Words for me today
"I am reminded of how motherhood is really a spiritual practice—a daily series of tasks we must do no matter what. Our egos scream to do what we want. Our exhausted and angry bodies balk at having to get up at night once more to coax a restless child back to sleep. The urgency of a young child’s needs forces our own to quiet down, wait and possibly even change. Taking care of a toddler is a matter of life and death. We need to be in the present, awake, full of care, even though we would rather think our own thoughts."
– Anne Mavor, Strong Hearts Inspired Minds
Words for me today, too! (and so many other days of late, I’m afraid!) Thanks so much for posting that, Claire! Hope you get some sleep soon.
Oh Claire, after too many nights of vomiting, teething and “Mummy, I need to go to the toilet” from my 3 yr old and 6 month old and such horrible cold weather that keeps you pretty much inside, I was going a little nutty. But reading that has made my day. Thank you.
Lovely and so true 🙂
It’s not just the toddlers that are 24 hour a day jobs. My kids are teens and they need you as much or more, then. They just need you in a different way. They need you to be paying attention to what they are doing and with who. They need you to give them guideance and listen to them, and most of all, to let them know how much you love them. This is a mother’s lot, for life. And a more fulfilling role, I cannot imagine…diane
Wow, what a super passage to start my day, (on the other side of where you’re at on the globe.) How true it is — and comforting when you read such things that remind you that we’re all in the same boat. BTW, RE: sleep thing, I caved in last night, brought wee lady to bed for 5 minutes and then battled for a good 30 to get her back to sleep! Sheesh!
That just about says it all. Things is, it is rewarding being a mother. Anytime I think it is hard, think about the women who would give anything to be a mother to just one of my children. Truly children are a blessing.
Wow! What a quote to start my day with! Have you read Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla Kabat-Zinn and Jon Kabat-Zinn?
Thank you Claire. I was feeling like such a bad mom last night, when all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch and relax for an hour. Instead my 2 year old daughter kept calling for me to come up and get her water, milk, fruit snacks, potty, you name it! Each time going back into her room impatiently & wishing she would go to sleep finally. Every time I went in she just wanted a kiss or a better tucked blanket, I put my own wants aside and was happy to help her feel safe & sound. Your quote made my day.
Claire-There are days when I feel so guilty when I find myself counting down the minutes (tick tock!) until my kids are in bed! Because only then can my thoughts roam free (with no thoughts of diapers, tantrums, fussinness etc).
So relieved to know that I’m not the only one. But it’s always refreshing to wake up to happy babies in the a.m.
hey claire. just wanted to say this message made my day. 😀
Thank you Claire, I read the excerpt just when I reached the end of mytether. I always seem to stumble across some pearls of wisdom when I need them the most. I’m going to save this one and put it on my dressing table mirror. Karen