A mother's changing list

Twenty one months and six days ago, I was the world's best mother.

I knew all about getting your child to eat their meats, veggies, and fruits, and only then getting treated to the rare sweet. I knew all of the tricks for getting them to obey the first time. I knew the strategies for getting them to sleep through the night, and had perfected the look that says "mind your manners and don't embarrass your mother." And twenty-one months and six days ago, I was certain, all it would take is one sideways glance for my child to whip right into shape, not that he would have dared venture anywhere else.

Twenty one months and six days ago I was the world's best mother. I was the world's best mother, you see, because my child was born twenty one months and five days ago.

I had read all of the books, and critiqued all of the articles. I had carefully planned my parenting style - a decadent mixture of structure, consistency, loving correction, and positive reinforcement whipped to perfection and baked until the the center was warm and gooey and the edges were just crunchy enough to be admired and envied by all.

And then, my Baker Boy rocked my whole entire world.

At an adorable twenty one months and five days,

He tests my limits and pushes my patience.

 

He is opinionated and strong willed.

 

He needs directions one, two, three times, and sometimes still doesn't mind on the fourteenth.

 

He much prefers to nap in his mommy's embrace than in the solitude of his own bed, where I loudly proclaimed my child would sleep all of his sleeps.

 

He sometimes gets dessert even if he doesn't eat all of the carefully allotted bites of his dinner.

 

He stands when he's instructed to sit.

 

He spends neighborhood walks nestled comfortably on my hip while I push an empty stroller.

 

He prefers cords and cabinets and electrical outlets to the strategically placed, very inviting toy baskets.

At twenty one months and five days, I am taking back a lot of words, a lot of judgmental glances, a lot of higher than mighty thoughts of being the world's best mother.

Instead of proclaiming what I won't do, I am loudly boasting a lot of will dos.

I will seek the Lord's example.
I will learn from others.
I will admit to my shortcomings.
I will opt for humility.
I will pray daily that I would be the mother Baker needs for me to be.

I will let Baker break a usually strict bedime.
I will sneak the occasional sweet treat.
I will let there be giggles and tickle fights.
I will let there be living room picnics and slumber parties in mommy and daddy's bed.
I will pack lunches secure with love notes.
I will love him big.
I will kiss him too much.
I will be his mommy, and he will be my boy, and I will daily thank the Lord for that gift that is too wonderful for words.