Single Moms Rushing Your Life Away

Blaise "always" takes a nap at a certain time, and like clock work he wakes up at the same time. After months of this routine, nothing has changed. So why would I think today would be any different. Well, like I say, Welcome to Momhood... where even the predictable is unpredictable.

I get B's food ready for lunch. I always get him dressed after lunch, because between the two of us, something always ends up on his lap. So, I set out his outfit for the day. I had his stuff ready, so I did work for the next day. Then, as usual, time got away from me. It was over an hour since he "always" gets up. What the heck? Just as I'm about to get him up from his nap, I hear him make a peep. Great, he's up anyways. We have to hurry and go, because now I only have 35 minutes before we need to leave. Oh did I mention, I'm not dressed or haven't done my hair?

B eats quickly. Since he's still on baby food, he can consume it in about 5 minutes flat. He loves his food. Well, not today. I feed him a few bites, then he claps. How cute is that? This is his first time clapping. Aww, buddy, that's so cute. You are such a biggie boy, now take another bite.

We went to the doctor last week, and one of the questions I was asked is if he could clap or play peekaboo. Well I play peekaboo with him, but he doesn't play it with me. I wasn't too concerned about this, because he knows how to give high fives. But if he was supposed to already know how to do these other things, then I need to teach him. So, for the last few days, I've tried to get him to clap, with no luck... until today. The day that I'm in a rush.

Aww, he claps again and looks at me as if to say, "Mama aren't I cute?"

Yes, my sweet boy you are so cute. What a big boy... Now hurry and eat, we have to go. We go through this after every bite. He claps, gives me his cute look, I say how cute he is, and then rush him to eat another bite. Then we come to a halt. He just doesn't want to have anything to do with his food. He probably picks up after about the tenth time, mama's patience is thinner. Fine. I'll do a few things I need to get done, while he sits in his highchair and claps... and claps... and claps.

I stare at him from the kitchen in awe. His clapping is so cute. My boy learned how to clap, and he realizes he knows how to clap. Yet I'm just rushing him to eat, so we can leave on time.

When we finally get in the car, it sinks in. Clapping was something new for him. He was proud that he knew how to do it... and all I did was rush him through the process, so I could leave on time. I didn't really sit back and enjoy that moment... that moment that will NEVER happen again.

Even with my saying how cute it is and that he's a biggie boy, the guilt sinks in. It's something new and exciting. It deserved time to be taken in and enjoyed. I vowed to him that I would not let this happen again. I don't want to regret these times... these times when he is small, learning , exploring, and doing new things. These are the precious times that will never come again, and I'm not going to miss out on them, because I'm in a hurry.

Something else can be sacrificed (like my hair--I could pull it back). I am busy. You are busy. We are in a hurry, but we need to sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey. Don't let these little, precious moments pass you by. If you do, you'll look back and regret not enjoying the little things in life. After all, isn't that what life is really ALL about?! Find time to enjoy the moments--every moment you can!