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| Memorial Day: having fun on Ellie's first picnic. |
(Ellie's nursery is cute anyway.)
I don't belong with the crunchy moms because Ellie sleeps in her crib all night-- on a non-organic mattress.
(I do use cloth diapers.)
I don't belong with the high-achiever moms because I am neither taking Ellie to baby yoga classes nor teaching her sign language.
(I do sing to her and she already has a huge book collection.)
I don't belong with the scheduling moms because Ellie eats at unpredictable times during the day.
(But she lets me sleep for 6+ hours straight at night.)
I don't belong with the cool city moms because I am not cool. Also I drink Twinings English Breakfast instead of fairly traded organic artisan tisanes from an obscure location in the Eastern hemisphere.
(Even though I live in the city.)
What kind of mom am I, then? I don't know. And while I used to worry about this non-belonging, now I am fine with simply being myself. The only label I want is "Ellie's mom."
When I was pregnant with her, overwhelmed by the apparent plethora of parenting strategies, I put my tired head in my hands and told Jared, "I just want to love her and tell her about Jesus!" So. That is what I do.
Mothering is both harder and simpler than I expected. I have discovered that most of the time, I can trust my mama instincts . . . rather than thinking What would a good X or Y or Z kind of mom do? I go with my gut. Sometimes that means letting Ellie cry till she falls asleep. Sometimes it means feeding her again only an hour after she finished. Sometimes it means holding her while she smiles and gurgles, forgetting about the chores on my list. Sometimes it means sticking her in the Ergo and giving her a pacifier while I get dinner ready. She is happy and healthy and we love her to bits. Good enough for me.
I'm so thankful for two wise women who-- before Ellie was born and afterwards-- encouraged me to do exactly this: my mom and my mother-in-law. When I'd say things like "What if I don't know what to do?" or "There are books and articles arguing for opposite approaches!" or "I am so confused!" they would remind me that just as God had given me a baby at the right time, He would give me wisdom to care for her when I needed it. I didn't have to follow a particular method.
They were right. Of course.
Yes! This is very true. And that mindset frees us up to take the best from EVERY approach, thus making us the best moms we can possibly be for our sweet babes.
ReplyDeleteWonderful.
ReplyDeleteWisdom from your mum....
ReplyDeleteHmmm I think I remember reading something in Proverbs about this let see... 31 yes thats it.
One of the reasons that I (and Ray) can thank God for his daily bread of Mercy to us....
daddus
Thank you for this, Rebekah. I definitely needed this reminder this week :-)
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this! Well said. Those of us who grew up in a world of books and ideas and hard work and common sense and home-centered joys can sometimes feel ill-prepared for the world. But in our deepest place, don't we know it is a great gift, this heritage of ours?
ReplyDeleteWhere are you living now, Rebekah?
We are in Lancaster. :) And I did not know about that website, so thanks!
DeleteHaha, Nick's sister lives in Lancaster, and the funny thing is that I think of it as getting out of the city when we go -- but I guess it's all a matter of perspective! I hear you about urban mom-ness. I've really enjoyed reading your posts about Ellie -- would be fun to see you sometime, as we head to Lancaster fairly often. And Story Warren is about the coolest website ever. Take care.
DeleteP.S. You probably already know about this website, but it's really great: http://www.storywarren.com/
ReplyDeleteYou have wise counselors - it's encouraging to hear that you have already made peace with being "Ellie's mom." You are The One!
ReplyDelete