If you’re like me, and had a difficult relationship with your own mother, becoming a parent can be an exploration of the scars and gifts of your own childhood.
If, like me again, you have a child who is neurodivergent or has additional learning needs, the early years can feel different from what you expected or witness among your parenting peers.
But it gets better.
I want to acknowledge how Mother’s Day can hit for those who want to be mothers, those who have lost children, and those who have lost their mothers.
I see you. You are in my thoughts, and in my heart.
To any new mom struggling this Mother’s Day
I’m a children’s librarian and grandma and let me tell you -just wait - it gets better!
When your 1 month old focuses on your face, and you share his sweet breath;
Your 2 month old smiles at you - and though it could be gas - you're sure it’s not
Your 3 month old blows those cute saliva raspberries
When your 4 month old begins to repeat sounds like “ooh,” “aah,” and “ba-ba”)
Your 5 month old learns to hold the book and turn the pages
Your 6 month old opens and shuts their fingers for twinkle twinkle and tries to make the diamond in the sky
When you hear your 7 month old babbling and you peek in to find him playing with his toes
Your 9 month old plays Peekaboo and sings Patacake and gives you a hug at the end
Your 12 month old pretends to read and tells the story in her own words
When your 13 month old says something and you understand them perfectly and no one else does
Your 15 month old thinks you are the best dance partner in the world
And though your 18 month old wants to read the same book again and again, you love that you’re enjoying books together
Your 20 month old knows some letters and sounds of the alphabet and says Quack when they see a duck
When your 2 year old backs up to sit in your lap for storytime
When your 2 and a half year old gives a friend a hug to comfort her
And your 3 year old can sit for longer storytimes and singalongs and has conversations!
Just wait - there’s magic at every age.
Warmly, Miss Pam
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