Incrementalism

This is a lesson I need to learn often. Over and over again.

Here are my kids, playing nicely together. Doing legos. On their own. Harrison recently completed several sets geared for around his age group and up (that he got for his birthday). Without needing ANY help.

It was amazing. They are getting older. We can go places and they play on their own. Sometimes at home they play on their own and the baby is good and I can actually get things done. I forget when I'm in the thick of poopy diapers and spitup and whining and fighting (and a needy princess who literally asks me to get her a sippy cup of warmed milk every thirteen seconds all day long...) that little by little time is going by and they are going to grow up and become more independent. I thought that Harrison would never be potty trained, would never give up his pacifier, and would never be able to get in and out of his own carseat. But he can do all of those things.  He can read Dr. Seus and Bernstein Bear books mostly on his own. He can  get milk and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Sometimes I even let him go to the bathroom at target while I'm in the checkout line.  This seems like a little thing but it is BIG in mom world.  He is SIX.

Every Tuesday and Thursday I take Carter to preschool and she whines about not wanting to go. Every Sunday when it's time for sunbeams (and in many conversations during the week) she complains that she doesn't want to go and that she is scared to be without me. She is my clingy child.  But, she will get better at it. She will run off to school and learn and grow and have fun.  Crazy how much I don't see it while it's happening, but it's happening. And someday I'll probably even be like those annoying old folks that tell young stressed out moms to "treasure every moment" because it goes by too fast.  This experience of parenthood is really really hard for me, but that doesn't mean that I don't love it and appreciate just how special it is to be so needed by these little people SO MUCH.  To be so instrumental in shaping them and influencing their lives.   This is a lucky and wonderful busy time.