I’ve been reading the book Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic
I need encouragement from older moms who have been there, done that, and learned the lesson; but occasionally the trite “you’ll miss these days” that older women utter when they see you in the checkout line at the grocery store trying to keep everyone from melting down is a little less than encouraging. I think God is gracious to allow us to forget the struggles and pain of the past. If we didn’t, I’m not sure that anyone would ever give birth more than once! But when we’re a few years removed from having little ones, we blissfully forget just how difficult it is to wake up five times every night and then try to be kind to your children the next day – repeating that cycle for years on end sometimes.
As the author writes, “This is not a tender reminiscence from someone who had children so long ago that she only remembers the sweet parts. At the time of writing this, I have three children in diapers, and I can recognize the sound of hundreds of toothpicks being dumped out in the hall. ”
Anyway, so if you are in need of good encouragement as a mom but often think “but you just don’t know what I’m going through!” when you read some books or hear some speakers, I think this would be a really good book to read. Get both perspectives – from the one who is where you’re at right now, and the one who can look back and tell you that these days will be over before you know it.
So much for “daily chatter” – this was a book review! :)
$1.99 for Pantry Essentials (gallon) at Safeway
Thanks for this book review! I have see this book before and wondered if I should get it- now I will have to! Expecting baby no.2 this June- we will have two under the age of two so I could use some encouragement!
Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it – the library had it if you don’t want to buy it. :)
Preach it, sister!
Oh, I am now among the “older” group, as my children are now grown and between the ages of 20-31…we have 3 grandsons and 1 little granddaughter, and they range from 7 yr to 7 months old.
However, 3 of our 4 granchildren (and their mommies/our daughters) live with us, so we are truly a multi-generational household.
I do know that I am more patient with the scuffles and fussing at this age of my life (51). In fact, a few weeks ago, while I was out of town, the little one just couldn’t settle for the night. She cried and cried to no avail, which wore her mommy down to a mess. Been there. But my husband went to my daughter and asked her if he could take the little one for a bit to see if she’d settle. Not to interfere or say she wasn’t parenting well, but because he knew she was at her wits end and little one was being stubbborn. He walked and talked with her for a bit, and finally, she settled down for the night. My daughter was so grateful. This is the only time in her little 7 months of life that he took her, but it was needed.
And yes, you will (eventually) remember these days with fondness and a smile. I’ve often said, in the last few years, that I would raise toddlers for a lifetime vs some of the trauma/drama of teens/young adults. LOL.
However, being a multi-generational home has more benefits than drawbacks. There are many hands to help with children, housework, errands and such. But even more important, these little grandchildren really KNOW us. We live together. They love to come to our room and hang out on our bed at times, and play “camper” with their Poppi (grandpa). The time will come when their moms are out of college, have met the man who really will step up to be a husband/daddy and they’ll have their own homes. So this is just a chapter in our lives, too. And though it is often loud, boisterous, filled with shouts and laughter, it is also a chapter that I am loving. Enjoy your chapters of life…as they all come to an end. Just some of them leave us with a bit more grey than we were ready for. Blessings! Emmie
PS – Luke 2:19 is a verse I often thought of as a young mother while watching my babies grow, and have encouraged my daughters to do the same: “but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” New Living Translation (©2007)
“Enjoy your chapters of life…as they all come to an end.” Yes! I want to make much of these days because I know someday I will be the grey-haired lady telling other moms that they’ll miss those days. :)
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Emmie!
My husbamd got me that book for Christmas. After reading it, I sighed and thought, “I like that my kids are little.” I don’t remember the details of the book, I just remember being encouraged by the opportunity to have 2 little ones (ages 6 and 2). It’s a good book . . . and my husband just bought me the sequel.
Ooh, I didn’t know there was a sequel! I’ll have to check it out.
I just checked our library and they don’t have it. :( But this sounds like it might be worth buying to read and then pass on to another tired mama! :)
I don’t know how many of you are aware of this ministry, but the broadcast that aired yesterday
and today is for busy moms…”Stress Relief for Busy Moms I-II” with Dr. Kevin Leman. I hope you enjoy it!
Day 1: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/radio.aspx?ID={BEE8EA85-48A9-42C0-9C55-4F57D3EC1F91}
Day 2: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/radio.aspx?ID={E5F3D30B-F5E1-47C9-8244-987624A6A3B6}