Mothering with intention... through the hair pulling

The first lesson in being a momma is.... it's hard. I don't think that people admit that enough. Or if they do they are so dramatic about it that it scares the living day lights out of you. The truth is it's harder than they say but in a completely different way so to try to explain it is pointless. . My biggest challenge at first was realizing that I am responsible for someone else, that I can no longer come and go whenever I please. That what my baby needs at this moment is more important than most things on my to do list for the day. My mother in law calls this "working for the eternal vs. for the moment". Meaning that how I raise and influence B today will leave a lasting impression for the rest of his life and his future family (scary to think) vs. doing laundry, cleaning although important is just for today for the moment. It's not easy and sometime you want to pull your hair out... good thing B seems to do that for me.

I can't say that I always follow that mantra. I have found myself trying to lull him to sleep so I can clean the closet or do laundry when I really should be playing and giving him different type of attention. By the naked eye I looked like a great mom holding, cuddling and rocking my baby to sleep but truth is I was depriving him of important stimulation time.

Being an art teacher at a preschool for the last several months has taught me routine, consistency and knowing your intent with everything you do with a child is everything. Keeping some things the same to make them feel safe while changing some things to keep their interest is a hard balance especially when your trying to apply that theory to your own child and your, your own boss. Basically I am treating motherhood as a full time teaching job. I plan the curriculum, the field trips and meals.

Here's to my new job and my first student. I will be posting ideas, projects and activities I am doing hoping that this may help other new moms know that there is a lot more to do with your baby than lulling him to sleep or taking him out to run errands. Both great and need to be done but there is so much more.

Sometimes lulling isn't such a bad thing.... especially during bed time. The hair pulling is so worth it for these moments.