I am going on the second week of babysitting my youngest grandchild and I have a renewed respect for all of you young families out there!

I had long since forgotten how hectic life can be with little ones around.

I am laying awake now because little one went to bed at 7:30 and so did I as I feared she would wake in the wee hours and I would need the extra rest. Well, guess what? Little one is still sleeping sound and ole lady here had to get up and make a bathroom run and here I lay.

My thoughts are of Billy Graham passing, of my new Instant Pot purchase, my spring flower beds, and just anything and everything in between.

I hear the soft little breaths from the pack-n-play nearby and I contemplate how tomorrow I will master even more of this baby care schedule.

My son tells me all the time how he respects Dad and I more now than he ever has since he is in the child rearing years. I am here to tell you that I have a renewed respect for young families now since once again I am a participant.

I had forgotten so many things and so many emotions! Trying to keep all the laundry done and the tons of little bibs, trying to fit meals in somewhere and just when you think you can sit down for a quick bite, the baby screams and you are off and running! The monstrous car seats and all those fancy snaps and buckles! Whew!

My son and daughter-in-law both work and tangle with traffic about an hour of each day. The oldest baby and the youngest are about 13 months apart. I look at them and wonder how they do it but then I remember I did it too.

Luckily I lived in a small town where traffic wasn’t an issue but I had 4 each morning to ready and deliver. It was so hard but so rewarding too.

I remember when we purchased the mini van! I wasn’t worried at all about looking old….I just wanted the arguments over the window seats to stop. It didn’t! Those arguments just got replaced with who rides in the front seat!

I used to round the entrance to my employment back in those days on 2 wheels and grab the first parking spot I saw, gather my belongings and run to the keypad at the back door and race to the time clock! I went to work to rest or that is how it felt. I would come home in the afternoons and never even sit down until time for bed.

And…. that is just a few things that I lived through. I think today’s world is even faster paced and if not for the quickness of time and living past a lot of trying moments, I don’t think we humans could take it.

When I was young this verse gave me strength:

 

Proverbs 14:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

I looked at it like this:

Without my 4 children, my house would have been clean, the chaos would be gone, and I would be organized and rested but look at all I would be without!

The children God gave to me were and are my blessing. My life has been much increased by having them. Sure, I could have pulled my hair out at times as you families with little ones know but I wouldn’t take anything for the times we shared.

I respect you young families, especially those who attend church and try their hardest to point their compass towards God.

I am experiencing this over again with little one in my care and this time around instead of just getting by and living through it, I am cherishing each day as tiresome as it is and respect it for I know how important these days really are!

If you are a young mother or dad and are reading this, I respect you so much! Keep up the precious work!