Okay to Wake

My sister-in-law texted me yesterday after reading my post.

Four words.

“Okay to wake clock,” her message said.

And then she expanded. Saying her baby – my nephew – would do the same. He’d wake up SUPER early, crawling around all over the bed, all over her head, ready and eager to start the day.

I googled it and was blown away that this is a THING. A thing that so many parents do with their kids because, GET THIS, SO many kids are crawling all over their parents’ heads ready to wake at 4 or 5am.

I just sort of thought that Ishu was an abnormal child.

But turns out this is pretty normal. We’ve got the Hatch so I’m thinkin’ we teach him that when the blue light is on, it means it’s time to stay in this room. When the yellow light goes on, we can leave the room. And lay down a blanket – at the foot of the bed – with some toys and books in a basket.

I think one of the great things about sharing all the tiny details about our life on the Internet is that so many people are like, “LADY, THIS ISN’T A YOU THING, THIS IS A MOM THING. THIS ISN’T A ‘YOUR KID’ THING. THIS IS NORMAL TODDLER BEHAVIOR.”

It makes the world feel a tiny bit smaller.

Also, sure, there are some trolls out there. But, more often than not, there are a ton of supportive people – who, like my sister-in-law – have lived through experiences like this and they shower us mamas with love and messages like, “Don’t worry! You’ll get through it! We’re waiting for you on the other side!”

I hope I can be a mama like that for other mamas as they go through some of the more challenging moments of motherhood.