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I have to say that life with a toddler at home is definitely demanding.  And... it probably doesn't help that I am the type of Mom who wants to do it all, perfectly and in 3 inch heels.  Like a lot of you out there.

I occasionally wonder if I haven't bitten off a little more than I can chew.  I work full-time outside of the home, and I also tend to cram my calendar with extracurricular activities like volunteering at my church, planning the annual family reunion and taking classes toward a degree.  Oh and did I mention keeping my house clean?   

But, my biggest priority is making sure my little one is getting the attention she needs to grow up happy & healthy.   But on a typical weeknight when I've just gotten home from work and finished cooking dinner, trying to feed Hannah her applesauce,  dogs barking madly at some unknown pest - Hannah decides to fling the last of her applesauce at me with her spoon. And I wonder. "Do I really have it in me to do it all?" 

So I pause...and think about what my daughter needs.  In Hannah's eyes life is simple.  She needs to feel safe, to eat right, have a fresh diaper, get her exercise and most of all, she needs me.   It's amazing how when I stop to view things from her perspective life seems to slow down, if just for a minute. 

For instance, Hannah has recently learned how to knock on doors.  So, while I am getting ready in the morning I now spend a good bit of my time answering the bedroom door looking surprised that Hannah is on the other side.  And the smile that's on her face is priceless - more than enough to make me open the door a thousand more times.

I can find time to pause when we take our evening walks together too.  Toddler legs just can't power walk, so our evening stroll takes on a slower pace and it becomes a time to discover.  We pick up rocks along the way, meet the neighborhood dogs and learn about the different flowers and trees. 

Now sometimes, I will admit that I don't take that time to pause.  In those moments I usually give my husband a frazzled look that cues him to take over for a while.  And, I realize that life does move a little too quickly sometimes. The stresses we have today will be totally different in a year or even next week. 

So, I encourage you all to pause and enjoy the moment.  And tell me, what are the special moments you enjoy with your child that make it all worthwhile?