Today, I decided to write from the heart. As a single mom living abroad, I, too, faced struggles while raising my precious children. It is not always easy. This article serves as a reminder to all of us that none of these struggles (whether big or small) will last forever.
Do you know that feeling when you are shattered in bed after a long day, but you have to wake up in the middle of the night to feed your crying baby? That feeling won’t last forever.
Do you know that feeling when your toddler persists on eating on top of the rug instead of the table, and you know you will spend at least 30 minutes cleaning the pasta sauce off the floor? That exuberant tiredness that overwhelms you before even starting the task. That feeling won’t last forever.
Do you know that feeling when your teen slams the door in your face? You get that anger wash in your chest and feel like shouting at the top of your lungs. That feeling won’t last forever.
Do you know that feeling when your teen leaves for college, and you feel so empty inside? As if you have a big hole in your soul that you don’t think will ever get better? That feeling won’t last forever.
Our love for our children—hopefully unconditional—helps us overcome all those miserable, tough moments while we are raising them. If you relate to the above examples, I would highly encourage you to take a deep breath, remove yourself from the situation for a few moments, and then respond when you find some calm.
Life is a beautiful tapestry of changes; if we embrace the present moment, we will wholeheartedly adapt and appreciate the most minor intricacies. I am here to reassure you that we all face challenges as parents, so try to remember that phrase the next time you face an exasperating situation with your child that this feeling will not last forever.
N.B. I chose the title impermanence because it resembles fleeting moments and because I love using it. According to the Oxford Dictionary, impermanence /ɪmˈpəːmənəns/ is a noun that describes the state or fact of lasting for only a limited period of time.
