I had a 4-month-old. Not yet mobile. Very cute and cuddly. He mostly just ate and slept. And made our pictures about 300% more adorable.
He did not get the memo about how to participate in a picture-perfect Christmas day.
During our sit-around-and-talk-and-put-up-your-feet time, he should have been napping. Instead, he was walking around his Pack N’ Play, squawking loudly.
During our dinner time, he should have been sitting quietly observing the adult conversation and happily eating his holiday meal. Instead, he squirmed and wiggled and squealed as we attempted to quickly shove food in his face.
Then, he insisted upon walking around the house which resulted in my having to leave the table and the adult conversation in order to keep him from grabbing and breaking every single item in Great Grandma’s house with in his reach.
During family picture time, when he should have been smiling sweetly at the camera, he turned the opposite direction to stare at Uncle Steve and repeated ask him, “Dada?”
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| Hubby & I trying to get the sippy cup out of the picture, with the kid looking the wrong direction. -sigh- Good thing everyone else has their act together. |
The next Christmas celebration didn’t go much better.
While the other children toddled happily in the driveway, my precious boy repeatedly made a run for it, toward the street.
He wasn’t content playing with the piles of toys alongside his cousins. Instead he preferred to open and close the bathroom door and fight me for access to the toilet.
He didn’t want to play in the grass. He wanted to walk barefoot in the mud.
He didn’t want to sit and pleasantly open gifts. He wanted to climb up and down the stairs and scream and fuss and eat bananas.
Everyone else, including the three other 16-20 month old children, seemed to understand how to follow the holiday program. Not my kid.
Where his desires and our holiday plans came into conflict, he registered his complaint. Rather loudly. With arching of back and pulling mom’s hair. Flailing and screeching and crying. Big crocodile tears. Lots of them.
It was an exhausting two days.
After which I have not one single picture of myself alone with my child. I guess because the two of us were never sitting still long enough for one to be snapped.
Except for the 3 separate times that I sang quietly in his ear. The only thing that kept him still and quiet for any length of time. Once on Christmas and twice the next day, I sat and sang to my child. Over and over and over. The Wheels on the Bus. ABCs. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. The Itsy Bitsy Spider. And his favorite, James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James.” Over and over and over.
What a roller coaster ride of emotions motherhood can be!
So frustrating and so filling.
Sitting, rocking, singing to my child, I was overcome with complete irritation and annoyance at his behavior. But at the same time, treasuring his cuddly, little form. Overflowing with unconditional, inexplicable love for this child.
I missed out on conversations and bonding that I look forward to all year.
Sitting with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents. Whispering with the girls in the corner while the boys watch the game. Hearing updates. Looking through old photos. Sharing stories, laughing, teasing, chatting.
Instead, I was chasing, sweating, scolding, calming, rocking, singing, while everyone else carried on with Christmas as usual.
Like going to Disneyland with all your friends and watching everyone else ride the rides.
I love my son. I love his personality. His crazy, energetic, curious, constantly exploring, busy, busy, busy personality. I also love Christmas with my family.
I know in years to come, as more children join our extended family, I won’t be the only one chasing a rambunctious child. I know in 20 years I will laugh at these crazy Christmases past. I know there will be plenty of time for me to rejoin the grownup’s table and chat the night away without interruption. For everything there is a season, blah, blah, blah.
But that doesn’t change the fact that this year was frustrating and exhausting. I came home and cried. Big fat tears of frustration and exhaustion.
(If not for the “tag team parenting” efforts of my husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, I’m sure I wouldn’t have made it all the way home before shedding some tears.)
Thank You, that Your life and death is what is most important. That my choice to follow you is what’s most important. Not the ridiculous number of tantrums my child threw over that last 2 days.
And thank You for wrapping Your arms around this young, weary mom as she cried tears of exhaustion and frustration right after celebrating Your miraculous birth.
My husband’s family is huge–there are 7 kids (my hubby’s siblings) and 15 grandkids ranging from 13 to 8 months. Our Christmas dinners and gatherings are like that for those of us with littler kids. We have this lovely sit down dinner that’s not formal so much as loud and fun, but even with the giant kid presence, the little kids can’t hang and go running around the house so those of us who have little ones have to keep jumping up and missing all the fun to chase kids. It’s so stressful, and hard to watch the conversation at the table with adults and older kids and want to be part but be sweating and chasing somewhere else. It does get better…and then you may think about having another kid, so there’s that. 🙂 You have a great attitude about it. All about seasons of life.
Oh, I really needed to read this post! My son is 14.5mo and our Christmas was a similar experience, except I opted to stay home instead of impose my cranky son {who decided to skip all naps on Christmas day of all days} on our friend’s festivities. Being married to a military man who had to work and living thousands of miles away from family on Christmas, I anticipated a much different day than what I was given. I am oh so thankful for my high-spirited little boy, but he can certainly make the day challenging! Praying for all of us Mamas in 2013 as we grow with our little boys (and girls) and embrace the blessings we are given!
Marie I love this.. so so true. Probably more Christmases like this to come for a while. :). Hopefully not!! Love that you said it is so frustrating and so filling, such conflicting emotions but I totally get it. Btw, love the famil photo. Made me laugh!
…and I watched his glorious peacefulness while you sang to him. Love you so much, Marie!
Don’t worry… while Audrey looks relatively peaceful in this picture… you may have missed her screaming tantrum during dinner (never before witnessed in her young life)… I guess Christmas brings out the best in every toddler! It was still fun to see you! Maybe next year we should hire a babysitter! 🙂
We loved every minute we had with the Osborne Clan Marie! I appreciate your honesty in this post and can completely identify! Cooper has had those days. Looking forward to next Christmas!
Loved every minute with you guys, too! Little Man gave me a good workout, but we still had a great time with all of you. Looking forward to every single holiday our little guys will spend playing together (and driving us a little crazy) as they grow up!
I caught the screaming tantrum. It was a good one. Will probably inspired her. Super fun seeing all of you! Our wacko toddlers just added some extra color.
Thanks, Auntie Linda! Love you so much right back!
Praying for you, too, Nicole! So glad we have connected online. And that we are persevering through these crazy days together.
Thanks, Kirsten. I don’t always feel like I have the best attitude, but I guess that’s why I need to keep leaning on Jesus. And my fellow sisters-in-crime, young mamas like you, so we can encourage each other to put one foot in front of the other in this marathon of motherhood! Thanks for assuring me that it will get better. Looking forward to that day!
Yep. That about sums it up! I’ve not yet had a “normal, relaxing Christmas” since becoming a mom. This year, when my hubby fell asleep Christmas day at 6 p.m. from stomach flu and my 4 year old fell asleep and needed me to hold her all afternoon, and I packed the kids in bed alone and sat, staring exhaustedly at the tree wondering what happened to my Christmas… I felt like God was sitting there with me, looking at the tree, smiling. Like he was just enjoying me right then and I could do that somehow, too. They won’t be young and annoying forever, after all :). Sending hugs to my sweet friend!!!
Oh Marie I SO get this. What we give up as mothers is cuh-razy, it’s a wonder we keep having babies! I do believe it’s one way God keeps us coming to his throne in prayer.
And your toddler is no different than most. 🙂