Hey there, Mama. Are you feeling out of sorts today? Did the morning turn into a chaotic rush? Are you standing at the bottom of the stairs, red in the face, yelling because you’re running late? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Zipping up coats with a twinge of anger, fumbling laces in your haste. You’re exhausted, utterly drained.
Is your patience wearing thin, stretched to its limit? You didn’t even have time to touch your sandwich, and there’s cake everywhere. And why is your little one’s face so dirty? Perhaps you’ve found a moment to sneak away, hiding in the closet or standing against the bathroom door, seeking a bit of peace and quiet, just a moment to collect your thoughts. Are you sitting in your car after dropping them off at school, wishing you hadn’t raised your voice so much? Banging your head against the steering wheel, you think, “Why didn’t I just stay calm today?”
Are you anxious about their memories? Do you fear that when they revisit their childhood, they’ll only uncover moments of frustration, the forgotten snacks, and the hectic mornings?
Don’t worry, Mama. Just take a deep breath. Have faith. They won’t remember those small missteps. Children don’t chronicle every hour, replaying them like a video tape, nor do they keep a scorecard of your missteps. They simply don’t, and they can’t.
When the dust settles, and they look back, they’ll encapsulate their childhood into one vast memory, filled with warmth and comfort. It will be a collage of little moments wrapped in large feelings—the good mornings, the cozy bedtimes, the rocky roads. Those small instances of imperfection that seem monumental now, the mistakes that make your stomach flip? They will fade away. That’s just how it is.
They won’t remember the missed snack or the time you lost your cool when they played “You’re a Grand Old Flag” on their horn for hours. If they recall anything, it will be that you read them two stories, even when you had a million things on your plate.
They will cherish the way your face lit up when they walked towards you after school, how you were the first in the pickup line, even in the snow. They will remember the footprints you made together, little boots next to big ones, as you stomped through the snow, catching flakes on your tongues and eyelashes. “Darling, your cheeks are so pink; we should go inside.” “Just one more minute, Mama.” “Alright, one minute more, just one minute.”
They will remember how you shielded their eyes from the water during bath time, the familiar scent of your neck when you leaned down to kiss them goodnight, especially on the best nights.
They will recall the Wednesday night dance parties when that one song came on. They won’t know you were reminiscing about a long-ago kiss on the dance floor, but they will see the sparkle in your eyes and know that dancing makes you feel alive. They will remember your awful jokes, like the horse in the bar, and even long after they can’t laugh at your humor, they’ll think back fondly on those moments.
They’ll remember how you leaned in close to the bathroom mirror, putting on your mascara, mouth slightly open as you brushed your lashes. They’ll recall the warmth of your presence, whether they watched quietly or pretended not to, but were actually cherishing those moments.
They won’t remember that time you burned the pancakes. Instead, they’ll think of the sweet aroma of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls on Sunday mornings and how you licked the icing off the knife after spreading it thick. They’ll recall when you yelled and followed it with an “I’m sorry” and, “Mama isn’t perfect, but she loves you dearly.”
That’s what they’ll hold onto. If you’re skeptical, think about your own childhood. Ask your kids about last week, last year, or even when they were two, three, four, six, or eight. They will share stories, and you’ll see that they don’t dwell on the little things you did wrong.
So, be gentle with yourself. View yourself through the eyes of your children. Remember what they will take away from these years and have a little faith. They won’t remember the minor slip-ups, Mama.
They will remember that you were there. That you loved them fiercely. That you tried your best. And that, above all, is what will stay with them.
If you’re interested in more parenting wisdom, check out this insightful post on keeping good memories. For those looking into at-home insemination, consider visiting Cryobaby for their syringe kits. For an excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination, check this link.
In summary, as a parent, it’s easy to focus on our mistakes, but children are far more likely to remember the love and joy we bring into their lives. So take a moment to breathe, let go of the small stuff, and embrace the beautiful chaos of motherhood.
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