New Season of Mothering

Last week, I met my {baby} boy’s Pre-K teacher. As we were talking about the things he needed for school … she said, “And no napmat is required, this is the big kid room.” Fighting back tears.

She went on to say, “Homework will go home on Tuesday and will be due on Thursday.” Tears.

From that day until now, I’ve been praying for God to give me strength. As my children grow, I think the most difficult thing as a mom is letting go. It happens slowly, but you see this little independent person developing over time. It’s beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time. So bittersweet. 

This morning, I dropped him off for his first day. He was excited for a new classroom, more friends and he said, “I’m big like Ella now.”

With my {baby} boy in Pre-K two days a week and speech preschool on different days, my life will change this year. I’ve graduated from the land of spit-up, diaper changes and temper tantrums and have walked through a new door. For the first time in seven years, I’m not in a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group. It’s a really weird place.

I’m making adjustments in my own life to help with this new season — Bible Study with wonderful friends, training for my first 5k and continuing to work on my freelance work. It’s a good step, that I must be willing to make.

One thing I will not miss is the isolation that I sometimes felt as a stay-at-home mom of young children. It is more work (mentally) than I ever thought possible. So, if you are in this season (where the nights are long and the days are chaotic), I want to encourage you. It does end. And, when you feel like all your work goes unnoticed, it doesn’t. You are shaping a little soul! All of your loving efforts will show in their personality.

Today, I’m focusing on the positive. I’m remembering the special moments and looking forward to all those we have yet to experience … those memories belong to us. They are uniquely special for our family and no age or independence will ever diminish our bond. Motherhood is such a gift to be cherished! 

Now, it’s your turn — What season of mothering are you in? If your children are out of the baby/toddler stage, what changes have you made to your own schedule?

9 thoughts on “New Season of Mothering

  1. Hi, I know this is an older post, but wanted to tell you that I needed to hear that 3rd to the last paragraph today. I have a 4 y.o, 2 y.o., and 7 mo old. It isn’t easy sometimes. I needed that encouragement! P.S. I follow you on Twitter and I saw you tweeting with my friend Lauren C., so I came over and parused your blog. 🙂

  2. Oh, Amanda … you are one busy momma! I appreciate you taking the time to comment and I’m so glad you were encouraged.

    When my kids were little, everyone told me to “enjoy all the moments because it would be over before you know it”. I heard that so much it kinda got on my nerves! The season itself did pass quickly, but the long days when I was knee-deep in dirty diapers and spilled milk, they felt like forever! But, they do end 🙂 Hang in there! By the way, Lauren C. is a special gem, right? What a great person, friend & mother.

  3. I’ve been browsing on-line more than three hours as of late, but I never found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s beautiful worth enough
    for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made
    good content as you probably did, the web shall be much more
    useful than ever before.

  4. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.

    Regardless, just wanted to say wonderful blog!

Leave a Reply