"They grow up fast" ...is what I’m told.

The wisdom of being a Mama is knowing… today--this moment--matters.

Today may be the last day I sing a certain favorite song to my baby or rock her to sleep… not because of grim reasons but because, simply put, they grow up.

Today can be what I want it to be. It can be positive and end a success- no matter how frustrating the events of the day are (how many tantrums were thrown, how many time-outs were given…how many times I lost my cool with them...) if we just make it through their bedtimes… we’ve done it again. Victory. And you know what, we probably made it "their day too."

Did we take them to a playdate or make them their favorite snack? Did we show them kindness, and teach them compassion towards a sibling or friend? Were we patient with them when they made a fuss about what they wanted to wear today? Did we play a game with them? Sing silly songs or read stories? Did we put down our mobile device to give them undivided attention when they called, "Watch me Mommy" or answer the question "Why.....?" even if it was for the eighteenth time?! These are ways we made it "their day too."

Being a wise Mama is choosing to LIVE in the moment. Take a deep breath and appreciate it. Embrace the chaos, the huge mess in the kitchen, the piles of folded laundry left on the couch that the baby just unfolded... re-typing a blog post because the toddler jumped on the laptop and crashed it... (the last one, just happened, deep breaths!) But I tell myself... Cherish it.

...All the while knowing that one day these little ones will not want us to give them a bath, read them a story or sing to them before bed. They won't be yelling "Watch me Mommy" as they show off their "new discovery" in life! They may be embarrassed of us and not say "I love you" back as we drop them off, or worse make us drop them off around the corner instead of at the front doors…Its those moments we will give anything to go back to the messy- smothering days of infancy and toddlerhood. For these bittersweet contrast-exploring reasons we can cherish today and this moment.

Being a Mother is special. Cherish it Mamas.

They grow up, fast is what I’m told.

Sarah