I wrote about babies and sleep over at Everyday Family. Want to know what I’ve learned so far? Click over to read, thank you!
It was 11.00 AM, on the morning-from-Hell – early-rising, crumb-leaving, non-cooperating children had just pushed me to my limit. The amount of energy one has to call upon to not yell, to be patient, to still smile and hug and be present – it’s sucks you right dry.
And so, the husband had taken the 3 year old out to tire him for his afternoon nap. I was sitting on the floor with the baby, trying to tire him out for his nap.
We were playing cars, zooming and rolling. Suddenly, I saw him whip his head around quickly, and just as fast, he was on his hands and knees, crawling away.
Hey buddy, where are you going?
He stopped, and started swiping the floor with his hand.
At what? I wonder.
He was trying to catch a stream of sunlight that had come through the sheer curtains. Finally realizing it was futile, he put his head down on the floor, looked right at where the light was coming in, and smiled.
You silly baby bear!
It struck me then, that my son was living in the moment. The only way babies know how.
Something I seemed to have forgotten, amidst my string of daily to-dos and non-stop swirl of things in my head – blog ideas, meal planning, books I’m reading and want to read, the shopping list.
I was zooming at a million miles an hour and was missing the scenery.
I was not catching the sunlight.
And so, I put my head down, next to my baby boy, and let the warmth of the sun settle on my face. For a few minutes, everything else fell by the wayside, and seemed a little smaller, a little less overwhelming.
I was catching the sunlight.
Do you take a few minutes each day to just relax a little? If so, how do you do it?
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Hi, I'm Alison. I write. I mother. I make wishes. I keep memories. Founder of Little Love Media, social media consultancy. I get by on copious amounts of chocolate, cupcakes, coffee, blogging & social media.
I feel like “Catching the Sunlight” would make a good book/song title. Sweet post. I certainly do take a little time each day to be in the moment, you know….aummmmmm.
Christine recently wrote…From My Childhood To Theirs- Things I Saved For My Kids
If I ever write a book, perhaps I will use that as a title!
No wonder you always look so serene.
Kids sure know how to remind us to slow down and just live, don’t they? I constantly catch myself trying to do everything all at once and I have to tell myself to just slow down, leave the dirty dishes and just go play for a few minutes.
Rach (DonutsMama) recently wrote…Party On
I’ve been doing the play thing more with Monkey and it’s working wonders. Less tantrums/ meltdowns and we don’t even really have to be doing much. Sometimes, we just sit together.
Some days I do. I should make a point to do it every day. It really does re-align your thinking.
Nicole(Whole Strides) recently wrote…Blah, blah. Filler, filler
It absolutely does. And it’s necessary!
Love this Alison! It is so awesome that our kids can make us look at the world in a totally different ‘light’. I am trying to teach them how to live but they remind me that I have forgotten so much about living somewhere along the way.
Laura at Mommy Miracles recently wrote…Homesick
Thanks Laura! My kids surprise me every day, and this was a good surprise.
What a beautiful reminder Alison…it is wonderful to see things through the eyes of a child
Natalie recently wrote…The Big Five Months
It so is!
Wish we all stopped and caught the rays more often.
Stasha recently wrote…Monday Listicles
You know, what’s to stop us?
I have been trying so hard to do this more lately. I was way too caught up in the to-dos, the laters, the work, the reading, and I was missing the moments.
Love this post! And what a great reminder to us all to step back and enjoy the small moments.
Kimberly recently wrote…Tricky Toddlers
And I see you’re doing that, capturing the moments, love your last few blog posts!
I felt relaxed just reading this! It’s a little late to catch sunshine at the moment, but I am hoping to get some vitamin D tomorrow
Victoria from the Busy House Big Heart recently wrote…First Few Days of Motherhood
Just a few minutes makes a huge difference! Hope you caught your sunshine.
Alison, this is so beautiful. ‘Stopping” and soaking up tiny pieces of Time is something I am trying to get better at…because lately? Time escapes me and I lay awake sometimes wishing I could get it back…
Love.
Thank you, Kim. That’s the thing about Time. It just slips past us.
I can not tell you how much I love this post.
And what a perfect photo to go with this post!
Catching the sunlight..The perfect phrase to find the joy in those tiny moments.
