Let's be honest, when you are a mum, the list of things you should be doing at any given moment is pretty much endless.
There are floors that need cleaning and dishes that need doing and dinner to be cooked. The play room is buried under a mountain of toys, books and DVDs and that pile of ironing you finished but didn't have time to put away yet just toppled over and now everything has to be folded again.
The thing is, in trying our best to keep all the balls in the air and never let anything drop, we sometimes forget that these
very days, these precious few years when are babies are small, they are so, so fleeting.
And we need to get better – so much better – at letting other things wait. Trust me when I say this, pretty much
everything else can wait – but your children being small, being the size they are right this minute, that cannot wait, mamas.
Which is why, when I read these beautiful words Australian mother-of four Regan Long shared to her Facebook page,
The Real Deal Parenting, it really struck a cord, and is something every mum needs to read – and keep reminding herself of when our days are busy.
Here is the beautiful post in full:
Instead I Held You
Today my patience has run thin and all I could think about was having a few minutes to myself, but as you fell fast asleep on my chest, it was an easy choice despite a list of things needing to be done.
Because instead ... I held you.
I was going to get the dishwasher unloaded and the overflowing pile in sink washed.
But instead I held you.
I was going to get the clothes folded that have been sitting in the dryer, refluffed one too many times. And I was going to rewash the laundry that sat wet over night.
But instead I held you.
I was going to grab my two minute shower and if I was lucky, I was going to blow dry my hair and maybe throw on a little make up.
But instead I held you.
I was going to answer some work emails and respond to a few missed calls that have needed returned over the past 72 hours.
But instead I held you.
I was going to vacuum up the crunched mini wheats that you accidentally spread through the living room and stair well, and likewise clean up some of the toys that are strewn in every room but the playroom.
But instead I held you.
I was going to get dinner in the crock pot and go through the pile of mail that has been sitting on the counter top since Monday.
But instead I held you.
I was going to carry you upstairs and lay you down as I was pretty certain you wouldn't awake if I did. Maybe you would have been more comfortable in your bed?
But instead I held you.
You see, your little legs are already bunched up on the chair as it seems like it was just yesterday that your tiny toes were still resting upon my stomach.
Your tiny breaths and sweet hands fell so perfectly around me, yet soon you will prefer to stretch out in your own toddler bed.
It turns out that my plans for this time weren't going to accomplish what I have right here in my arms.
I found my calm and the peace and the satisfaction right here, right now, because of one simple choice...
Instead, I held you.
Seriously, mamas; don't be too busy. Grab those snuggles while you can!
