In the very near future there is going to be a major shift in our household. I know it's coming because the babies have been "swimming" for a few weeks already. You know what baby swimming is, right? This is when a baby spots something desirable in front of him and balances on his tummy while flailing all four limbs wildly for about ten seconds. Then he picks his head up again to see if he's gotten any closer. After about four or five times, he will usually manage to push himself backwards an inch or two, which will result in either a) him noticing a different toy that is now closer to him or b) lots of frustrated screaming. 

You’ve probably guessed that the shift I’m referring to is from non-mobile to mobile babies.  Crawling babies.  We are about to have two babies crawling… at the same time… most likely in different directions… all over the house.  The kitchen cabinets I’ve been lax about latching, the gate I don’t bother closing, the things I don't always pick up right away… all that will have to change.  No more assuming G will stay more or less where I put him if I need to leave him while I change M’s diaper.  No more assuming the babies aren’t getting into anything while I’m off seeing what the bigger kids are getting into.  Things could get scary.

But I’m still mostly looking forward to this milestone.  My back especially is looking forward to this milestone.  Little M and little G will become just a bit more self-reliant.  I won’t have to pick them up every time they want a change of scenery.  They will be more able to find their own entertainment.  I just need to make sure I’m on top of what they can find.

Isn’t that how it usually works?  Each new milestone brings mostly good feelings, but with that little catch.  Like when your kid starts talking and you think finally he can TELL me what he wants.  How much less frustrating is this?  But then you realize that he can tell you what he WANTS.  It begins to feel like everything out of his cute little mouth starts with, “Mom, can I please have…?” Or “Mom, where is my…”  Or “Mom, do you know…”

And potty training, that feels like a great victory.  No more diapers!  Yea!  But then you begin the exhaustive tour of every public restroom within a thirty mile radius.  No one takes Mom’s word for the fact that toilets are everywhere.  They need to see for themselves.

The start of school is another example.  We moms look forward to someone else being in charge for several hours each day.  (And they look so cute in those little backpacks.)  But now you need to pack lunches and prod the little one into starting his homework.  It isn’t completely copasetic. 

Sometimes the downside is simply the transition period, when it would be soooo much faster and easier to do something yourself.  You know, when you’d really like to yank that shirt over your toddler’s head rather than waiting for her to figure it out or when you have to sweep the crumbs off the floor after she’s carried her plate to the sink...  sideways.

Each new phase is still a blessing though.  Please don’t mistake a little bit of snarkiness for ingratitude.  I am thankful every day that I am able to watch my children grow and learn new things.  I’m just looking forward to a time when I can appreciate these milestones on a full night’s sleep.  Now that is one breakthrough with no downside.  None whatsoever.

Mandy appears weekends on TriangleMom2Mom.