Mirjam recently wrote…shelter
Aw, thank you Mirjam!
Beautiful post, Alison. Am always wanting to slow down and “catch the sunlight”. It’s amazing that it’s a new year and already I’m like a puffer-train. Need. to. slow. down. :l
June recently wrote…The bad mood fund
Definitely need to slow down. Here and there, not every day.
Moments like that are one of my favourite things about being a mom. When children shrink the world for you and give you pause, a moment to breathe, and just take in amazing of this world. Love this Alison!
Kim recently wrote…Mr. Independent
I love that, shrinking the world for us!
I don’t…not as much as I’d like. I feel like I’m just living through my life lately, trying to get from sleeping back to sleeping. I think I’m depressed right now…and I don’t like it because it means that I’m missing things. I really am. I’m missing lots of stuff , so I will take your advice and try very hard to catch those RAYS in the next few days and think of you.
xo
Kir recently wrote…Wanton Web
Oh my friend. Talk to me, okay? I hope you catch some rays in the meantime. xoxo
OH, I love this! Taking even the smallest moment to recognize joy. It goes a long way, right?
ilene recently wrote…It’s Complicated
It definitely does!
This is something we all need to do more often.
Slow down and take in the beauty around us.
At least a couple of times a week, definitely.
Your best post ever.
I really loved this. Thank you for writing it, and for the reminder all moms need – to live in the moment.
Loved. This.
Ado recently wrote…Mommy’s A Closet Hypochondriac
Thank you so much, Ado! Made my week.
Good!
Yes, yes, Alison.
We need to catch that sunlight, before it’s gone.
Love this.
If I knew how to Pinterest, I’d Pinterest this till it had enough pinholes through it for the sunlight to burst through.
xo
Alexandra recently wrote…What? You Don’t Google “Large Black Mole” at 3 a.m.?
I know you would, because you’re awesome personified.
xoxo
I don’t but I should!!! It sounds silly but maybe that needs to go on everyone’s google calendar. 12:00 to 12:30 Catching sunlight. With: whoever is around.
-;)
Thanks for the reminder!
Olga recently wrote…The Promised Slopes
Hee!! I like that, Olga!
beautiful Alison. This is what it’s all about friend. Our children are such good teachers
sarah recently wrote…the sunday spill: the slurp heard ’round the world
Oh yes, yes they are. And thank you.
Oh I love this. You’re so right…kids can teach us a lot about living in the moment!
Carrie recently wrote…Then and Now
Thank you, Carrie!
I’m so glad you were able to soak it in for a little while. It is so, so easy to forget that, really, right now is all we have.
Mrs. Jen B recently wrote…#HonorMyself Monday: Because We’re Worth It
Lovely, true words, Jen. Now is the time we have, and we shouldn’t miss it.
What a lovely reminder to stop and smell the roses, Alison. It’s all about the journey, and if you’re not enjoying it, than you’re missing out. Glad you got to catch some sunlight with your baby
And we’ve been doing more of it ever since!!
I really need to do that once a day. Days go by so quicky and we need to slow down.
Tess recently wrote…Making Money Monday-Make Your Blog Standout
It only takes a few minutes, just breathe in, breathe out, and catch some rays.
That’s pretty! The image and the photo.
Girl, why you wanna make me cry?
keely recently wrote…January Date: Ice Skating (And Nary A Trip To The E.R!)
Because I can.
That can be so hard to do when they are tiny. Take heart, sweet mommy, it does get easier to find the time and energy to catch those sun rays as they grow more independent. You are doing a wonderful job, even on the days when you think you aren’t.
Jessica recently wrote…How To Find A Lost Pet
Thank you for your sweet words, my friend. xo
**11.00 AM, on the morning-from-Hell – early-rising, crumb-leaving, non-cooperating children**
great line, Alison Lee. x
It always makes my heart flutter when a writer like you, Kim, tell me I wrote a great line. xo
Oh, I love seeing a dash of sunlight from the window. You wrote the scene so well – I can see both of you in that moment living in the present.
Thank you, Elizabeth! We are lucky, where we are, we catch the rays in the late mornings. Without fail.
beautiful, just awesome. living in the moment, this one just pure. i love the picture too.
