Tell me it gets easier

[Surfacing]

Let's start a thread of encouraging phrases to read when we feel like it's hopeless:

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

IT'S JUST A STAGE

[Sylith]

The days are long, but the years are short.

[BellinghamCrunchie]

I wonder if there's any wine left

[GuildJenn]

The only constant is change.

When he's 17 this will look like a VERY SMALL problem.

[jenners26]

There are only X more hours until bedtime.

[mummyofan]

Where's the phone?
Let's go to the swings.
mmmmm a-glass-a-wine tonight methinks!
One day I'll look back and smile/wince/puke/laugh/share (the story)

[Magella]

Originally Posted by BellinghamCrunchie

I wonder if there's any wine left

She's 9, which means we're already halfway to 18!

He/She will not go to college still [insert behavior here].

Remember how awful it felt when they were [insert behavior/problem]? When was the last time they did that? I can't remember. It goes by fast. This will get better too.

Breathe. Take it one minute (or less) at a time. You love them. See how beautiful they are?

Remembering these moments can really help, no matter how bad it is: "Mommy, I'll always love you no matter what. You're the best mom in the whole world."

[LynnS6]

He will learn to tie his shoes before high school, right?

Some day he will be able to cut his own food.

Some day, I will say "please go to bed" and they will. (Maybe in an alternate universe, but they will!)

I will go through an entire day without arguing with dd. (Is this an alternate universe too?)

Heck, already:
He can buckle his own seat belt.
He can read another chapter if he wants to.
They can wipe their own bottoms.
Go and see if their friends can play without me.
Get dressed all by themselves.
Come and sit down and eat when I say "it's dinner time". Alright, 95% of the time.
Look both ways when crossing the streets.

So yes, it has gotten easier.

[ZeezMom]

This is just a small blip on the radar of his/her entire life.

[Surfacing]

Originally Posted by ZeezMom

This is just a small blip on the radar of his/her entire life.

Yeah that really puts it into perspective!

This is what I tell my mainstream family and friends about the co-sleeping and "extended" breastfeeding of my 19 m.o. In the whole spectrum of her life this is just a tiny part of it. And once it's over, it's over.