Growing into motherhood

I've been a mother now for about 11 weeks and let me just start off by saying that they aren't kidding about how hard it is. Between waking up in the middle of the night to feed and rock back to sleep to the late afternoon crying spells where nothing will soothe her. These last 3 months have taught me patience will play a huge role in motherhood. It has been an a major life adjustment as well. Having to grab two carts to grocery shop, and only after feeding her and making sure she is completely content. Same thing for going out to dinner or lunch, we have to make sure she is sleeping and full or just full and content. Even finding the time to clean the house and do the laundry is a struggle because she constantly wants to be in my arms (which I love most of the time). But I feel that is what parenthood is all about. Putting your child's' needs before your own. I don't mind not being able to keep up with the house, I don't mind taking over an hour to make dinner, or not having the freedom that I'm used to. She is worth it. Being her mother is worth it. When i'm exhausted after a rough night and wake up to her smile at me, my world stops. I completely forget about the night before. When she coos at me, or when her eyes meet mine it doesn't matter that I couldn't do laundry. Holding her in my arms knowing that she won't always be this small and that she is constantly growing makes me slow down and appreciate her needing me. Growing into motherhood and accepting that things will never be the same as they were before she entered my life is a beautiful lesson and I love everyday of it. Thank you Jesus for this beautiful daughter.

Here is a poem that warms my heart and brings tears to my eyes:

Song for a Fifth Child

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.


Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).



The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.