Timeless Tuesday - Babies Don't Keep

I first read this little poem when my first child was just a baby. It resonated so deeply in me that I made it something of my "motherhood motto" for my next thirty-plus child-raising years. It certainly was no sacrifice to relax my housekeeping urge (which, in the early days, wasn't too strong anyway) and luxuriate in the cuddling of a child.

Now my housecleaning expectations are higher. It must come with age. I can't stand my house to be super messy, though I'm not the clean-freak some ladies are. I don't have any little ones underfoot anymore, until the grandkids arrive. It's easy to clean before they come so their little crawling knees aren't black when they leave.

But may I encourage you young moms out there to take this poem to heart? You will never regret holding your child, rocking them to sleep, if that's where your heart is. You won't look back and wish you kept a cleaner house. There's time for that later. But the fact that babies don't keep is overwhelmingly true. Enjoy those soft little bodies snuggled in your lap while you can. Your life will be filled with irreplaceable riches from those sweet baby moments.

What would you say is your "motherhood motto?"

Linda

One Topic I'll Never Blog About

I've blogged on a lot of parenting topics. I made plenty of mistakes as I raised my three kids but I did a lot of things right, too. I've also learned a lot from watching my daughter parent her seven children—she’s a far better parent than I ever was. But there's one thing I will never blog about because I never mastered it as a parent and I'm no better at it as a grandma—teaching children to go to sleep on their own. The picture below is of me walking my grandson, Solomon, to sleep.

Sleeping issues are often a parent's top frustration because it affects them the following day (read weeks, months, years) as sleep deprivation sets in. So why couldn't I figure out how to teach my kids good sleep habits? Two reasons. I love rocking babies to sleep and I couldn't stand to hear them cry.

Seriously, is there anything sweeter than holding a child as he drifts off, that soft little body snuggled tight against yours? Or providing the warm childhood comfort of being held, feeling loved, cherished, and safe? Nothing else even comes close. So if my child wanted to rock with me, you can bet the answer was always yes, even if it meant it took twice (or three or four times) as long to get them to bed. Even if they woke when I laid them down and we had to start all over again. I simply couldn't resist that cozy snuggle time.

And all the advice about letting your baby cry himself to sleep? I simply couldn't do it. Still can't. Honestly, it breaks my heart. I simply cannot, will not, do it. I know. I'm a bad mom. But I was so good in so many other ways.

When my baby cried, my natural instinct was to comfort her by picking her up. Believe me, I tried to resist that urge. I really did! I'd pat her tiny back, coo to her, maybe even sing a lullaby. But if she still cried, I had to pick up the sweet thing. I had to!

Here's the thing. My children are now ages 31, 28, and 19. And every one of them sleeps through the night. They're wonderful people and I'm so proud of the adults they've become. I have terrific relationships with all three of my kiddos and miracle of miracles, I didn't scar them too terribly with my occasional lapses in parental judgment. So my advice to you regarding sleep issues or any other issues you face as a parent?

Follow your heart, your gut, your instinct. You've got this. Your children will turn out fine as long as you do your very best and love them beyond reason. I know you already do. At least most of the time. And in my experience that is enough.

What's your toughest issue as a parent? I can't wait to hear from you.

Linda