Wednesday, March 21, 2012

I remember

My babies at ages 2 1/2 and 6 months

At the gym this morning a young mother brought her baby to class.  He looked to be 6 months old or so and he stayed in his stroller while his mama worked out.  The class was an interval class and there were small breaks between each interval.  During those quick breaks, mama would turn around and smile at the baby and he would just light up and grin ear to ear.  Then when mama was working out and turned away from him, he would be fine for a few moments and then squeal in hopes of having his mama focused back on him.  We would break.  She would turn and again that smile would light up his face.

I was more focused on this interaction than I was on my workout.

It made me remember when mine were that age.  How I had the same effect on my babies.  How one goofy face from me made them grin ear to ear too.  I gotta say the baby in the gym and this flood of memories made my uterus ache a little bit. 

Back then it was so obvious the effect I had on them.  How much they looked to me for guidance, education, and entertainment.  At ages 12 and 10 it's not as obvious.  But it's still there.  I know it is. 

And really my role as a mother still boils down to the same things it did when they were babies.  I still have to feed them.  I still have to guide them.  And I surely still have to love them with all of my heart.

It's funny that though now I don't bathe them, I still have to remind them to do that too.

-dana

22 comments:

Audrie said...

Aww that's so darling! I used to go to a gym where the creche was right outside the classroom so you'd have mums pop out for a second to check on their babies.

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

Dana this was a sweet post. I am often reminded if how much I miss my babies although that was a super busy time in my life I wouldn't change a thing except maybe add one more...a girl!

Artfulife said...

Oh they were the cutest babies & are now the cutest girls. It all hapens so quickly doesn't it? FYI I have to remind Sloan to shower too ;) Must be the age!

Amy said...

How cute!
I still have to remind my girls to bathe too :)
I have been thinking about this same exact thing. My girls are growing up so fast, we registered Kinsley for Junior High last week and it's like it just hit me. Pair that along with her changing physically and emotionally and I feel like I am in new territory here. I thought I was just getting the hang of this motherhood thing and now we are starting a new chapter where I am going to have to learn a whole new set of rules :) I kinda had a little breakdown last week thinking about what Kinsley has ahead of her. I can only pray that I have done a good job at teaching and preparing her, and that she will continue to want me around :)

Shanna said...

This brought tears to my eyes...would love to have those days back now and again...and mine are 8 and 6!

DebbyMc said...

Aww, choked me up. If I close my eyes and breathe I can almost smell my babies' heads. They are 30 and 28. You never forget, and they always need you. Always. Being a mom is the hardest best thing I've ever done. Life is so sweet. Hugs to you, Mom! D.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Mama's that love their babies like I do make me smile.

Trudi said...

Just the most gorgeous little girls ever! Still! :) And what a role model! The reminders will change to let other into the bathroom for a while too! We are at that stage :) Beautiful post, as always Dana :) x

SoSarahSews said...

Aww! Love this. I have 7, 5 and 2 and 1/2 year old boys. My uterus aches some but then it quickly passes. A good reminder for me to remember to focus on them individually each day for a time, like I used to do when they were babies! Thank you!

Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane said...

Love this- makes me want to make sure I stop and appreciate every second of this time with mine (almost 4 and 16 months.)

Your daughter on the left looks just like you!

Kar said...

Oh my gosh Dana! The girls are so darn cute in that picture! All those little curls and fuzzy hair. I'm melting here. :)

Sara said...

Childhood is so precious:)

**nicke... said...

people have been telling me a lot lately how i should enjoy every minute of my kids being little, that it goes by so fast. i have been heeding the advice. we played in the dirt tonight, picnic tomorrow and probably home made playdoh too. i love them and am so happy that they love and need me.

Pamela said...

your girls are the cutest ever!! with my two older boys there smiles are more fleeting but I cherish them all the same.

eva said...

sweet picture..
a couple of little angels...
and those eyes....
xo
eva

Jodi Nelson said...

Love your post Dana... :) ooxx`jod

Corinnea said...

Just celebrated the begining of my girl's 27th year. You don't ever forget them young and sweet. It is so fun to watch her as a momma. We were having this conversation last night, she is also feeling the fleetingness of time.

Bronwen said...

I think the reason why I love reading your blog is the mix of personal/family posts and project/sewing. Thanks so much for the lift of humor and beautiful moments. My son is a toddling 13 months, and sewing has been pushed to the back of my list, but maybe when I don't have to bathe him there'll be more time ;)

beth said...

loved this. you wrote on the day my twins turned 9!! gawh!! i remember going to the gym to have me time - it was so hard to get my three under 4 in and out of there (it literally took all day) but i so needed time to myself! i distinctly remember smiling at each of my kids with big open eyes and having it returned 10x!

tipper said...

Love love the photo-so amazing how much they still look like that-but not LOL : )

You may not be able to see that you still have that same effect on your girls now-but it is totally obvious to everyone around you that you do! And that is a very happy thing indeed.

pescbrico said...

Thanks for sharing this with us! It's not the same "game" as they are going older but they sure need us a lot! HAve a wonderful day.

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

Dana--as a new mother I love this post (well I love ALL of your posts). But I will tell you that I still need my mother daily--even at 30 years old. In fact, I call her all the time just to remind her of that. Not in so many words. But even while your girls might get to a stage where they pretend they don't need you (fingers crossed they don't, but...), they still will.