Forget, Forgetting, Forgotten

Tonight we went to a birthday celebration dinner. Tony and I have long since learned that if we are going to spend our hard earned dollars on a meal out, then we want to enjoy it. So, we try not to eat out with our kids as much as possible! My mom kept the kids tonight, and we were very grateful. One of the couples who came to the party have a 10 week old baby. She is a sweet little blonde, an absolute lucious lump. Baby girl was done for the day by the time she got to the restaurant, so she was a little fussy. It was kind of nice being on this side of that hard time of babyhood when the little darling is so needy and demanding all the time with no letup night or day. Of course, I mean that in the best sense possible, but still, it's true- those first weeks and months are really hard.

That's why I think God gave mother's the so-called "baby brain". There comes a point in time when this malady strikes and suddenly you can no longer remember much of anything. You forget where you put things {True Story: Yesterday I found a light bulb in the freezer.}, you forget names, dates and appointments. You forget things you need to buy at the grocery store - even with a list. You start doing something in one room, get distracted, start something in another room and so on until you have something going in every room. It's a problem in some ways, probably how my brother, Jonny, got left at school one day, but in other ways it's a blessing.

Certainly if I could remember exactly what those first days and weeks with Jacob were like, I wouldn't have given him a sister when he was one and a half years old.  But through the fog of forgetfulness the only things I could remember were the feel of a newborn baby lying on my chest, the snuggle of that brand new curled-up body, the sweet little baby squeaks, the thrill of the all the "firsts", and the overwhelming love for my child that poured over me wave upon wave in those first few days.

Yes, "baby brain" is what keeps us procreating. If we remembered the labor, birth, and first few weeks in every detail this world would be full of family's with an only child.

Mothers, God gave us baby brain, it's a good thing! Forget a kid at school? No problem, go get him and buy him an icecream and he'll get over it. Lost your keys? Stay home! Forgot to get the one ingredient you have to have for your recipe? Cereal for supper! Embrace your baby brain, forget the things that won't matter tomorrow anyways. You'll remember the things that truly are important: the love connection you have with your children, the hugs and kisses that never get old, the painfully sweet procession of years. Baby brain weeds out the mundane and leaves me with the things I really want to hold on to.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

Ps 127:3