There seems to be a consensus in my mom groups that “Cherish the Moment” or any sentiment like it should be tossed out the window and never said again. That saying it diminishes the way they’re feeling as women and mothers in the moment.
The truth is it’s impossible to *always* cherish the moment. I know that. I’ve felt the guilt over that. I KNOW how important it is to cherish the moment yet there are many times that I don’t.
Truth be told though I wish I had a little old lady following me around whispering in my ear “Cherish the Moment”.
When someone says this to you it’s not because they’re trying to make you feel bad, it’s not because they want you to feel guilty for being upset or frustrated or even angry but because she knows. She is wise beyond my years.
She knows that babies don’t keep. That children grow. That when you have a million things to do and your kids won’t go to sleep and you’re having a meltdown and they’re having a meltdown she knows that the only thing they want or need in that moment is you. And that one day, sooner than you can ever imagine they won’t need you anymore. That moment will be gone.
That’s what “Cherish the Moment” is about. It’s about taking a moment to remember that. To put things into perspective. It’s to make you see the bigger picture, to realize that everything is going to be okay. That this moment won’t last much in the same way their little hands will grow and won’t reach for yours.
Trust me, I’ve been in those moments, moments where I was upset and angry. Doing anything but cherishing the moment. Instead I was questioning why I even decided to become a mother. But when people say to me “Cherish the moment” it doesn’t make me angry. It makes me remember. It makes me remember that I *should* be cherishing the moments even the bad ones because with all the bad ones come all the good ones. The reason why I wanted to become a mom in the first place. It makes me remember that there are so many moments that I could have cherished that I may not have or that I didn’t pay enough attention too because I thought I had all this time.
But the truth is we don’t. With every day comes little milestones. We don’t notice them while they’re happening but one day they don’t wake up in the middle of the night calling your name. They won’t ask you to stay with them or hold their hand. They grow up. And that moment is gone. You’ll have more moments, different moments but they won’t be the same as the ones you’re experiencing now.
I don’t hate “Cherish The Moment”. In fact quite the opposite because no matter how upset and frustrated I am it reminds that this too shall pass, not just the bad moments but the good ones too and I will miss them more than I can ever imagine.
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