Take a moment...

Christmas season is fast approaching, and with it comes a very hectic, crazy month. Decorating, baking, card making, shopping, parties, and family gatherings are all on my agenda this year. I thought about it today and started to get very overwhelmed. Then my daughter walked over to me, handed me her favorite book (Love You Forever), and then backed herself onto my lap so that we could read the book together. Every worry and stressed out thought that I had simply melted away. It made me think of something my cousin Randi wrote on her blog last month. On a very busy day (she is a wonderful mother to 4 beautiful kids), she took the time to stop and snuggle her baby girl as she slept. Here are a few of her words:

"As I went to lay her down I glanced at my sweet little girl, and I thought, "hold her for a minute, she won't sleep in your arms for much longer." Life is busy, and I rarely slow down to appreciate anything! Today, I appreciate little ones that I can snuggle close and kiss! Today, I seized an opportunity... "

Touched by Randi's words, I have really tried to take a moment each day and forget about all of the "stuff" that I have to do. Forget the cleaning (that never seems to be done), the dishes, the laundry, the grocery shopping, my full time job as a nurse, etc. and focus on the intimate details of my sweet baby girl that is growing up before my very eyes. How lucky am I? I get to watch her evolve and learn new things, although it is excrutiating at times to see it happen so quickly.

I came across this poem the other day. It fit in so nicely with this subject, so I wanted to share it.

Song for a fifth child
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

I am a perfectionist at heart, and it is hard for me to ignore all of that "stuff" that begs to be done. But in 20 years, I hope that Anna will not remember how clean (or not) the house was, if the laundry was always folded, and if the dishes were always done. In 20 years, I hope she will remember that I took the time to play with her, teach her, learn with her, and love her. That is what is truly important. So please take a moment this Christmas season to really enjoy it with your little ones. That is something that you will never regret.