I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but this morning when I woke up, I was suddenly aware that it had.
Things were different in our life, very different.
For 10 years I have been tired. I have been pulled in a variety of constantly changing directions and juggled everything around me.
Constantly.
I have been a mom. Ten years, or as I like to say A DECADE of parenting first 1, then 2 and now 3 little humans.
Each year has been more difficult than the last as each new kid came into our life, or hit a more challenging stage.
Until recently, things started to get a little bit better.
It was a small change at first, a few extra moments to chat with the hubby after dinner, possibly having a kid actually put themselves to bed for a change, but those small changes suddenly made a big impact this morning.
It was a friday, and with our kids having a 4 day school week, this gives the day a “Saturday Vibe”. Our normal routine is getting up by 730 on a “weekend”, feeding, entertaining, cleaning, nurturing and full time “management” of the littles.
Except, what I hadn’t noticed until today, was that 730 was creeping closer to 8. And then the minutes ticked and ticked.
And today, I woke up ALONE, in my bed, at 9:00am.
Alone!
At 9:00am.
And it wasn’t the sound of screams and arguments that woke me, it was the smell of coffee and pancakes.
THE KIDS WERE MAKING BREAKFAST!
And CAPABLY!
They weren’t messing it up, there was no fire, and no disasters on the edge of occurring.
My kids are finally growing up.
As I lay there, spread eagle on my bed looking out at the late, late, late morning sun, I suddenly realized, I’m not tired anymore.
For almost 10 years I have been tired. Tired of kids. Not getting enough sleep. Not sleeping well enough. Dealing with constant wake-ups, and chaotic days.
But now.
Things are better.
And as we went through our day, the kids were GOOD. They played with each other, they helped out. They gave me space to close my eyes and enjoy the quiet.
So, dear mothers everywhere who are tired, please believe me when I tell you, one day you too will wake up and have a kid bring you coffee and understand that you aren’t tired anymore.
You kids are growing up and they don’t need ALL of you ALL the time. . .
And that is a very, very good thing.