This Too Shall Pass- for Good Days and Bad

“This too shall pass.”

There are many different stories about the origin of this adage. It has been around for a very long time. However it is still relevant.

As we journey through parenthood, there is a lot that these words can offer us. They are a reminder to slow down and cherish the sweet times. They are also a promise that whatever you are going through, be it sleep deprivation, tantrums, potty training or worse, it will not be your forever.

When you feel at your wit’s end

When my eldest child was a baby, he went through sleep regression. By six weeks old he was sleeping through the night and then…he wasn’t. In fact, he wasn’t wanting to sleep much at all after sundown.

We tried a lot of things, but not one of them worked. I could rock him to sleep in my arms, but the moment I so much as looked at his cot he would snap back awake.

Of course, I knew that in time it would pass. My rational side understood that by the time he was 35 and had a full-time job, he would probably have learnt to sleep without me holding him.

It didn’t feel like it would pass, though. I was tired and fed up and had no idea what to try next. Then one day, he slept. We hadn’t changed a thing. It passed.

Sleep regression is just one example of a multitude of struggles we had when we first became parents. Every one of them worked out in the end, though in the midst they each felt never-ending.

Whatever you are going through right now, it too shall pass. This is not your forever, and there is a strong chance it will be okay.

Hold your peace

‘The Lord shall fight for you, and you hold your peace’ Exodus 14:14

I was raised in a Christian household. Growing up, I often heard this verse touted. As a child, I was convinced that it meant to do nothing, and that everything would work itself out, for God would fix it. As a child, I was wrong.

You probably know, as well as I do now, that ignoring problems does not make them go away. I am still, however, a strong advocate for holding your peace.

For everything that you face with your child, there will be elements that you can control and elements that you cannot.

Holding your peace does not mean burying your head and hoping circumstances will fall your way. It is about looking at what you can do in each situation. Brainstorm, research, and talk to other people who have had the same battles. Be proactive and come up with a plan, to do the very best with what is in your power to influence.

Maybe your plan will work, and maybe it won’t. If it doesn’t, you can try again. Try something new; Keep learning. Throughout, know that you are doing the best that you can at that moment, with your understanding as it is, and with all the other things that you are managing in life.

Sometimes you will mess up, which is part of being human. Perhaps other days you will surprise yourself with how incredibly resourceful, kind and patient you are.

Through the hard times, practise self care. Remember to look after yourself as well as your family.

Hold your peace in the knowledge, that this too shall pass, but before it does, keep trying and learning.

For the good times

This too shall pass, does not just apply to the bad times, but the good times, too. With all the worries and daily to-do lists, it is easy to miss the beauty of the moments that you share with your child. Your child will grow and won’t always walk to school with their hand in yours, so cherish them.

In a world that moves too fast, find ways to slow down. Here is a great article about slowing down which is worth a read.

Something that I have started with my children, is scrapbooking. I let them borrow my phone while we are out walking and they can take photos, and I also take photos of adventures we have with family and friends. Once a month I try to remember to print them off and they can cut out the photos and stick them in their memory books and write captions. It offers a chance to relive the fun moments and solidify those glorious memories that we are making day by day.