The Sink is Still Full

These metal vessels that I survived my entire childhood without require handwashing, if you are a rule follower. Most of the time, when the kids aren’t watching, these containers get washed in the dishwasher by a tired mom who doesn’t follow this rule because it’s dumb. Other times, the kids are paying attention and prefer the rules are followed and want them hand-washed in the sink. To be fair, the one with stickers is mine. Stickers, thanks to my students.

I guess I should be thankful my kids show care for an expensive Stanley that I did not buy. That purchase falls under the category of “things my mom would never buy as a mom, but doesn’t hesitate to buy as a grandmother”.

As I washed these containers the other night, which I’ve done many times, a memory came to mind of all the nights for years that baby bottles were washed in the sink just like this. I realized that though I’m long removed from bottle washing, the sink is still full of bottles to wash. It seems the task never ended, it only changed. We went from Dr. Brown to Stanley at lightning speed.

The Dr. Brown and His One Million Bottle Accessories Season

This is the season that feels new, but you haven’t changed clothes in three days and you can’t remember the last time you slept for more than two hours at a time. Diaper blow outs completely ruin the smocked Easter romper. Milestones can either excite you or worry you if they aren’t met according to the experts. First tooth, first foods, first words, and first, well, everything. White noise is the soundtrack as you try to move your sleeping baby from your arms to the crib in complete darkness. Realizing the pack-n-play has way too many parts and your baby will wear the cute outfits you bought only twice before they are too small. The special blanket becomes a must have before you leave the house and you better have a backup if you leave it at Grandma’s. “Have a good nap” is a more suitable phrase than “good night” because you and your spouse know it won’t be a good night.

The Munchkin Nuby Season

This is the season of buying the first Pottery Barn Kids backpack that looks adorable but much too big on your preschooler’s back. This is the season that decorates most of your Christmas tree every year with cherished handmade ornaments. Walks in the stroller and naps in the afternoon. Energy required to buckle your tyrant toddler in a carseat is equal to a 30 minute HIIT workout. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse at 5:00am on a Saturday with demands for milk and goldfish. Stomach bug and other germs knock at your door every other week. Storytime at the local library and the simple joy over a free cookie at Publix. Spaghetti dinners that require a bath immediately after. Early bedtimes and quiet time to yourself at night to recover from an exhausting day. You are thankful your child is finally asleep for the night, but equally missing him or her because you already realize how fast time is moving.

The Thermos FUNtainer Camelbak Season

This is the season of school crafts you have a hard time throwing away. Promotion to a carseat your child can buckle independently feels like the best freedom you’ve had in a long time. Dress up days at school that you can’t keep up with. Watching your child learn to read and do simple math problems before quickly realizing how your child learns math is not the way you learned it and maybe you need a crash course in elementary math strategies. First time to try out sports and you think the sports life is totally doable with only one game a week that’s just a short drive from your house at the rec center. Learning to tie shoes and ride bikes without training wheels. Bedtimes are a little later so you can have family movie nights. Board games become a favorite way to spend time with your kids. Homework is a fun novelty.

The Stanley Owala Hydroflask Season

This is the season of late nights of homework and tears. Driving kids all over town to all the practices and games. A crazy calendar and rarely having everyone at home in the evenings. The air fryer is the hero of dinner. Going to bed before your kids because they don’t have to be tucked in every night. Working through friendship drama. Enjoying the young adults our kids are becoming. Vacations finally feel like a vacation. A lot of laughter at our mistakes and inside jokes. Lots of strong feelings, emotions, and forgiveness from everyone. Creating a playlist that you all listen to on the way to the pool everyday in the summer. Realizing middle school as a parent wasn’t as bad as you imagined it would be and the summers left with your oldest can be counted on one hand.

The Sink is Still Full

You leave one hard season of parenting and enter another one equally as hard but in a completely different way. But no matter the season, the sink is still full.

Full of hard.
Full of good.
Full of laughs.
Full of tears.
Full of love.
Full of memories.

And one day when the kids are out of the house, the sink will be full of coffee cups from all the sips we enjoy while we reminisce about the years that flew by too fast.