Syrup and Sappy
This past weekend we took advantage of IHOP’s kids eat free promotion. This isn’t exactly newsworthy anymore. Buzz was climbing every which way, Abby threw crayons, it was chaos multiplied. Same story, different restaurant.
A few minutes after we were seated, a family with a newborn baby girl took the booth behind us. I admit, she was cute. So tiny in her infant carrier. A pink bow atop the little hair that she had. When their food arrived, I heard her make a few small cries right on cue. Her father immediately picked her up, to eat one-handed.
I looked over at her and I flashed back to my babies. I wondered if she slept through the night, if she was laughing yet, the theme of her nursery. I wanted to tell them that there are hard days and you may cry a lot and you might want to scream, but then tomorrow shines. But don’t live for tomorrow, make sure your child knows how much you love her today. That watching your baby grow into the kid that they’ll become is one of the greatest privileges of life. To dream about the future, but enjoy her when she’s that little and dependent because it doesn’t last long enough.
Instead, I stopped Buzz from dumping out the salt shaker and fed Abby a bite of macaroni and cheese while attempting to answer one of Jedi’s neverending questions.
My baby days are done. It was an easy decision to say enough. But every once in awhile, when faced with the reality that they only get bigger from here on out, I can’t help but feel a bit sad and sentimental.
I'm Crystal. A 30-something mom to 3 young kids living in the Midwest USA. When I'm not chasing my children, I'm a freelance writer and web designer. I like to tell stories from our days and share what we enjoy...
8 Responses
on April 19 2010
*sigh* I know just what you mean. We haven’t closed and locked the door on more babies, but I don’t see it happening. It just all goes by so fast. There are some lovely things about them as babies, truly.
on April 19 2010
I know how it goes. Sometimes I do miss babies…but then I remember that I like my sleep and the feeling goes away.
on April 19th, 2010
@Amber, My daughter still doesn’t let me sleep through the night. But I’m looking forward to the day when she does.
on April 19 2010
I had this same feeling today after getting misty-eyed about a newborn at lunch (and then watching my toddler-son toss his sandwich on the floor). It’s so easy to get caught up in the logistics of raising kids that we overlook the wonder. Thanks for the reminder (and for giving me a pancakes craving). =>
.-= Stacia´s latest blog post: Us and Them =-.
on April 19 2010
Those baby days do go by in such a blink, don’t they. I remember when I was in the midst of the newborn days — struggling to figure out breastfeeding, days & nights still flip-flopped — and it seemed never-ending. Looking back, it was really just a blip in the radar. Someone told me to never wish away these early years, regardless of how tough the newborn stage is, or how terrible the terrible twos may be…because it’s gone in a flash. I’m already discovering just how right she was!
.-= Crystal @ Semi-Crunchy Mama´s latest blog post: Lazy Days =-.
on April 19 2010
I love the advice you’d give the new parents. Here here! (And a good reminder for me to be in the moment while I parent as well.)
PS. Kid’s eat free at IHOP is the BEST. My son asks to go every day (which may be a testimony to me cooking and his pickiness)
.-= Alex´s latest blog post: Blog-spiration: Deodorant Edition =-.
on April 19 2010
I have many of these moments! I have one tot and this will be all. I didn’t know this would be it for us until about a year after he was born. I was such a mess with a newborn. I find myself wanting to give so much unsolicited advice. Things I wish people had told me. But yeah…it goes by so fast!
Best,
Tina
on April 20 2010
Every so often I feel the same way. I have the same pang of wistfulness when I see a teeny baby and realize I won’t have any more. It all seems so easy in retrospect.
.-= Marilyn (A Lot of Loves)´s latest blog post: Vacation Tidbits: Monday Mingle =-.