Sometimes you just need to stop trying to get better at something and just be. I need to learn to put down my phone or tablet and turn off that podcast and just exist. Yes, my kids do ultimately need me to be the best version of myself I can possibly be so that I can help them become the best versions of themselves, but that doesn’t need to happen this second. I need to learn to put down my checklists, stop reading news articles, and put away the diy videos for a few minutes every day and just be with them. I saw something the other day that said that just giving your toddler 15 minutes of undivided attention every day can have extraordinary and long lasting benefits. While Eloise is still in the fresh baby phase, I do not see any negative to working towards starting that now.

I’ve noticed that for one, Eloise tends to lose her mind if she can’t see me, or if it looks like I’m walking away from her. There are times when this definitely can’t be avoided, like to use the bathroom, though if Mitch isn’t home the door is probably open so that I can see her through the door or hear screams and move a little more quickly should the situation call for it. When I’m near her, she plays harder, takes more risks, and generally seems happier. More interestingly, when I lean back on the mini couch in her play area or pick up my phone, she immediately puts down whatever she was playing with and starts crawling into my lap. It’s as if she’s screaming “Hey Mommy look at me!”

While some days it may feel like the baby phase is going to last forever, I know we only get a small amount of time with them like this. Looking back at pictures from just a few months ago I can already see how quickly she’s grown. To quote one of my favorite movies, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.” Ferris Buller is a smart kid who taught us all that some days you need to turn off all the distractions just enjoy the amazing life you get to live.