Mommy Moment...
Wow. Five kids and five very different people.
Danielle was probably our most compliant. Good thing, too. I was only 18 when she joined our family. I was a young wife learning to be a good farm wife, and suddenly I had to also learn to mommy. I was supper happy, but completely clueless. She was my little doll. We were never apart. I held her nearly all day. We went for walks. We cleaned house. I even kept her with me when I cooked. It actually got to the point that she wouldn't sleep unless I was holding her.
Curt was wise (and maybe a bit tired of having her join us in bed). One night I was trying to leave her in her bed, but she knew I'd give in. I had changed her. I had fed her again, checked her again. She still would cry each time I laid her down. After getting up several times, it must have been 1 am, Curt rolled over as I was getting up again.
He asked had I changed her, had I fed her, had I checked on her? I answered "yes" each time. "Then she's fine." He stretched his arm out, laid it across my chest and went right to sleep. She cried for a bit, but went on to sleep. I cried longer.
I had to learn when I was being manipulated and when she really needed me. It was a tough lesson, for me. I am a pleaser. I want everyone happy. As a mommy I had to learn strength and dignity, grace AND truth. I learned to set the atmosphere of our home. -The thermostat not the thermometer.
Danielle says babies have never been inconvenienced. We have to teach them the difference between their wants and their needs. I wish I had had the adult her to help me raise the baby her.
Mommy, you got this!
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