The Happy “Little” Years

Once upon a time, I slept until the alarm went off, ate breakfast at a leisurely pace, and started my day in whichever fashion I chose.

Then I had children.

Now the children are my alarm. I wrestle between which one I should feed breakfast to first, and by the time the dust settles from all of that-our day has begun!

I wipe noses and clean up spills and keep the three-year old from squishing the baby. Sometimes, in the midst of trying to maintain a semblance of order, the greatest thing I look forward to right then, is our “quiet” time after lunch.

For a short while, I couldn’t convince the almost three- year old to take a nap and “quiet time “ was not fully comprehended yet. The baby was teething and by the time hubby came home he wisely advised me to go on a walk. If there is one thing I would deem of utmost importance, it would be that a mama gets a tiny portion of each day to herself.

We are back to naps and I’ve been getting my quiet time again. Everything goes so much better. I can do my devotions and tell God all about it. He fills my cup and I have renewed vigour and patience.

Isaiah 40:11 says- He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

I can testify to that:

*The time my two- year old dropped a heavy battery on her foot and couldn’t walk.

I ended up rocking her most of the day. An unexpected knock on the door revealed an angel of a girl (to me) who set to work and did all the daily do’s. I was most grateful as there were some things that simply had to be done!

*The fifteen year old who came one day a week until my fall work was completed.

The baby simply wanted to be held a lot and I’m not sure how I would have managed without her. The mom offered it to me and my husband encouraged me to accept the offer, so I did, and what a blessing it was to us.

*An old-time friend who moved back to this area just before the baby was born.

I’d been praying about who would help me in the six weeks and one day- there she was. I was blessed with many others who helped as well but none surprised me as much as her!

When I look back and see how God has provided it strengthens me and makes me realize that somehow, some way, there shall always be a way!

“You’re in your battle years,” a wise older lady from church was telling some of us moms. I believed her.

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The three-year old had a birthday! How her eyes shone and sparkled as we mixed up her Chocolate Zucchini Fudge Cake. We counted the eggs, one-two-three-four. They were yellow. She had to hold the mixer and I held my breath. We managed to get the batter into the teddy bear cake pan without any mishaps. We decorated it with gumballs, and Kit Kat crumbs and Lindor chocolate for the nose. To me it was a simple cake with many flaws, but to her- it was perfect.

She got to wear a “Birthday Girl” ribbon that went away with us one day and earned a free doughnut from the kind lady at Tim Hortons.

Her three balloons around her chair were a source of great delight. What could be more wonderful than that?! We were all thrilled. For who gets more pleasure out of all the excitement, except for mom and dad?

“What would we do without you?” asks the daddy as he watches his little girl eagerly blowing out the candles. Looking at me he remarked, “We thought we were happy before she came!” I grinned. What would we do without little ones who add so much spice to our days? Sure, they also bring hard things, but for today I choose only to look at all the blessings that are mine.

One evening, the kind- hearted father went to change the diaper on the Little One. He took off the dirty diaper and disposed of it first. Next, he went to grab a new diaper (and you can guess what happened next!) “NOW I know why you always have a clean diaper on underneath,” he said sheepishly. I laughed. Children (and daddies!) provide us with some free entertainment.

Children also tend to help us forget about ourselves a little more. In fact, we barely have the time to think of ourselves too much, some days! I frightened Abby the other day when I managed to splash hot water on my foot. I screeched unceremoniously as I danced about trying to pull off my sock. I got a wet facecloth and put it on the burn to cool it down while I fed the baby. Later, I slathered B&W salve on it and wrapped it with gauze. A couple days later, I remembered to show Nathan. “I bet you didn’t know your wife is wounded,” I said dramatically as I unwrapped my foot. I must admit, it looked pretty good with a nice- sized blister, and all. I was satisfied with the look on his face. “ Before we had children,” he announced, “I would have known about it as soon as it happened. It would’ve been a big deal, too,” he teased me.

I pondered that later. Perhaps there is a difference between “then” and “now.” There is a delicate balance between self-care and self-forgetfulness. We need to be wise and take measures to take care of ourselves so we can take care of our families. We can also choose self- forgetfulness. It is okay to be weary, sometimes…to not get that walk…or the quiet time. May we serve in such a way that we are drawn daily to the Master of it all. To remember in the thick of the “tough stuff” that “this too shall pass.” Someday, we will look back with nostalgia and wonder where the time has gone.

May we truly embrace these happy “little” years.