I didn’t know the type of mother I would be until I had my baby. Soon after I had her I knew I wanted to keep her happy, to protect her, to be there for her and above all, to love her. I soon learned that I didn’t believe in letting her cry. Crying is the way babies communicate so when I hear my baby crying it makes my insides scream.
I don’t know what is it about my baby crying but I can’t stand it. I have to do everything in my power stop it, to make it right. Maybe it’s my primal instincts, from way back when we had to keep our babies happy and quiet to be protected from outsiders or maybe it’s just a normal mama instinct.
In all honesty, I’m not even sure how other moms have managed to do the ‘cry it out’ method. It must have been hard or maybe I’m wired in a way that I just can’t bear to hear my baby crying. At all.
Recently we’ve been having a rough time because my baby, who doesn’t cry much, has been very whiny. She’s getting tooth #15 & #16 and for the first time the teething is getting to her. She’s more sensitive and cries over everything. It’s been frustrating having to take care of her like this because there is not much I can do for her.
Instead of feeling frustrated and letting the lack of sleep get to me, it’s at times like this when I’m reminded that all I have to offer her are hugs and kisses. Hugs and kisses. This is what calms her and gets her through the day. I remember that I’m all she needs and wants. I can make her feel happy by just being there for her. I’ve had to put everything aside and just hold her, but is that really so bad?
There are times when she doesn’t want to play, she just wants to sit on my lap and be hugged by me. Other times she won’t let me do anything, she just wants to be held. I won’t lie sometimes it’s hard to put everything aside, especially when you have work to do but family is my #1 priority and more important than work, so it’s never hard to decide between work or her.
I know moments like these will come and go, moments where she’s feeling bad and just wants to be held. There something about holding her…comforting her… It’s part of being a mom. I know I’ll be wishing in the future she would sit on my lap and let me hug her all day and make her feel better…so today I don’t care if I have to just sit and hug her all day.
Today is all about her…anytime she needs me, it’s all about her. Part of being a mom is being there for my baby. Holding and soothing my baby has made me think about the many times in her life when things won’t go the way she wants them to go and even though I’ll want to “fix” it all for her I might not be able to. But I’ll have always have hugs and kisses for her. I’ll always be here.
So what I want to remember when my baby is crying is that all she needs is me. There are very few times in a person’s life where just your presence will make someone feel safe and happy. There are very few times in life when someone will need you this much. So next time your baby is crying and you’re busy, think hard…is it worth it letting them cry? Is it worth getting frustrated and worked up over it?
Your baby is this little only once. Take a deep breath. Be there. And while you’re at it, appreciate this little human being who calls you mama.
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