Is That All There Is?
Is having a baby, all that there is?
In the last week, I’ve had 2 strangers that I’ve randomly come into conversations with tell me to enjoy my kids while they are little because it really doesn’t get better. Both had kids in their early 20′s, so maybe they haven’t experienced the grandparent stage of life. Maybe?
So these sweet days of having little kids – is that all there is? Does it all really go straight down hill? I know the teens will be hell, but it does get better again, right? Is all of my teasing of wanting my baby to stay little, really something I should want?
With my older kids – who are 6 and 8 – we are starting to experience the back talk, endless setting of boundaries and non-stop busyness of life. I still enjoy them though. They are funny little replicas of my husband and myself.
I know the teen years will be HELL and I know many nights will be spent crying, but then what? Will I not enjoy them even though I am upset with their behavior? Will I not love them despite their errors in judgement? Will life after little people be the height of it? I sure hope not!
When we set out for 4 kids, we knew what we were getting into, it’s a family circus. Having 2 babies, 16 months apart is hard. Having 4 kids is rough, but sheesh! Even if we were just raising 1 kid – it would be difficult, but I hope that life only continues to get better and more enjoyable with them – they just won’t be babies.
So Are These Strangers Just Out to Ruin My Day? Or In Regards To Having Little Ones — Is That All There IS?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCRZZC-DH7M[/youtube]
(I couldn’t help but think of crazy Peggy Lee after talking to the last lady!)
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Molly blogs about technology, mom style and geekery at Digital Mom Blog. Follow her on Twitter @DigitalMolly
As someone who was a GOOD teen, I’d ask you not to just go in assuming it will be “hell.” I don’t have teens yet, so I could be being naive, but I think at least par of the problem with teens is that we assume the worst of them, an another part is that we aren’t ready for them to grow up so we treat them like children instead of young adults.
True – maybe again that’s something along the lines of “what we hear, we assume….”.
That being said…..
I though know my kids are like me and know that I was HELL as a teen – so maybe I mentally tell myself that to prepare for the worse
But that would mean that we “tortured” our parents and they must be soo happy that we moved out.
Did you ask your parents about it?
I can not ask mine, sadly they both passed away but there MUST be more to it.
My parents had me, my brother and my sister all two years apart almost exactly (2/2, 2/23, 1/13). We weren’t terrible teenagers, but just your run-of-the-mill teenagers dealing with the angst of growing up. It wasn’t all fun for my parents, but I know that they’ve enjoyed us, awkward and growing up and almost all grown-up through our teens and early twenties. But I will say they seem to be REALLY enjoying the first grandbaby
.
My mom once told me that she enjoyed my brother and I more the older we got. I think she might have been overwhelmed, having two babies 18-months apart when she was in her early 20s. My mom and I became better friends as I got older, and even when I was a teenager I considered her one of my best friends. I did my share of upsetting, stupid stuff, no doubt, but we were able to talk and relate relate well all through it. Now that I’m an adult we still have a wonderful relationship (she does with my brother as well) and she’s incredibly excited about her first grandchild due in July! So, I don’t think your joy necessarily has to diminish as your babies get older. It’s all about constantly adapting to your changing relationships with your kids.