"Hey"

"One of the great discoveries of parenthood is that we learn far more about what really matters from our children than we ever did from our parents." -Boyd K. Packer

It is easy as a parent to forget what really matters as we go throughout our day just trying to keep our head above water. We look forward to nap time, when we'll be able to get things done, except we instead fall onto the couch in an exhausted heap and look at the mess around us. It's easy to lose sight of what's important as we carefully draw out a budget and plan a grocery list. We try our best to keep dirty dishes in the dishwasher and messy hands out of clean hair. It's easy to forget what matters when we worry about folding laundry and mopping the floor.

It's times when we forget that our children teach us.

Today while I was doing the dishes, I stopped for a moment to go check on Liam who was quietly sitting on the back patio. I look out and see him fold his arms, bow his head, and say, "Hey."

Love filled my heart as I was reminded of the love of God, the love He has for us, and the time we need to spend each day bowing our heads to speak to our Father in Heaven. To thank him for what we have, thank him for our children, and put all of our trust into His hands. My son may throw multiple tantrums each day, he may not be able to walk, he may not be able to talk, but my son knows how to pray. Today he reminded me what is really important. My son taught me what really matters.

The Best Advice I've Received as a New Mother

When you become a mom, everyone has advice for you. Whether they are a man or a woman, whether they have children or just know children, and whether it is solicited or not. You become quite adept at smiling politely while thinking in your head, "Oh, please shut up." Because the truth is NOTHING can prepare you for how your life will change. How you wake up
one day and discover that you no longer do anything for yourself, that you are suddenly thrust into a world that completely revolves around this new 6lb bundle in your arms. A bundle who somehow dictates how you will spend every waking minute of the rest of your life.

I am a young, confident, and independent woman. Well, I was an independent woman. And I was proud of that! I was proud of the fact that I had a job and I was well educated and I had a few talents. I have been an Aunt since I was 7 years old and by the time I found out I was pregnant my siblings had blessed me with 23 nieces and nephews! "A child?" I thought, "piece of cake." The child I got has completely disarmed me. He has brought me to tears, he has made me feel incompetent, and has brought me to my knees in prayer almost daily. He also has warmed my heart, made me smile and laugh, and brought me closer to God. In saying that, the best advice I have received may surprise you.

Liam was only a couple weeks old when I read in a magazine advice that a woman had written in suggesting that no matter what, every day you need to get ready for the day. That means, no being lazy in your pajamas all day long. But, to actually shower, brush your hair and get dressed! Why, you may ask, is this so important?

You may not leave your house all day long, so why would you need to be dressed? Because, it is something you do for YOU! Remember YOU? That young, confident, and independent woman that you used to know? That woman that used to go anywhere and do anything with no boundaries? In order to feel like YOU again, you need to get dressed.

It makes you feel good, it makes you feel clean, and sometimes it can even make you feel awake! Reiterate... sometimes. You might not be able to sit down to dinner without one arm wrapped tightly around that cute baby; you might not be able to jump in the car and go without first changing a diaper, packing a bag, and wrestling a child into an inconceivably heavy car seat; and you may not be able to chat with your girlfriends on the phone without shouting over a baby's wailing. But, you CAN get ready for the day. And in getting ready for the day, you will feel a little bit normal again. Notwithstanding, spending ten minutes of your baby's nap time slowly curling your hair can be very therapeutic.

Feeling normal will help you remember to smile back when your baby squeals at you, it will help you remember that this baby will not always be a mewling infant, and it will help you remember that you can DO this! So, moms, get off the computer, go pull on some jeans, find your hairbrush, and swipe on some mascara, because I promise, you will feel 110% better and if you do nothing else today, you will feel like you did something productive.