10.19.2008

tribute to moms everywhere

And tonight I’d like to give a big shout out to all you moms out there – especially moms of kids under eight. You are wonderful, awesome, amazing, and I’m sure, exhausted. You probably don’t even appreciate what an accomplishment it is to even get dressed in the morning. And dinner in the crockpot….what were we thinking.

I have been tending my grandbabies. Not even all at the same time (we had the girls for a couple of days, then the little five-month-old boy for a couple of days) but still, it’s wearing me out. I consider myself an energetic healthy person, but I’m beat. I’ve come to fully appreciate what I did as a mom of young ones, and what you’re doing. Give yourselves a pat on the back.


Tonight when I changed the baby's diaper I learned the process is easier if you use four diapers. 1. the diaper you take off. 2. the new diaper you're putting on. 3. a diaper to cover the waterworks (since he soaked his shirt and face earlier) and 4. a diaper for him to grab and put in his mouth to keep him distracted. Once I got that figured out, things went much smoother.

Now listen to me when I tell you young moms something I learned a long time ago: DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOUR KIDS and DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF. I learned this from someone older and wiser when my kids were teenagers and it was almost too late. I wish someone had told me 15 years earlier. She said she wished she hadn’t been so hard on her sons. I took that to heart and tried to be kinder – to myself too. I think it’s very important. Believe me, they grow so fast.

I just love this new little grandson – he’s a joy. He’s a most pleasant little baby – patient, tolerant and with the cutest smiles I’ve ever seen. And I can't wait to tend him again - honest!