There once was a new mum called Mrs Lighty, who had no idea what she was doing and even less of an idea about how to feel about being a mum. Tired, hormonal, overwhelmed and anxious, this new mum would often think about the life she’d left behind her, a life whereby all she had to consider was herself and Mr Lighty. This little person had landed with a plop in her world, and suddenly time seemed to stand still.
But time can be a very funny thing. Time is not tangible, and can be perceived differently depending on your perspective at that very point in time.
Indeed, when Mrs Lighty was wading through the sea of unknown which is new motherhood, where days felt like weeks and weeks felt like months, some wise friends of Mrs Lighty told her that at one point in the not too distant future, she’d no longer feel this way. She’d grow confident with time, she’d start to enjoy the time spent with her beautiful baby, she’d definitely wonder what she did with her time before becoming a mum, and certainly wouldn’t be ready for the time when maternity leave ends and work beckons.
Teeny, tiny Baby Lighty.
Before becoming a mum, I used to wonder about those Facebook posts of my mummy friends. You know the ones, the ones that say “I can’t quite believe my baby is 8, 9, 10 months old…” etc. I used to wonder, because surely there was a logical explanation to how your little one gets to that age – the passing of time, of course – and also a desire to see your little one thrive and grow up? To become a happy, healthy little person and, later on, an adult in their own right? Of course, all mums want this, all mums are grateful for the passing of time in the sense that every day with their little one means another day that they are growing, hopefully healthy and strong, learning and playing and becoming their own person. But since becoming a mum, although I draw the line at subjecting my Facebook friends to a day-by-day countdown towards age milestones, I do understand why my mummy friends couldn’t always believe where the time had gone, because I now see that once you become a parent, time goes by so fast.
There is a famous Gretchen Rubin quote which states that “the days are long but the years are short”. Until you are a parent, you cannot appreciate this statement. The days can be long – they can be filled with tiredness and tantrums, seemingly endless feeding and entertaining and cleaning – but the years are short. The years are short because they are filled with love, laughter and pride.
In the last month, Baby Lighty has changed so much. It’s true that babies are ever-changing, but there comes a point when it’s quite clear that they are their own little person. Where they are learning every day, where they suddenly take on the characteristics of a little sponge, soaking up everything they see and are taught, and their personality starts to shine through. In the past month, Baby Lighty has become that sponge. A beautiful sponge, but a sponge all the same, taking in everything, learning so much and changing before our very eyes it sometimes seems. Not only has he hit certain milestones including crawling, cruising and taking a few steps with his walker toy, but he can also suddenly join in with the actions of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Wind the Bobbin Up, sometimes sounding like he’s singing along too; he has started to play ‘properly’, perhaps pretending to drink a cup of tea from the plastic cup in his teaset or pretending to eat his play food; if you give him a little box he’ll pretend there’s food in there, ‘feeding’ both himself and Mr and Mrs Lighty, and he has also started to make noises that sound suspisciously like actual words. I’ve started to say to Mr Lighty that we need to be filming him more, because suddenly his funny act of rolling to anything he wanted, accompanied by great facial expressions of effort, has been replaced by crawling, and I know that all too soon crawling will be replaced by walking, judging by his agility with the walker. I can’t keep all of these memories in my mind as much as I’d like.
Finding Baby Lighty stood up in his cot was something of a shock!!
Standing up by his toy box, now that he can cruise along the furniture he often selects his own toys!!
Proud to be linking up with:
What a beautifully written post and it’s all so so true. That first year goes by too fast and our little ones change oh so much. I really wish I’d made more of the time Ailsa was small and easily portable but I’m loving seeing all the new things she can do now. It’s such a strange feeling.
Azaria
I think many of us are guilty of not utilising that time when they’re tiny and not so portable, but I think that comes with not really knowing what to expect when we’re a new mum. Thanks for reading my post 🙂 xxx
So very true! My cousin has just had a baby and I’ve found myself repeating the exact same advice to her. I love “The years are short” quote and it just sums up the whole parenthood thing perfectly.
