I jolt awake in the middle of the night with the realisation that we have run out of honey. Tomorrow is a school day and a honey sandwich is currently the only thing in her lunchbox that she’ll actually eat. This I know.
There are so many of these things I know.
I know that one child lives for Jatz crackers and the other abhors them with a passion unwarranted for baked goods.
That one loves tomatoes and despises sweet potatoes and the other despises tomatoes and loves sweet potato.
That one would always choose mint choc chip but the other likes to mix things up.
That one prefers bubbles in the bath but the other doesn’t.
That one likes to wear socks while the other prefers shoes, any shoes, without.
That one likes to be soothed to sleep with gentle songs and the other with the warmth of her palm in yours.
That library day is Monday and playgroup is Wednesday. That Wednesday is also recorder day. And that on Tuesday one needs money for the school raffle and a new piano book.
These things seem so insignificant when I look at them written down. But these things, the million little details of life with young children, these are the things that matter to my children. They are the things they rely on their mama to know and remember and understand.
And whilst not one of these tiny, individual details is exactly life altering, knowing these things sure makes the task of sailing this family ship through the oceans of each day that little more untroubled. And this tired mama, well she is a big fan of untroubled.
But you know what else, mama, these small, tiny details that we remember and know and just do, they are important. The part we play in taking care of these little things, it matters. My children trust that I will smooth the way ahead by taking care of these small things, the minutiae of motherhood. So they, in turn, can focus on the big things – mastering milestones and growing and learning, and all that other important stuff.
So be kind to yourself, mama. When the to-do list is left undone and you feel that you have accomplished so little in a day. Know that that little, that little matters. More then we give ourselves credit for.
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Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.
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