Having A Crying Baby

Dear Natalia,

Nothing stresses me out or frazzles my nerves more than hearing you cry, yell or complain. Seriously. My day was going great, then you started complaining, almost yelling at me. I picked you up, and it didn't help. You just kept crying. I felt my blood pressure just rising more and more and more. I wanted to pull my hair out. Gabriel asked me a question and I just got so irritated at him - for no reason at all. Learning patience as a mom is a hard thing sometimes.

But - the biggest thing that helps me during your crying times is a story I heard once. One of my friends told me this story about her sister, for this post lets just call her Heather.

Without going into too many details (because I sob when I think about it) - Heather had a baby that was just over a year old that drowned. They did everything they could to save her, but to no avail. When Heather got home from the hospital she had to go out on a walk and feel the sun on her face. While walking farther and farther, with tears streaming down her face, she noticed a mom walking with her baby on the other side of the street. The only thing Heather remembers is this mom who said to her baby, "Please STOP crying!"

As Heather tells the story the only thing she says after this point is,"I would do anything to just hear my baby cry again."

So when you cry, complain and yell - and I feel like pulling my hair out.... I sit down with you, cuddle you close and think, "I am so grateful that I have a baby that can cry."

I love you,

Your Mom (written fall 2010)