to look at it is that they are developing and growing. Instead of saying “this is a phase” saying “this is how they are developing right now”. It just changes the experience to embrace the process of growth, which isn’t always pretty and linear. Tantrums of toddlers go from “a phase” you’re enduring to a time when you know they’re figuring out their place and how much power they have. Instead of just trying to get through, you can actively help. Instead of seeing your teenager pressing the limits as “a phase”, you can see they’re working on defining themselves. Let’s not wish away the years. Let’s not try to run the clock out— it’ll do that on its own fast enough. Let’s embrace their childhood in all its stages. Let’s do what moms do and walk beside them as they grow— even when it is hard. #parenting #momlife #notaphase #momofmany
Sue Ellen (13 months) saw me putting away the Instacart order. She started yelling “burr” at me. When I grabbed the blackberries she yelled, “Yes!” Her communication skills are coming along. 😂 And she is a berry fiend. When she first started eating real food, she disliked raspberries and blackberries. Now, they’re her favorite. Well, watermelon is still her favorite, but berries are a close second. #babyeight #blackberries #thirteenmonths
