Will the Next Stage of Parenting Be Easier?

Sometimes it seems like the next stage of parenting will be easier.

We will be able to get more done once we aren’t wasting time searching for the “very special” toy our kid lost for the third time today.

We will enjoy the freedom that comes from everyone going to the bathroom all by themselves.

We will be able to rest once it's a little quieter.

We will save money when we don’t have to pay for childcare.

We will have a neater house after everyone can help clean up.

We will hang out together and really connect once they are older.

We will be able to have conversations that are productive, where we really listen to one another.

The next stage may or may not be easier. 

I am positive it will come with its own set of struggles.

They may prefer being with their own friends to hanging out with mom.

The house might be too quiet.

We might miss the sound of giggles.

The little voice that says, “I love you” with the slightest lisp will be long-gone.

Sticky hand prints and homemade craft projects will be replaced with school essays and homework.

Their wants will more expensive.
Their problems will be too big for us to fix.

They will have tough questions that we will not always know the answers to.

They may go through a phase where they are rebellious.

They may break our hearts.

But today— today, they are little.
Today, they are innocent and precious.
They are happy to be around us.
They are excited about absolutely everything. 
They are so kind and funny.
They love us without question.

What an honor to be the one who can make everything better, and the one they look to when they need comfort.

Those chubby little hands always find their way to mommy.

Kisses and hugs are given freely, and they can’t imagine a time that they might be too embarrassed to love on us in public.

Heartfelt compliments are handed out almost daily.
What a beautiful gift these little ones are.

Let’s hold onto these fleeting days, and not waste one minute wishing them away. Let’s not rush them to grow up.

Let them be little.

Let them play dolls and dress up in costumes for as long as they want.

Let them dance and sing Baby Shark at the top of their lungs.

Let them watch Disney Cartoons and ‘G’ Rated movies.

Let them wear sweet dresses and fuzzy pajamas.

Let them imagine and create without an end goal.
Let them make up stories and jokes that make no sense at all.

Let them be silly and carefree for a few more years.

This phase is messy and loud, but it is also joyful.

Let’s hold on and embrace it.

These sweet days aren’t going to last forever, 
and I have a suspicion, that we just might miss them.