GROWING UP IS HARD TO DO

Written by Sheree Hoddinett 

Why do they have to grow up so quickly? My big girl keeps asking to sit on my lap. It’s a struggle because she’s getting taller (and heavier) but even as I write this I don’t know if it’ll be the last time she asks to do it. My baby girl (not so much a baby at 4) still asks me to pick her up. She’s also getting heavier and it’s a struggle but one day it’ll be the last time she asks and I won’t know (insert a few tears here). There will be a last time for everything and you may not know until it’s happened.

• The last time you will breastfeed or bottle feed your baby.
• The last time they will nap during the day.
• The last time they will ask you to open something for them or help feed them.
• The last time you will have baby cuddles.
• The last time they will ask for you to pick them up or even hold their hand.
• The last time they ask you to sit down with them.
• The last time they call you mummy before it becomes just mum.

As each stage passes by I realise there are little things that no longer happen and I can’t even remember when they stopped, so it might not entirely be bad. But it’s the bigger things that seem to have more of an impact, hitting you right in the feels. 

I have days where I cry a little because things are over and then other days where I’m extremely grateful there are some things I will never have to deal with again, nappies is definitely one, haha! It feels like you go from one extreme to another in the rollercoaster of parenting. Milk-fed (whether it’s breast or bottle, it doesn’t matter how you choose to do it) comes with its own mess and “fun” and then you move into the challenging world of dealing with solid food, where it potentially becomes a projectile and could land anywhere on you or near you! These days it’s about trying to get them to either actually eat or not eat so much. Ahhhhh, good times, haha!

If there’s anything I hope doesn’t change it’s the adorable attitude I get all the time. I’m kidding of course! Adorable barely registers on my girls’ radar anymore, except maybe when they sleep. The peaceful quiet time of day where I can enjoy some chocolate without having to share. We’re definitely full of attitude alright, but adorable is the last word I’d used to describe it. Except when they really want something and they really turn on the sweetness then! It’s funny though, that no matter how much they drive you crazy, how often they change on you and continue to grow up despite you willing it all to slow down, becoming and being a parent will likely still be the best thing that you will ever do. Maybe winning lotto might rate pretty highly as well….or not, haha! I know I complain a lot about the way they behave these days but I already worry about the day they may not need their mummy so much anymore…plenty of crappy times still ahead of me yet, right?!

On a side note, it’s May and with one day specially devoted to celebrate mothers and all they do, I thought I’d better give it a mention. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums in every form out there, but especially to my awesome, amazing and very beautiful mum. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her or her influence. She is my rock when I feel like I’m failing and flailing and the best person to turn to when I need some advice. Thank you mum for always being there!

This is just one chapter in the glorious tale that is my parenting ride. If you’d like to read a bit more, head on over to my blog www.shereekim.com, you never know what you might find. Until next time…remember it’s okay to cry, scream and yell and if you need to, take some time for yourself, you’ll be an even better mum and person for it in the long run.