I don’t consider myself an “old” mom, but I’m not a young mom, either. I’m a thirty-something mom to a toddler. And I love it. I am so thankful and blessed to be momma to a bubbly, sweet two-year-old.
Here are four reasons why I love parenting in my thirties:
1. The wisdom from those who have done this before.
The saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” really is true. I’m thankful for friends and family who have done this before me and can share their wisdom and offer advice and encouragement when I need it. Who knew I would have so many questions about breastfeeding, cloth diapering, sleeping habits (or lack thereof), and the never-ending, “What the heck am I doing?” I am so thankful for their patience, as they have been through this and know what it was like to be where I am. I see the way my friends and family parent their children, and I see the kind of parent I want to be.
2. The hand-me-downs from those who have gone before me.
My husband and I didn’t find out the gender of our child, and once she was born, we were blessed with a lot of clothes from friends with older girls. I was stocked from newborn up to 2T within weeks, and my sister-in-law sends me home with bags of clothes from her daughter every time I see her. The clothes I do buy, I mostly purchase from Once Upon a Child, a great second-hand children’s store in Urbandale.
3. The wisdom and life experience I’ve gained.
I just had a conversation the other night with my friends about how we have changed since our early twenties. In some ways I am the same, but in many ways I have grown and matured. I’m not a “sow your wild oats” kind of person, but I still see how much my maturity and depth of character have changed as I have grown in my relationship with God since becoming a Christian in college. Difficult life circumstances have shaped both me and my husband since we met during those college years. Needless to say, despite the challenges, we have grown in our marriage and in our faith, and that has brought a strong foundation into being parents together. I couldn’t be the mom I am without my husband’s support and the grace of God each day.
4. I have slowed down and discovered what’s most important to me.
Before becoming a mom I was pretty self-focused, I will admit. I was focused on my career and what I wanted to do with my time. Neither of these things is bad, and I learned so much about what I wanted as a professional and established my career, enhanced my strengths, and had a good network of friends in the “young” professional world. (I say that in quotes because I am on the older end of the young crowd.)
Becoming a momma has caused me to slow down and focus on what is most important to me: my family. As I have re-entered the working world, I have taken a step back from my over-committed, pre-baby days. I no longer have commitments several nights a week. My evenings (and way-too-early mornings) are now filled with trips to the park, bike rides and walks around the neighborhood, parties with stuffed animals, and reading just one more book before bedtime.
There’s a part of me that misses the involvement of my twenties, but I have realized that isn’t my season right now. I am enjoying this season I am in, with all of its rewards and challenges.
Your season likely looks different from mine, as your passions and gifts have taken you on your own path. None of us has the same story. There is a time and a season for everything, and for me, I am embracing this season of 30-something mom life.
