Early Motherhood: Chapters Closing
When the baby years end.
Surrounded by dolls, prams, outfits and blankets, I remember saying “A mammy” when asked what I wanted to be when I grow up.
My 20’s, while outrageously fun, had an undercurrent of hope to meet the co-creator of the forever life I held in my minds eye - the forever life that came true in my 30’s when our girls were born.
And while I am very aware that we have a long parenting road to go (particularly the way this housing crisis is going as they’ll never move out) I am accepting that as my 30’s close, so too are my sweet, fortunate and delicious baby years.
“Will we go again?”
A question that will haunt us as we both wonder on loop - but no, we won’t. With our youngest now 3 and a half and our eldest hitting 7 it feels like our family has migrated into a new chapter of hobbies, routine, playdates and learning - they grew up, they need me less, they sleep all night, feed themselves and follow the rules.
It’s life changing.
And heartbreaking.