“On this regular day, may I recognize the gem that you are. Allow me to cherish you, appreciate you, and learn from you before you fade away. Let me not overlook you in pursuit of some elusive and flawless tomorrow. Let me embrace you while I can, for this may not always be the case. One day, I may long for your return, digging my fingers into the earth or burying my face in the pillow, stretching out in longing or raising my arms to the heavens.” –Mary Jean Irion
Motherhood consists of an endless array of days. Some are splendid, others challenging, but the majority are simply “normal.” These are the days filled with routines, nap schedules, cleaning up after our little ones, and negotiating bedtime standoffs. Days overflowing with laughter and tears, tickles and tantrums.
In the realm of parenting, normal days can be a blend of chaos, enchantment, monotony, and joy—all rolled into one. But it’s easy to become disillusioned by certain aspects of these ordinary days. The chaos can feel overwhelming. Tantrums can test our last nerve. The repetitiveness of daily tasks can erode our patience, drip by drip.
Normality doesn’t always bring comfort. The nights spent waking repeatedly to tend to a child can feel draining. Mornings that involve groggy children frantically searching for their shoes can be exasperating. Evenings filled with homework struggles or kid-related drama can become tiresome.
How often do we find ourselves wishing away these mundane moments? How often do we yearn to leap ahead to that “rare and perfect tomorrow”? I often catch myself doing just that. While cleaning the kitchen for what feels like the millionth time, nagging my kids to dispose of their wrappers, or responding to a child calling out for me when they’re supposed to be asleep for the umpteenth time, I find myself wanting to fast-forward to a future where my family’s demands feel less relentless.
Yet, even amidst the tedium and frustration, I pause to reflect. I mentally document the normal day I’m living and remind myself that there may come a time when I would give anything to relive these moments.
This isn’t an abstract thought. I recall a friend, Lisa, whose only child faced an inoperable brain tumor. The days they experienced, from the diagnosis to the heartbreaking moments of loss, must have made her yearn for just one normal day. I reflect on my own family’s experience during my grandmother’s prolonged battle with cancer, a time when our days felt anything but typical.
I remember my uncle’s tragic passing and how it shattered my world at a young age. I think of those enduring war, famine, or homelessness, desperately seeking even a fleeting sense of normalcy. I consider those grappling with sudden loss, unexpected trauma, or life-altering decisions.
In these reflections, I find gratitude for the simple gift of a normal day. It’s not that we should suppress our complaints or pretend others don’t face greater struggles. The comparison game serves no real purpose, and we should never invalidate our feelings or experiences. However, recognizing the beauty in the mundane can lead to a more profound appreciation.
Even when a day feels overwhelmingly tough, the mere fact that we can label it “normal” is a blessing. Let us value our ordinary days for the treasures they are. Let’s learn from them and express gratitude for their offerings. Instead of wishing them away, let us embrace them, for we never truly know what tomorrow holds.
“On this regular day, may I recognize the gem that you are.” Indeed.
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Summary
This piece reflects on the significance of ordinary days in motherhood, urging parents to appreciate the beauty in the mundane. It emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and gratitude in daily routines, highlighting that even challenging moments are part of a precious normalcy that many would yearn for in times of hardship.