Living in the Balance of Brutal and Beautiful
Vol. 1, No. 21
In partnership with
You’re reading Modern Motherhood Musings, a weekly newsletter written from one mom to another. Each week I share an honest reflection on motherhood, and a collection of things bringing me joy. I’m passionate about community, and I hope that by sharing our stories, we all feel a little less alone. Disclosure: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
📝 This week’s musing…
Undoubtedly, we've all heard some version of the old adage "Enjoy every moment; it goes by so fast" or "Soak it all up; it goes by in the blink of an eye."
The words are tethered to so many memories, so much nostalgia. Cautionary tales from parents who remember these days fondly and know firsthand how quickly this season passes.
Yet, it's a challenge to embrace every moment when you're knee-deep in the chaos of parenting.
It’s really hard to feel like you’re enjoying every moment when you’re in the thick of those newborn days and you’re so tired that you’ll forego food and a shower just to get 10 more minutes of sleep.
It’s really hard to soak it all up when you’re in the toddler phase. Just the other night I chose to do dishes instead of hang out with my kids, because I knew I’d have to break up one more fight or listen to one more cry, and I was just so overstimulated.
But then you put them to bed, and the house is quiet, and you're racked with guilt.
What special moment did I miss today? What time did I waste that I’ll never get back? What cute phrase, or smile, or giggle was I too frustrated or overwhelmed to appreciate?
It's all going by so fast, and I’m missing it.
I’m guilty of counting down the 20 minutes until bedtime. 20 minutes! How much more time than that did I spend scrolling on my phone today?
I’ve rushed them to get their shoes on faster, so we could get out the door quicker. I’ve hurried them up on our evening walks instead of giving them the time to stop and admire the cool rock they found.
What can be more important than this time in my children’s life? What could I be in such a hurry to do? Nothing. I’m just tired.
At the end of the day I know that not every moment is perfect and not every season is stress-free, but I think we can give ourselves the grace to live in the balance of the brutal and the beautiful.
We can marvel at the sheer joy our child experiences when they taste ice cream for the first time, yet dread the sticky aftermath we'll have to clean up.
We can soak up the baby snuggles, how their sweet body relaxes into you when they feel safe, yet crave the autonomy we used to have over our space, our body, and our time.
We can be realistic about the fact that most days will come with both tears of joy and tears of frustration, but we can also become those people who one day say “Enjoy every moment, it goes by so fast.”
Soaking up those moments full of joy, and cleaning up sticky messes.
✨ Friday favorites…
💅🏼 I heard that white manis are trending this summer, and I’m loving OPI Alpine Snow for that crisp, bright, pop of color.
🎬 I love that you can get Summer Movie Express tickets for just $1 at Regal on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11AM each week this summer. Talk about a perfect way to beat the heat!
🦟 The mosquitos are just relentless right now, but I swear by the Bug Bite Thing. Don’t ask me how this dinky plastic tube works, but it’s magic. The key is to use it right after you get bit!
👯♀️ From one mom, to another…
Your words of wisdom, best piece of advice, and favorite hacks can make a difference in another mom’s journey. What has helped you survive this season? Email me to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.
❝
Summer diaper sandwich = swim diaper, swimsuit, regular diaper over the swimsuit. Remove the regular diaper once you’re poolside. Learned this one the hard way.
Courtney B. - Houston, TX
I hope you’re all having a great start to summer and soaking up special moments with those you love. Happy Friday, friends!
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