Treasured Lessons - Two down, A Million to go!

Motherhood – No one could have warned you, no one could have prepared you… It is full of the most precious and most difficult experiences of your life, and each and every one of these “life-moments” can be attributed that little being you call your offspring. He will bring you to tears of joy and defeat nearly every day. He does not hesitate to push the limits, test your sanity or demand every ounce of your energy. He also requires limitless love and an unearthly amount of patience. When that pregnancy stick showed double lines your life changed – maybe not instantly, but very quickly your life was no longer your own. You couldn’t eat what you wanted, you could drink what you wanted, you couldn’t sleep the way you used to and you certainly peed more than you ever thought possible. Your body was sacrificed, you mind compromised and your life forever altered.   Yet all these changes, all these sacrifices were surrendered without a thought (well maybe a little complaining), but never regretted - Though the loss of eight hours of solid sleep was and will continued to be mourned.   

I am now in the midst of my sophomore year of motherhood and I regularly feel unprepared and too often inept. I stand dumbfounded in the midst of a tantrum (as I’ve previously explained), I sometimes can’t help but laugh at misbehavior or cry when I feel like he’s asking too much of me. I have even wanted to pinch him back when he pinches me (though I don’t), and sometimes when he repeats himself incessantly I cruelly mimic him just to see how HE responds to the annoying behavior.

Yet despite my imperfections and odd mothering techniques I have already learned a couple treasured lessons:

I have learned that it’s better for me to win a battle of wits instead of a battle of wills.

My little "Real Boy"

Example – Francis was Pinocchio for Halloween and the hat completed the ensemble, yet I knew it was unlikely that my 18 month old would consent to the tediously constructed headpiece – So I thought ahead for once. I dressed him, placed the hat on his head and gave him his very own Halloween Lollypop (quite the treat), when he took the hat off I took the lollypop away, put it back on and gave him back his sweet prize. I only had to do it twice, and before I knew it the kid wouldn’t take the hat off. I am not condoning candy giving as a means of coercing your child into good behavior, but in this instance I would have let him have a lolly anyways, so why not get what I wanted out of the deal. 

Let the little guy help.

The Official Pumpkin Mover

 

Even if his “help” isn’t helpful at all it makes him feel like he is included and useful. I am always surprised by how willing he is to cooperate when I ask him to help mommy instead of shooing him out of my way. I’ve learned to let him carry that pumpkin, even though it’s too heavy and I’ve learned to let him unload the plastic bowls from the dishwasher, even if half of the time they end up in the trashcan then back in the dishwasher. He’s thrilled to “help” and I’m thrilled to avoid a “Pumpkin Please!” fit four times a day or making a chair barricade to keep him out of the kitchen.

Well my mind is drawing a blank…so I guess I have two lessons in just about two years – That doesn’t make me the Mom of the Year!  But it does make him a little happier and therefore my life a little easier! 

And to make this into a discussion board I will ask my few (but loyal) blog followers - What are your jewels of wisdom? I’m obviously in need of a few more...