Thank you of reminding me of the sweet beginnings of motherhood and also “is this it?” I think there is something about birthing a small human that makes one aware of the time in a different and more pressing way. At least I believe that is what happened / is happening for me. My daughter is 3 1/2 now and I am much better at separating and the other night I went for dinner with a girlfriend I haven’t seen in 4 years and I was so surprised opening my camera roll to find that I had to scroll for pictures of my daughter. It made me laugh because there was a time when there was not a single photo of any other thing but her. My husband and I had to cancel our wedding during Covid and used our daughter’s birthday as a big bash to celebrate getting through the first year. Each year since the party has gotten smaller and more intimate but it remains one of my favorite days of the year and last year when we considered not doing it it was MY friends that were like “what!?” Congratulations on the almost one. I have found the years after easier in many ways and hard in some but not harder than that first year. It’s given me a long pause on whether I want another. And yes, Mama, the best word isn’t it!
Thank you so much for sharing all of this, Jane! It reminds me there’s so much to look forward to! That’s so special that your daughter’s birthday is one giant celebration of the life you’ve made together. Sounds like you’re surrounded by amazing, supportive people who have made the shifts of parenthood chapters more bearable. 🥹❤️ I appreciate you reading!
Omg. Asking “will it always be like this” each topic then ending with “it won’t always be like this/spring is coming” made me unexpectedly burst into tears lol this was so beautiful. I don’t even have the words for a long comment. This is one of my new favorites 💗
This was a delightful free association to read! I love the beautiful descriptions of delight in this time of life while reflecting on longings, wishes and tough realities.
“…and there are parts of our life I’ve already started to mourn and long for, even while they’re happening before my eyes and in my own arms.” I feel this so deeply, more as of late because my kids are at such a sweet spot of an age (16 months) where they aren’t quite babies, but also aren’t quite toddlers, at least not in the way most people think of toddlers. They’re still kind of mushy but now also kind of human. My heart bursts and breaks every day as a result, and that line you wrote captures so much of what I’ve felt and haven’t been able to articulate.
It all starts to feel like sand castles. Happy little sand castles that slip through fingers all too quickly. 🥹 you get it. ❤️ thank you so much for reading, Tyece!
This was such a lovely read. And here to say, that my nearly four year old still snuggles under my arm and gives me full body cuddles when he is falling asleep. Only now my one year old is under the other arm too. Sometimes they reach across my body to hold hands when they fall asleep. So it might not be like this forever, but you've got a good few years left to enjoy the bliss of baby cuddles at night. xx
That makes my eyes tear up a little that your babies hold hands like that. 🥹🥹 and that also makes me want another baby so we can all have a cuddle puddle. I’m glad you’re still soaking up all the cuddles, if only those lasted forever. ❤️ thank you so much for reading, Paige!
I love reading your words. This line hit home - “The way she sees her own body will start with how I see my body — her first home”. Such an important truth. Rewriting my own narrative too ❤️
Thank you of reminding me of the sweet beginnings of motherhood and also “is this it?” I think there is something about birthing a small human that makes one aware of the time in a different and more pressing way. At least I believe that is what happened / is happening for me. My daughter is 3 1/2 now and I am much better at separating and the other night I went for dinner with a girlfriend I haven’t seen in 4 years and I was so surprised opening my camera roll to find that I had to scroll for pictures of my daughter. It made me laugh because there was a time when there was not a single photo of any other thing but her. My husband and I had to cancel our wedding during Covid and used our daughter’s birthday as a big bash to celebrate getting through the first year. Each year since the party has gotten smaller and more intimate but it remains one of my favorite days of the year and last year when we considered not doing it it was MY friends that were like “what!?” Congratulations on the almost one. I have found the years after easier in many ways and hard in some but not harder than that first year. It’s given me a long pause on whether I want another. And yes, Mama, the best word isn’t it!
Thank you so much for sharing all of this, Jane! It reminds me there’s so much to look forward to! That’s so special that your daughter’s birthday is one giant celebration of the life you’ve made together. Sounds like you’re surrounded by amazing, supportive people who have made the shifts of parenthood chapters more bearable. 🥹❤️ I appreciate you reading!
Ps. I actually thought, while reading these beautiful thoughts, that they reminded me of Jane's poetic style!
🫶🫶🫶 what a compliment!
Omg. Asking “will it always be like this” each topic then ending with “it won’t always be like this/spring is coming” made me unexpectedly burst into tears lol this was so beautiful. I don’t even have the words for a long comment. This is one of my new favorites 💗
I was channeling my poetic Violet with this one. 🥹 so glad you liked it!! ❤️❤️
This post gave me all the feels. Your writing is ridiculously captivating. This put into eloquent words so many feelings I grapple with!
Thank you so much, Traci! Too many big feelings club unite 🫶🫶 appreciate you!!
This was a delightful free association to read! I love the beautiful descriptions of delight in this time of life while reflecting on longings, wishes and tough realities.
Thank you so much, Puah! I appreciate you reading! ❤️
“…and there are parts of our life I’ve already started to mourn and long for, even while they’re happening before my eyes and in my own arms.” I feel this so deeply, more as of late because my kids are at such a sweet spot of an age (16 months) where they aren’t quite babies, but also aren’t quite toddlers, at least not in the way most people think of toddlers. They’re still kind of mushy but now also kind of human. My heart bursts and breaks every day as a result, and that line you wrote captures so much of what I’ve felt and haven’t been able to articulate.
It all starts to feel like sand castles. Happy little sand castles that slip through fingers all too quickly. 🥹 you get it. ❤️ thank you so much for reading, Tyece!
Beautiful beautiful beautiful xx
Thank you, lovely! 😘😘
Loved this piece. We were in NYC during the 2016 blizzard and there is something so wistful about the city being blanketed in snow.
It’s very quiet and lovely. A tiny bit apocalyptic but mostly peaceful haha. Thank you so much for reading! 🫶
SO achingly beautiful. And exactly how the mind of a mama flows. Thank you 😊
Thank you so much, Reeve! This was a literal brain dump and I’m so glad it resonated. ❤️
This was a gorgeous read. It felt like smooth caramel. Will it always feel like this? With your writing, I think so 🩷
Thank you so much, Jennie! It felt like it truly fell out of my brain last night while I was laying next to baby. When inspiration strikes. 🥹
Appreciate you! 😘
Beautiful writing! Love it , a little sad! I wish I be closer to hug you and support you!
Thanks, mom! You’ll be here soon enough. Just in time for Spring. ❤️❤️
This was such a lovely read. And here to say, that my nearly four year old still snuggles under my arm and gives me full body cuddles when he is falling asleep. Only now my one year old is under the other arm too. Sometimes they reach across my body to hold hands when they fall asleep. So it might not be like this forever, but you've got a good few years left to enjoy the bliss of baby cuddles at night. xx
That makes my eyes tear up a little that your babies hold hands like that. 🥹🥹 and that also makes me want another baby so we can all have a cuddle puddle. I’m glad you’re still soaking up all the cuddles, if only those lasted forever. ❤️ thank you so much for reading, Paige!
Well, this was just a beautiful 5 minute treat 🫶🏽
Please always write your thoughts down.
What a lovely compliment to receive! That makes my day! Thank you, Bethany! 🥹❤️
I love reading your words. This line hit home - “The way she sees her own body will start with how I see my body — her first home”. Such an important truth. Rewriting my own narrative too ❤️
Thank you, Angelie! We all need to be much kinder to our mama bodies. I appreciate you reading ❤️❤️