I have a 4-year-old, 5-year-old and a 7-year old. Life is as noisy, busy and full as you would expect. But it is also less harried, less taxing and less chaotic than the previous chapter.
The early years of motherhood are turbulent. Virtually just yesterday I was deep in the baby-toddler trenches, living in a permanent state of exhaustion and chaos. Having three children under the age of three was, aside from utter craziness, in a word – intense. Midnight feeds, nappy-changing and sleepless nights, along with the mind-numbing tedium of Groundhog Day made early motherhood grueling.
But slowly things began to change and our family rhythm switched gears. Initially it was quite subtle, and I almost didn’t notice it until I realised I was breathing, and moving at a slower pace. More significantly, I found myself laughing more and enjoying motherhood. As I ponder this rather seismic shift, I wonder if I am nudging closer to the golden years of parenting; the fabled “sweet spot.”
Here are nine signs I might be on the cusp of the sweet spot:…