The Sweet Spot

I feel like we've ventured in to the sweet spot of parenting littles. It's this happy place where the kids are getting a little bit more independent and their personalities are just exploding, and while our life is loud and chaotic (did I mention loud?) our job as parents is feeling a little bit easier. In some ways I feel like we've hit our stride.

We've done the sleep training. We know how we want to discipline. We are the proud parents of two very good, very healthy eaters. And there probably hasn't been a single time in our lives when we've laughed so much on a daily basis. Those two crazies bring an unthinkable amount of joy to our life.

Yes, there are tantrums. There are constantly messes to clean. My kitchen floor is literally always dirty. Someone always needs me and I've come to think that it's Davis' personal mission to see how many times he can call "mama!" in any given day. The laundry and dishes never end. Ever. But I know this time is  precious. And I know it's limited.

With every bit of independence that they gain my heart breaks just a little. In the span of your life, the time you get to spend with little, squishy, loving babies is so so short. Now on the other side, while our life may be a little bit easier, I grieve for that time with them and I'll never get it back. 

Matt always jokes that I panic when I have to be away from them, and that's partly true. But it's because I see them changing so quickly and I know my time with "babies" is coming to an end. Let's be honest, it's probably been over for a while now.

I will appreciate this stage while it lasts, knowing that every stage is a phase that eventually passes. But it's bittersweet to say the least.