I love going for walk (not now because the cold is biting the bone) and enjoy the little details of this city have been calling home for the past 21 months
TOI recently wrote…Week 3
Walks are terrific! Also, good exercise.
Catching the sunlight… such a beautifull expression. Such a beautifull post!
Thanks Tinne!
Aww…how sweet! I’m always rushing to get where we’re going and to do what we’re supposed to be doing, but kids always have their own agenda, whether it’s staring at ants and looking at the moon. It’s a nice perspective.
Asianmommy recently wrote…Having a Chinese New Year Party
They do! My oldest literally stops to smell the flowers (well, when he was younger, now he just wants to pluck them), and has forced me to slow down our walks.
Aww it’s good to slow down and look at the rose and smell the sunlight. Yeah I know I mixed them up its more fun that way.
Hah! It is fun.
hehe =]
Amanda Jillian recently wrote…Looking back and seeing the growth
This is the most charming and sweet story ever! So glad you took the time to catch the sunbeam with him!
The Dose of Reality recently wrote…Top 10 Reasons We Can Never Be The Fashion Police
Thank you! He’s hard to resist.
Yes, I do! It’s the only way I stay sane! To relax, I like to read novels or paint my nails or something else that seems totally inconsequential but really isn’t inconsequential to my life. I used to LIVE by to-do lists. I lived by them so much so that I never could enjoy the moment. I was always rushing and feeling like I never had any time. It was horrible! I ditched my to-do lists and rely just on my memory. If there’s too much stuff for me to remember to do, then I know I’m doing too much!
Jessica recently wrote…Hello, 30. Love, Jessica.
Reading – I love reading. It’s getting lost in the words and another world.
To-do lists are great (I still have them), but sometimes, they need to be put aside, and we just need to stand still.
Beautiful post. I need to learn from this and take some time to catch the sunlight. Maybe I won’t feel so overwhelmed all the time.
Heather’s Happenings recently wrote…Guest Blogger: Emmy Mom
It really helps, do it!
This made me tear up… I think I need to read it every morning.
{Meg} Phase Three of Life recently wrote…Finishing the unfinished posts.
Aw, thanks Megan. May you catch many rays of sunlight.
catching the sunlight….perfectly said…
This may be my new favorite post, I’ll need to print it out and carry it around with me when I feel like I’m going going going too much
Not a Perfect Mom recently wrote…How To Lose Weight In 2013
That’s a big and sweet thing to say, Holly, thank you so much.
Slow down, eat a booger, sit on the bog.
I love this imagery Alison. And lying down on the floor like that next to your baby and in the sunlight? So so wonderful. I definitely don’t take as much time out to relax as I should. I did it for a day I think, then forgot about it. Oops
Christine recently wrote…How Content Brew saved my blog
Yoga should be pretty relaxing – well, Shavasana usually is for me (my favorite asana!).
This reminds me of my dogs. They love to enjoy the sunlight when it comes in the house. Occasionally I will join them too.
Jessica recently wrote…Barely There: Comfort Every Day of the Week
Dogs and babies – they know how to enjoy life!
Yes, take a moment, and just breathe…easier said than done. Sunlight makes it easier, though, yes? Babies are so smart.
Runnermom-jen recently wrote…Eight is Great…
They most certainly are!
Oh, I love this… our little ones are so astute at offering us wisdom whether it be through sunlight or their sweet smiles or, when they are slightly older, words of pure truth.
I am here from the SITS Saturday Sharefest. I am so glad to have visited! I’m going to pin this, also!
Julie Jordan Scott recently wrote…Imogen Cunningham: Artist, Photographer, and Mom Who Was Ahead of Her Time.
Julie, thank you for loving this, and for Pinning! Thank you for dropping by!
Beautiful. Truly. And a moment is all we need sometimes.
Tonya recently wrote…Unwavering
Yes! Well, a string of moments
The boys force me to do this too. They demand I sit on the floor even if they don’t want me involved in their “play”. It’s to have me close instead of disconnected with other “stuff”. It’s then that I see chubby hands at work to figure something out…or how Charlie adores the falling snow…or how Eddie becomes struck memorized by any truck that goes past.
Love this post.
Katie recently wrote…Project 365 {week 5}
Sometimes, that’s all they want, just to have us close. They’re much smarter than us
And, thank you.