Someone once told me that motherhood is a series of moments, and that to get through the tough bits, you have to live from one precious moment to the next.

My son loves his cot, and when he’s tired, it’s all he wants. No car seat, no pram, no people holding him. Cot. Once he’s in it he usually goes through various activities such as stretching, rolling about, snuggling, kicking blankets around, patting his stuffed rabbit and ending up on his knees with his head in the corner. It’s a freedom thing, I think.

This wasn’t always the case, however. I built up impressive core strength walking the floors with a 6kg+ baby every nap and bedtime, so when he eventually decided he preferred his cot, I rejoiced! I could now tuck him in, give him a kiss and quietly close the door, then get on with the things that needed to be done. Heck, I could even put my feet up with a cup of tea and read last month’s Good Taste without fear of being up and down like a jackrabbit to resettle him. It was relative bliss.

Today, I was about to put him down in his cot for his morning nap when he grasped my shirt with his little hand and put his head down on my shoulder (got to love when they do that). Then he closed his eyes and started sucking his dummy furiously, which means he’s ready to do some serious going to sleep. I was a little surprised, but I was enjoying the head on the shoulder thing so much that I sat down. As soon as I did, he snuggled into my body and adopted a cherubic sleeping face.

So I sat. I thought about the laundry that had to be done if I wanted to wear underwear tomorrow. I listened to the cat moping around the laundry because his food bowl was probably empty. I thought I should probably go clean up the breakfast bowl that was broken on the ground next to the table because he’d gotten hold of it from his high chair.

But I sat. After months of wishing he would settle in his cot, here I was, hoping desperately he wouldn’t start wriggling so I could sit there in the half light and just hold him forever.

And I realised that these are the moments that carry us. They make the sleepless nights, endless nappy changes and perpetual messiness fade into utter insignificance. When you dream of having a child, you dream of moments like these. And although they’re so fleeting, when they’re happening, they’re all there is in the world.

Here’s to moments.

Filed under:
baby, mums life by julie