Lovely post xx
Popping by via #coolmumclub today
Thank you 🙂 Ah congrats to your cousin, did she have a boy or a girl in the end? Xxx
Hiya lovely. Thank you. She had a little girl and she’s perfect. I’m popping by via #big pink link today. Always worth a second visit 🙂 xx
Ah congrats to your cousin 🙂 xxx
I LOVE that saying – it’s become my mantra…I hate to tell you that as I approach 2 years off work I’m starting to feel we all need a break from each other LOL! Just might go back to work for a little rest, part time hopefully If It happens 😉 Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub
Haha!! Well I’m back at work two days a week now which I’m finding a good work – life balance. I know I’m very fortunate though to have that. Thanks for hosting #coolmumclub 🙂
It is all so true! I love that quote because it sums up parenthood so neatly. I keep having to remind myself of it when I’m up against toddler tantrums or a 4 year old going on 14! Take time to enjoy the present because it goes so quick. My eldest is now at school and yet it feels like just yesterday she was cruising around the furniture!! Sound like an old woman but it’s a good lesson for us all. #CoolMumClub x
Yep and as you say a good reminder to help get through the tough times! I’m loving the stage that Baby Lighty is at at the moment and I’m trying to cherish it all, tantrums and all! Thanks for reading my post 🙂 #coolmumclub
Such a lovely post. The time really does fly by doesn’t. I remember chatting to my friend when she was expecting saying just how fast it all goes, it’s not like I didn’t believe people when they told me, I just couldn’t comprehend how very fast the time would go by. #fortheloveofBLOG
Yep that’s exactly it, it’s the comprehension of it. Just how exactly DOES the time speed up once our babies arrive?! Thanks for reading my post 🙂 #fortheloveBLOG
oh this is beautiful and I love the way you write. Reading this stops my heart as my three are so much older and it goes far too quickly – I’ve got a post being published this week that talks about going back for just one day – I wish I could – enjoy your little boy – he looks gorgeous!#fortheloveofBLOG – i’ve just followed you on IG too xx
Ooh can you flag your post up to me when you publish it please? I’d love to read it, I like the idea of going back in time! Thank you, I know I’m biased but I agree that my little boy is just gorgeous!! 😉 I saw the follow and have followed back, although I have to warn you that I’m not great with IG!! Thanks for reading my post and for your kind words xxx #fortheloveofBLOG
oh of course I will! you are more than welcome xx
I could have written this exact post! As excited as I am that Alfie’s first birthday is fast approaching, I also wish time would slow down…I feel like I haven’t had enough time with my baby yet before he becomes a toddler! But we have lots of fun times ahead of us with our little boys, so we shouldn’t feel sad, we should embrace the new things our toddlers are going to learn! Popping by from #fortheloveofBLOG
As you’ve probably realised from different things I’ve said on FB recently, I’m LOVING this stage with Baby Lighty, but there are days where I can’t get over how much he’s learnt from even days or the day before!! Where did our tiny babies go?!! #fortheloveofBLOG xxx
Lovely post and so true – I cant quite believe I am a Mummy to a five year old and almost 3 year old – it has gone so fast and always makes me feel a little sad especially since my eldest started school. Enjoy every second lovely xxx
I’m definitely trying to cherish and enjoy the small moments. I know that Baby Lighty will be starting school before I know it at this rate!! Xxx
The Rubin quote is so true. Mother still looks at me as if she can’t believe how much I’ve grown and I know that she is desperately trying to grab onto every moment we have together so she can store it in her heart to revisit as I grow x #bigpinklink
Make sure you take your time to grow up Baby, as your mother will be so sad when you’re a toddler instead of a baby! #bigpinklink
Oh no it all just goes by far, far too fast doesn’t it? My daughter is only 4 months and I want to slow down time so badly! Lovely post, really poignant for me as this is my last baby *sobs* thanks so much for sharing this and those adorable pictures! #fortheloveofBLOG x
Thank you, yep it really does go by so fast. Baby Lighty could also be our last baby, who knows?! So I’m definitely trying to cherish the little things 🙂 #fortheloveofBLOG xxx
Hiya!! (I really am like that annoying / stalkerish neighbour aren’t I??) Thanks so much for linking up with #fartglitter lovely. Third time’s a charm haha :0) xx
Hahaha!! Poor you, having to scroll through this post three times now!! ? AND I linked a second post to #fartglitter this week!! I feel for you, I really do… Xxx
T’is always a pleasure – never a chore! I’m on “evens” this week but I’ll definitely be popping back to read your other post too 😉 I am after all your friendly stalker haha xx
Haha I guessed you were on evens and I should’ve linked them the other way round!! ?? xxx
This is so sweet. Such a lovely sentiment and it’s so true. Time marches on and although some days you wish it past, others you so desperately want it to go backwards and it just won’t. I genuinely can’t believe that we are now in school days and wobbly teeth territory. How the heck did that happen?! I’m just not ready! Thanks for linking up! #bigpinklink
Don’t, I know we’ll be at the wobbly teeth stage before I know it, and Baby Lighty doesn’t even have any of his baby teeth yet!! Thanks for hosting #bigpinklink 🙂 xxx
Yes that quote is utterly beautiful and almost brings a tear to my eye. Well I can tell you as the mum of an almost 12yo, a 9 yo and 6 yo it does go by fast. Enjoy! #BigPinkLink
Oh no don’t tell me that!! Baby Lighty will be all grown up before we know it!! Thanks for reading my post 🙂 #bigpinklink