Making Adjustments

Every night when I make dinner it is usually my time to relax in the kitchen while Harlan plays and listens to music. It’s her “alone” time as well as mine. It’s a great routine for the both of us and we both seem to enjoy it; most of the time.

The other night our routine didn’t go as planned and Harlan stood at the gate to the kitchen begging me to come in. Her begging soon turned into a full blown tantrum after I kept telling her no. Soon enough my patience couldn’t take her screaming any longer and I caved. I lifted her up over the gate and let her in the kitchen while I cooked. She immediately started going in every cabinet that she could trying to take everything out. As I told her no, the toddler in her kept telling her yes. As I tried to hoist her over the gate out of the kitchen she screamed again. At this point we were at a standstill. I couldn’t cook because she wanted in to spend time with me and she would only scream if she wasn’t right at my feet. So I did what any mother would do, I made an adjustment in our routine and made it work. I took out pots and pans and put them on the kitchen floor so that she could “cook” with me. She was happy, I could cook, and we were able to spend time together.

I knew that when I became a parent I would have to make adjustments in my life, but I had no idea how many adjustments I would have to make. Every little thing that I do throughout my day, from taking a shower to eating lunch, Harlan is by my side which makes me have to tweak the way I do things. I honestly don’t remember the last time that I was able to take a shower by myself or eat lunch without it being luke warm or even room temperature {mommy always eats last.}

This journey of parenthood is a constant learning process. Through all of these adjustments that I have made in my life, I’ve learned that I am really good at multi-tasking, being creative, and being patient. These are qualities that I would have never considered myself having until I had Harlan.

Although it may be a long time before I will be able to eat lunch without being asked for a “bite” or do my makeup without having to share my makeup brushes, I am okay with that. I have learned so much more about myself since becoming a parent than I ever did before. These “adjustments” that I have had to make are no longer “adjustments,” they are my life.