“One”

Day 102, #2026bigyearproject

What if I told you that one day a tiny human would become a catalyst for some of the most significant changes in your life?

How would you move through the world with the understanding that someone is watching you intently and learning lessons, many of which you had not intended to teach?

Would you change your lifestyle because all of a sudden priorities were scrambled and the wellbeing of one person became the most important factor?

When do you ever stop thinking like a parent? Pssst. The answer is that the feelings of responsibility, concern, delight, and love start when you discover a baby has been created and continue growing ever after.

Why? Why? Why? Prepare to answer thousands of questions that will make you ponder, reconsider, negotiate, and feel baffled. You must also be honest enough to admit when you do not have an answer.

Who are you? Who will you become? Who will be affected by your presence or absence? Who matters most?

Being a mom has been the greatest challenge, accomplishment, and adventure of my existence. I started with a fistful of grand ideas, tried to incorporate everything I learned from studying educational and developmental psychology, drew on my own experiences, prayed a lot, asked other parents for their wise counsel (including my own), and leaned on my husband often.

I could waste hours on regrets for the gaffes, but I would rather lift my spirits by remembering when I did something well. Instead of worrying about swearing at clumsy drivers, I recall the day we spent working on a Habitat for Humanity project. Rather than feeling despair over disappointing her, I want to revisit the time I surprised her with a tiny rose plant.

Today is National Only Child Day. Our independent woman has bloomed remarkable well. For that I am crazy with gratitude.

#2026bigyearproject