“Just wait” are two words I’ve heard too often in my motherhood journey in a negative light.
Think you’re tired pregnant? Just wait ‘til they’re born!
Think you are overwhelmed now? Just wait ‘til they crawl!
Think you can’t keep up now? Just wait ‘til they walk!
Overstimulated?! Just wait ‘til they talk!
Hands full? Just wait for terrible twos!
No! It’s the threes that are bad!! Just wait!
Just wait ‘til they’re teenagers!
Just wait ‘til they’re dating!
Just wait!
Just. Wait.
Sure, some stages are more difficult than others, but it’s not encouraging to tell someone to “just wait” for the next hard thing — a “Parenting Doomsday” that’s looming just around the corner.
I’m not saying every moment in parenthood is rainbows and butterflies, but I do think we should choose to find joy in each stage and live in the present as best we can.
One day, we’ll be sitting at a dinner table with our grown children and their children. And while thinking of that scene is exciting, I am happy that I CAN just wait. There’s so much to experience in the here and now. As I’m staring at my girls — now two and four — sometimes all I want to do is hit pause, soak it ALL in — the good and the bad — and just wait.
