Menu
- Parenting
Motherhood is Found in the Moments
by Jessica Lane
Sep. 11, 2015
It was just another evening in our household. After a long day at work, I rounded up my trio of boys and we trooped home, each of them unleashing a torrent of demands like baristas at a bustling café on a Monday morning. We played, I attempted to whip up “dinner” (which, let’s be honest, was nothing more than frozen cheese pretzel bites—Martha Stewart, watch out), and then we played some more.
I managed to stave off the usual 8 PM chaos that descends as bedtime approaches. You know the scene: kids start sensing that bedtime is near, and suddenly they’re wild—stripping down to their undies, racing around like crazed animals, and laughing hysterically while playfully slapping each other. Or is that just my crew?
Once the mayhem was somewhat contained, I corralled them upstairs for bath time. The cleaning process was a bit like wrestling slippery pigs in a mud pit, but somehow, I emerged victorious with three clean bodies and three fresh sets of teeth, despite their best efforts to act like a pod of whales at Sea World.
It was a typical night. While dressing two of the boys, my youngest decided to christen the bed with a little pee and then proceeded to slap himself on the backside while the others erupted in laughter like they were front-row at a comedy show. After a quick sheet change and some cleaning up, I got everyone settled and took a deep breath.
Then came book time, prayers, tucking them in, a million kisses, and “goodnights” before lights out—freedom was finally mine! Or so I thought.
Just as I started to relax in my own bed, my youngest began to cry. At nearly two, I’ve learned to give him a moment to see if he really needs me. Minutes passed, and when it became clear this wasn’t going to stop, I grumbled my way back to his room, adopting that classic “mombie” demeanor.
When I reached him, he was on his back, sleep-crying, not truly in distress but fighting off sleep. I gently cupped his cheeks in my hands, and almost immediately, his eyes fluttered shut, the crying ceased. Every time I shifted, those little eyes would pop open and start whimpering again. So, I stayed there, hands on his face, for about five minutes until I was sure he was asleep.
And that was the moment. The moment I took a breath and let the day’s chaos fade away. The moment I remembered why I’m here. It was that beautiful instant when all the efforts I poured out were returned to me tenfold.
Motherhood can be utterly exhausting. It tests our limits. There are times when we feel like we have nothing left to give. But then come these extraordinary moments where everything aligns, and we find clarity in the chaos.
It’s in those quiet instances—like leaning over my child’s bed, holding his soft cheeks until he drifts off—that I realize all he needs is my presence to feel secure. Every ounce of chaos and noise, every bit of energy and patience—it’s all for these moments.
Sometimes, it’s easy to feel lost in the whirlwind of motherhood. We rush through days, tired and overwhelmed. But in that moment, with my aching back and my hands cradling my little one’s soft cheeks—cheeks that will one day grow into something more manly—I was reminded to be grateful. Motherhood is a truly miraculous journey.
What a gift it is to have the power to soothe my son to sleep with just a gentle touch. What an honor to be the one he calls for in the night. It’s simply precious to squeeze in one more kiss and utter “I love you” a hundred times before bed.
Parenting is challenging, but oh, is it worth it. It may seem like just another ordinary night, but it serves as a reminder that motherhood is anything but ordinary. Everything we do matters to our little ones.
For more insights into home insemination and parenting, check out this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination. You might also find helpful information about artificial insemination kits here.
Summary:
In the chaotic yet rewarding journey of motherhood, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, it’s often in the calm moments, like soothing a child to sleep, that we find the true essence of parenting. These moments remind us of the invaluable connections we have with our children, highlighting the extraordinary nature of motherhood amid the everyday challenges.