Growing up or Growin’ old

Once upon a time, my world revolved around pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and all those wonderful, related subjects! I was recently reminded of how my world has changed. The change came along oh, so gradually sneaking up behind me….but also in the blink of an eye! Now just how is that possible? One minute I am ’spinning my head off’ trying to keep newborns, toddlers and preschoolers nursed, happy or occupied. The next minute I have two married children, a grandchild, a house full of teenagers and a 10 year old baby!

So, what exactly caused my check-with-reality? This beautiful birthing story. No, it is not a friend’s birthing story as it would have been in the past. It is the daughter of my friend! Ha! How old does that make me feel? Well, maybe even older than when my daughter birthed my beautiful grandson two years ago. More on that in a bit.

As a Le Leche League Leader for many, many moons; I have read stories by the old-wise-ones concerning breastfeeding and birthing as it related to their grown children and grandchildren. But as a young mom, I just could not really wrap my brain around the reality that it would happen to me.

Really Now! No one ever told me that my children would really grow up. It just seemed impossible during that flurry of busy-ness where it seemed that nothing ever really got accomplished besides a lot of nursing, laundry, an occasional bath and maybe even a good meal every now and then. But, I suppose a lot of growing up was happening. sigh.

Well, here I am with a completely new identity and I don’t even know when exactly it happened. I am still learning to embrace the ‘new me’. These days I rarely think of birthing or breastfeeding when comparing to the all-consuming thoughts of yesteryear!

Don’t get me wrong, I like the new me and she showed up just in time; because I don’t think my back and joints could walk a sick toddler around all night anymore. But I am also sad that it is over. It was such a sweet, sweet, precious time even if it was busy, busy, hard work.

So, I spend my days homeschooling my three daughters, running our websites, helping Caleb with his lawn care business, and renovating old homes with him and my husband for rental property partnership. Yes, it is busy, busy, busy…but oh, so different.

Yes, I am the Old Mom in this blog venture. My daughter is the New Mom. And sweet little Aiden made us so. It is a good change after all!