This is going to sound strange, not being a mommy but
having a “mommy moment”; it sounds strange to me too! So, let me take
you back a few years so I can explain.
When my nephew was 2 years old (he’s now 10), I offered to babysit him
one day a week so I could develop a relationship with him. I’d missed
out on doing this with the previous 5 nieces and nephews to a large
extent so I didn’t want to miss out on this one. This little boy had
already captured my heart but I wanted more. Well, I’ll tell you, I got
more! He has always been very intelligent, not to mention that he was
TWO. You mommies all know what that means, right?
You moms are all going to laugh, because although I’m the eldest of six
children and very capable of diaper changing and feeding, I had no idea
what to actually “do” with him all day. I kept thinking how do women get
anything done when they have children around? That first day I was wiped
out tired when his parents picked him up because I just assumed that a
toddler needed constant entertaining.
We played with his toys which took up about 10 minutes, went outside to
look at plants and tell him the names of flowers, and my golden
retriever joined in but that took maybe another 15 minutes. I had only 6
½ hours to go! The diaper changing took up a bit of time (I was rusty),
and meal time was interesting trying to understand what he did and
didn’t like – I was fooled. Then I decided, well I need a moment to
rest, I’ll play some music! That was the key to a very enjoyable summer
of learning to interact with my nephew and develop our own special
relationship.
One of the first things I did was shorten the hours I had him with me! I
wanted to get to know him, NOT become a surrogate mom. We finally got a
routine down where we listened to music and danced together. It was such
great fun and we both laughed and enjoyed that. I participated with his
parents in the potty training phase – something I don’t feel the need to
do again but was a good lesson for me to learn. I learned he liked
“macky cheese” for lunch and of course, since I am auntie, he got
special chocolate snacks too. That made nap time even more difficult
since he wasn’t ever and still isn’t the napping sort. How could anyone
nap with all that sugar in them anyway??
Our relationship grew and grew as that wonderful summer progressed. He
was a great little helper, and even helped me clean my refrigerator one
day. My dog was used to being my baby and he was jealous but ever the
tolerant golden. I taught my nephew how to dance, which was fun and we
played lots of boy tumbling games – I’m a tomboy myself so it worked.
Since it was summer I joined him at my mom’s one day a week too. He
always wanted to swim with mostly me, much to his parents chagrin. To
this day, Thursdays are my swimming days with him and now his sister
too. I guess he brought out the kid in me! You may be wondering where is
that “mommy moment”, so here it comes.
On one of our “days” together, my husband and I were in the kitchen
talking. My husband was working a swing type shift for the US Postal
Service back then and hadn’t left for work yet. “Macky cheese” was
cooking on the stove, not yet ready for my nephew to do his part of
adding the cheese and stirring, the stereo was blaring in the
background, my dog was trucking around keeping an eye on my nephew. My
nephew was skipping around in a circle nearby making toddler noises.
Then it happened – the “mommy moment”. I stopped talking to my husband
to look at my nephew and sort of chuckle at his toddler singing noises,
and looked around in a sort of daze, thinking, “This is a mommy moment!”
This is what moms do all day and never think twice about it in order to
keep their sanity and their selves intact. My nephew had blended into my
life almost so seamlessly, that I had become comfortable with the
routine and noises while keeping an ever vigilant eye open for him and
yet continuing on in my daily chores.
This is what all you moms do daily, twenty-four hours a day, seven days
a week! All I can say is, with much ado, you are all phenomenal women,
all of you! God has gifted you with such a tremendous gift of motherhood
and with that gift comes a tremendous responsibility.
You fix the “boo boos”, change the diapers, are chauffeur, chef,
arbitration expert, financial wizard, stain masters, and so much, much
more! Moms, you have all the skills required to run conglomerates just
by what is required to be a mom. Remember that during the struggles that
inevitably ensue, and grab one of those “mommy moments” from your
treasure box to get you through. I do, and I’m not even a mom.
“Listen my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be
many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight
paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you
will not stumble. Hold onto instruction, do not let it go; guard it
well, for it is your life.” Proverbs 4: 10 – 13Science Articles, NIV.
Let’s not forget Proverbs 31 either!
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
