Sometimes I Miss It
July 5, 2009 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under mothering, sleep
Today was a big day for my little 11.5-month-old nursling. She couldn’t be torn away from the excitement of the day for a silly thing like napping, so her usual three naps were reduced to two. That meant by dinner time she was nearly ready for bed. We celebrated the 4th of July holiday with a backyard barbecue of shrimp and salmon, fresh pineapple slices, and grilled vegetables. As a special treat for dessert we made an improvised strawberry smoothie from pureed and whole frozen strawberries from our u-pick adventure earlier in the year, along with more pineapple and some fresh-squeezed orange juice and lemon juice. My nursling slurped up this tangy treat from a spoon and held out her spoon for more!
By the time we headed to our balcony to watch fireworks in the distance, she was ready to give in to sleep. She rested her head on my shoulder (one of best feelings in the world) and eventually drifted off to sleep as the fireworks boomed around us. I carried her into the bedroom and set her down on the bed, and she didn’t even stir.
Baby boy sleeps on his mom's shoulder (Photo by Ewen and Donabel)
I feel that way about so much of parenting. The things that drove me crazy in the early days, or with my first child, I have come to miss. You don’t really appreciate what you have when you have it, and parenting just drives that home for me every single day.
Yes, when it gets noisy around my house (as it tends to do!) I remind myself that when I have an “empty nest” someday and everything is quiet, I will surely miss the sound of children in the home.