I saw this photo on my phone when I woke up the other morning.
Right now, I feel like I’m in the thick of things. These are the young trenches. But my partner had to wake up that night with the baby. He took this photo of me and my daughter (who later crept into bed with us for the night) after I got dressed, fed, and put the baby to sleep.
Generally speaking, I don’t post self-portraits that I didn’t “pose” for. Additionally, I typically get angry with the person who took it. But that was then; this is now. This image was unique.
considering the past few weeks have been really challenging. It’s simple to underestimate how demanding a baby may be. How tired you become physically, mentally, and emotionally. When you have to look after two more children, you’re exhausted already. Every single time.
I clean dishes, hold babies, change diapers, do laundry, wipe tears, and stop frequently for meals throughout the day.
I don’t usually wash my hair. My bags under my eyes are inflated from not getting enough sleep. Most likely, food or spit has discolored my clothes. I always have my hair pulled back into a mother bun. My makeup is completely gone.
And this image depicts everything. Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world, despite not being glamorous.
I would like to reflect on this stage of my life. I needed this photo as a reminder because it’s simple to forget that when you’re in the thick of things, you’ll eventually miss something.
I shall not hate the sleepless evenings as much as I will love rocking and cuddling my newborns to sleep. Their tiny fingers encircle mine, and I can feel their little chests breathing in and out.
More will bother me than weeping fits will be my ability to calm my kids down with nothing more than a hug and a peck on the forehead.
I will miss using only soap and water to clean up their mess more than I will missing mopping up milk spills.
My neck and back won’t hurt from sharing a bed with my kids, and I won’t miss it. But when I wake up in the morning, I won’t miss their faces being close to mine. We are going to miss our morning hugs.
I would like to reflect on this stage of my life.
Despite how difficult and demanding this phase of fatherhood might be, I don’t want to forget it.
Thus, remember to remind your partner or another particular person. Tell them you need them to take these pictures of you.
“Are you satisfied with these photos?”
