1. Consistency with James.
Just when I think I got this momma thing down and we're on a schedule and James is an angel and I'm just winning when it comes to being a parent, something takes a quick turn and all of a sudden I don't have a handle on it. I couldn't figure it out for the longest time and it really started to upset me. I started thinking I was a bad mother and I really beat myself up over it. FINALLY after 2 years, I realized that It's all about consistency. I am the mother. I am the one that needs to be consistent in teaching, schedules, meals and all things motherly. I know that sounds obvious but you will find yourself thinking; 'Oh, james is old enough. He knows what to do and how to do it, I tell him everyday." Well he honestly doesn't. He's still a little child and he needs guidance. Not that I wasn't giving him any, I just assumed that I could teach him something a few times and he could get it within a week or so and then he could do it on his own. Children NEED you to be constantly consistent in everything you say and do. I have to work on being patient. It's more than true what they say, the trick to parenthood is Patience. I'm working on it everyday. I pray that I can get that down by the time Lily gets here cause I have a feeling my life is going to turn upside down.
2. Mommy Time.
The second thing I have realized is so so so important is alone time. we don't have family in town where I can just drop James off if I'm having a bad day. It would be so nice to just go grocery shopping for 30 min without a major tantrum to deal with. But I'm talking about alone time before my hectic day starts. I'm talking sacrificing an hour of sleep and wake up early to just do something for me or even just get caught up on laundry or cleaning the kitchen. Now, if you told me this when James was a baby I would have laughed in your face and said, I want that extra sleep. Totally understandable. I remember when James was breast feeding, he woke up 4 sometimes 5 times a night to eat and I had to wake up at 6:30 for the Day Care kids and that wasn't a lot of fun. But, you don't have to do it every single day. I do it everyday at this point in my life because James sleeps more than 8 hours a night and I just wake up every morning at about 7. I get to wake up and take a shower, think about what I have to do that day and just kind of chill before my silly little crazy man wakes up. I promise you that if you even do it once a week when you have a baby, it's worth it. The thing with babies is they always sleep. You can get that hour back sometime in the day and why wouldn't you want to have a snuggle nap with that babe later on. I mean, am I right?
Now, I'm hardly qualified to give advice. I have just noticed the past two years what my child wants and needs from me and I feel like I'm starting to really get a grasp on this whole parenthood/mommy thing. FAR from perfect but I feel like I'm on the right path. I really wanted to share those two things because I don't want to forget them.
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