7 Ways to put JOY in Motherhood

I did not make him cry for this picture. He obliged.

Anyone who is a mother knows that the words “joy” and “motherhood” are rarely used in the same sentence. M. Russell Ballard said, "The joy of motherhood comes in moments..." As someone who didn't plan on being a mother (ever), the word “motherhood” gives me a mild anxiety attack. As do the phrases, “I’m pregnant!” and “when I was in labor…”

My sweet baby, Caeden, is now 16 months old (just under a year and a half for people like me who hate to count). And guess what…he is such a joy! Not all of the time of course, and really I can’t complain too much on the days he is less than joyous. I only have one little monster to escape from.

Then I realized something. Motherhood isn't something that I should want to escape from. I can make joy happen! While some of these may be no-brainers for you veteran moms, they were news to me!

Here are my seven ways to enjoy your little one(s) and put JOY in Motherhood:

• Take an obscene amount of pictures. I take about 50 pictures every time I pull my camera out. I don’t think I’m exaggerating either. Take pictures of your baby eating, exploring, playing with his toys, and destroying his room. Even if my kid is crying I take pictures. He settles down after a few takes, and soon I have a laughing, smiling baby boy!  I even created a gallery here because I take SO MANY. 
• Put that baby in the tub! And not just to clean him. If your baby loves to splash, let him splash! Give your baby a cup, and if he drinks that bath water (gross) let him! Put some finger paint up on the walls. Bath time is the bomb. It is never too early, or too late for tub time.
• Have a bed party. Simply hang out on mom and dad’s bed. Bring your babe’s favorite toy. My baby’s favorite toy currently consists of “nothing”, but try and launch himself over the edge of the bed. I haven’t dropped him on his head…yet.
• Let your kid “help” you. Caeden is to the point where he follows me everywhere, shuts anything I open, and puts everything in the trash can. This includes the semi-neatly folded, clean clothes from his dresser and the books from his bookshelf. So I say to myself, “Self! Teaching opportunity!” Then I attempt to teach him which thing goes where. He still puts everything in the trash can. 
• Read to your little one. They don’t have to sit on your lap, and they don’t even have to look at the pictures. Chances are they won’t do either, but they really just like to hear someone talking. It’s like magic.
• Have a pajama day and eat a cookie for breakfast. For real. 
• Some things are just meant to be let go. Let go of the little, nit-picky things that bother you. It's okay if your kid puts away the books upside down and sideways. It's okay if his toys end up in the laundry basket and you don't find out until you wash it. It's OKAY. 
  

Stay tuned because next week I'll tell you what I've learned about motherhood!

In the meantime, how do you enjoy your babes (children)?