I love her, I love her, I love her. But it’s different now.
Different than it was when she was a baby and I was a new mom. It’s so much
better now. I’m so much better now.
When we brought her home and she was so tiny and new and grunting
and squawking, I knew I loved her, but I was scared of her. Too soon there were
too many decisions that had to be made about how to care for her (Should we
clip her frenulum, which was too short and made nursing excruciating for me?
Should we let her cry it out? Should we leave her with my mom for five days and
go to the beach, just me and Nekos?) The decisions felt impossibly large. At
the time, I felt that the decisions I made about Tessa defined me as a person,
but now I think they just defined where I was then as a person. Then I was a
new mom who didn’t know what was to come. I didn’t know that everything was
going to be just fine and that Tessa was going to be so very lovely.
I thought those first days would be filled with play and
laughter, but what they really were was … boring. I so often found a reason to
open a beer by 4:30 p.m. and sit out on the back porch with her in her
vibrating seat, swatting mosquitoes away from her tawny skin and feeling sort
of suffocated and at a loss with what to do with her. She didn’t talk or walk
or sit up, just grunted and looked deep into my eyes like she was searching for
her reflection there. But, still, oh how I loved her. I just didn’t know what
to do with her.
Now not only is there so much to do, but I’m doing it well. I
know it. More often than not, I think, Today I was a really good mother. I’ve
had a lot of good feelings in my life, but for me there is no better feeling in
the world. I find the deepest contentment in knowing I made a good day for her
and that she’s sleeping, sweaty and deep, worn out from play and full of food
and having been kissed excessively.
The change came when Tessa started communicating with me and
when she began to understand what I’m saying and to trust in it. Both deeply
satisfied, it was a turning point in our relationship when I could say, “Hey,
Tess? I looooove you,” and know that she knew. Now when I say it, she cocks her
head, grins and says, “No! I love YOU!” And the way her eyes glitter, I know
she means it, too.
I’ve had more than one mom, sensing my uneasiness, tell me that, whatever I do, I have to
be 100 percent confident in my decisions as a mother. But I’m just not. I never
will be. I’m just winging it, doing the best I can, taking it day by day,
hoping that more days than not I’ll fall asleep with that deepest contentment
thinking, Today I was a really good mother.
And, also? I love two-year-olds. I just love them.
That's my favorite age too! So so fun and sweet. Enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteLove this post :) There's so much I'm nervous about in the near future regarding this but at the same time, I'm excited to see how I handle it all. I appreciate your honesty as it helps me be realistic with my dreaming :)
ReplyDeleteEllen - What you said is so true, I am a new mama (4 months) and most days, I am just at a total loss.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it.
Man, my guy just turned three and I still feel like I'm winging it... at least with the potty training and discipline issues. And I feel pulled in so many different directions - work, mothering, friends. It's so hard to allow yourself to make time for it all. I still struggle with the mommy guilt. My mother tells me to get used to it. She still does, too. Oy.
ReplyDeleteI really loved this post. Since I'm still in my first months of my first pregnancy so I wonder what is in my future this fall when this lil grasshopper :) joins our lives. I do love that each stage brings with it so much joy and love that I have to look forward to day to day.
ReplyDeletei couldn't have said it any better. thank you! i love two year olds too. well, ours anyway ;)
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet post. And I kind of think everyone is winging it, on some level. At least that is what I tell myself :).
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! Ditto ditto ditto. Absolutely loving my two year old... Still hard but a lot better in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteUm she is seriously adorable! I will keep all of this in mind when I become a momma!! Just found your cute blog! New follower :)
ReplyDeletewhere are you? hope all is well and that you had a great mother's day! xo
ReplyDeletewhere are you? hope all is well and that you had a great mother's day. xo
ReplyDeleteIs everything all right? Let us know, we miss you!
ReplyDelete--A Fan
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