Tis the Season

One of my favorite things about being a stay at home mom is that I appreciate the seasons more than I ever have. Before kids I worked full time and every day was pretty much the same no matter if it was the middle of July or the dead of winter. Wake up, make coffee, commute to work, do the work, commute home, eat dinner, and sleep. When your day is spent in a climate controlled office the seasons do not impact you much- unless the weather affects your commute. But now as a stay at home mom the change of seasons dramatically changes my day to day. In the summer we go outside and play in the pool as much as possible, in the fall we rake leaves and jump in puddles, and in the winter we snuggle with picture books and decorate Christmas cookies. I love that being a mom makes me stop and acknowledge the seasons.

But there are other seasons when you are a parent of little ones that are not as enjoyable- the season of postpartum hormones and sleep deprivation, bed wetting and three year old tantrums, stomach flus and colds. I have found the key to finding joy in the midst of any season is to embrace it. When my little boys get sick I let them watch as much TV as they like, I make extra coffee for me, and no one gets dressed. When one of my kids is struggling with tantrums we slow our activities way down and focus on simple first time obedience.  Frustration hits when I am trying to ignore or rush through an unpleasant season. Just as it would be ridiculous to play in the snow wearing your bathing suit, it’s crazy if you try to organize all your closets when you have a tiny newborn. During that postpartum season, especially if you have other small children, you need crock pot meals, a comfy bathrobe, and several pairs of stretchy pants. Don’t try to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight or keep your house clean. It’s going to be okay. This is not forever. It is simply a season. It will pass all too quickly and you will wish you had that fresh newborn to snuggle. Clean floors and organized drawers can wait. Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens." Recognize the season you are in and relish it, no matter how unwelcome or uncomfortable. We only get a few short years with these babes. Motherhood is a very special season.