Moms and Dads
From the time Bean was born, he’s had a special connection with Chris. It’s a tight bond that the two of them share. Bean knows it. Chris knows it. I know it.
When he was a newborn, I was convinced that their bond was so strong because I hadn’t nursed Bean and so he attached to Chris. But as Bean gets older, I’m becoming more and more certain that the father/son bond would have been this strong between the two of them whether I was in the picture or not.
On most days, their relationship makes my heart sing. Seeing Chris not just as a dad, but as a dad who truly loves being a dad is a side of him that makes me fall even more in love with him every day. Bean is an extension of me and so by loving him so completely, he’s loving me, too. It’s a really private, special feeling I have when I see Chris and Bean playing and laughing and enjoying being together.
Truthfully though, sometimes I am envious of their relationship. Like when we’re at the beach and I spend 15 minutes putting sunscreen on Bean, another 10 minutes wrestling him into protective sun wear, another 15 minutes digging sand out of his hair, and then Chris gets to do the fun stuff like play in the water with him because by that point Bean is completely over me. Or like when we’re going outside to play in the backyard and I am so caught up in baby gates and pool alarms and running near the edge of the pool that Bean would rather spend his time with Chris who lets him throw baseballs and hit golf balls and chase the dogs with sticks.
But the longer I’m a mom, the more I understand the important balance of a mom and a dad. It can’t be all precautions and safety goggles all the time. Just like it can’t be all fun and games all the time. And while I’m glad that we seem to switch up our roles every now and then, for the most part I value that dynamic in our roles as parents.
But parental balance and bonds all go out the window when Bean is sick.
It’s not that Chris isn’t just as apt to cool a fever or calm an upset tummy. He’s Dr. Dad when Bean’s sick. But it’s Mom who gives the best cuddles, rubs little tummies, and kisses feverish cheeks.
It’s Mom who brings out the smiles and finds the fun in medicine droppers and cool washcloths on hot heads.
And while Chris is never far in these situations and his hugs and kisses soothe even the worst chest cold or tummy bug, I admit that I do love hearing my name called in the middle of the night when Bean is sick. And I do love those little arms around my neck when he’s hot with a fever or cool with the chills. Those times are my time. That’s when I’m the only one who can make it better.
And the feeling I get when I know just what to do to make him feel better, the feeling I get when that fever breaks and he laughs for the first time since he first became sick, the feeling I get when he finally feels better and he holds his hands up to me and says, “Momma, hug,”
Well, that’s the feeling of motherhood. And there’s nothing else in the world like it.
35 Comments
Kate B
So so true!! That motherhood feeling…amazing.
You look SO gorgeous!! So glowing and pretty!
Alaina
Aw, you two are both such amazing parents! And you’ve raised one adorable, amazing kiddo!
Jamie
You, lady, look absolutely beautful in these pictures. The last one should be in a fram next to Bean’s bed!
Angie
So beautiful…I was just thinking about this topic tonight.
Emily
Those pictures are adorable! And you are so pretty.
Amy
Lovely post. Beautiful pictures! 🙂
Nate's Mom @ nateisgreat
Mama…hug! Melt my heart! 🙂
Eliz@The Sweet Life
really sweet post–and you look absolutely gorgeous in those photos!!
Sara @ embrylovescookies
What a great picture of you and Bean at the end! And such a sweet post! All the Mommies in the world know just how you feel.
Staci
Yep, yep and yep. Thanks for such a beautiful post about how it feels to be a mom. And, those pictures are fantastic. I love the light and your face and Bean’s face. Its all just perfect… especially the last one.
Margaret
Wonderful! And I gotta agree – you look awesome! I love the last photo best – you look so happy.
Sue V.
Amen to that! Just this morning my third got the bad news from his Dad that he had left a favorite toy in the pocket of his pants and it was destroyed by the dryer. His Dad said it, and he allowed his eyes to well up, but didn’t allow the tears. A little later when I caught him alone, I hugged him and told him I was sorry his toy is ruined. He clung tight and let the tears flow. He wiped them away, smiled and went on about his morning. Mom moments, reminders that we are always in their hearts.
Abby @ They Lend Me Their Hearts
Being “Mommy” is the best! Beautiful pictures of both of you with Bean!
Maybelline @ Naturalmente Mam¡
So true!! mommies know how to make them feel better.. I have to say that you look absolutely Stunning on those pics.. =)
Lindsay (Young Married Mom)
Beautiful post–in words and pictures! What a wonderful witness to the joys of being a parent. I feel the same way about my mom-haha! And it’s so great to get to be that for someone else. Also, this line is insightful and filled with truth: “Bean is an extension of me and so by loving him so completely, he’s loving me, too.” Thank you for a wonderful way to start a week!
sTACY aBPLANALP
THOSE PIC’S OF YOU AND BEAN ARE BEAUTIFUL!!
Mindee@ourfrontdoor
Best. Photo Series. Ever.
The writing and topic were great too of course, but those pictures are wonderful!
Emily
Wow, Katie – these photos are really stunning. When my son was born, I was terrified that I’d be left out of the
“boys club,” but as it turns out, there’s a special sort of Mommy-Son bond too…just as there’s an incredibly special Daddy-Son bond. What a relief…especially since our second (another son), is due next month!
courtney
So very true. Daddies are fun to play with. They are cool, and they don’t bother (too much) with all those crazy safety hazards :). But when they are sick, they want their mommy (plain and simple). I think God designed us this way. Mom’s to be nurturing and protecting and Dad’s to be fun and playful. Not that my husband and I never switch roles. We both do the nurturing thing, but I’m not usually running around the house playing the Kokooee is going to get (this is some sort of monster my son invented). Last night my son had like 1/10 of his broccoli and 1/10 of his meat. My husband thought this was a good meal and offered him a cookie. I quickly intervened, and made him eat more broccoli as I mumbled “if I wasn’t here he’d be a walking talking french fry”. But the truth is that irregardless, he would be fine because he would be loved and protected by both of us.
Carrie T
Great post Katie. Love those pictures of you and Bean.
Ashley
What beautiful pictures of you and Bean…especially the last one. I think for a long time I may have had the same kind of relationship with my mom, but now that I’m older, we are so close and I really appreciate everything she does and my relationship with her.
Emily
I really appreciated this post a lot but as true as it is it’s ironic that my husband and I actually have opposite roles than yours. Even though I send the majority of my day with my daughter I’m the more laid back parent while my husband is the worrier.
It is so interesting how each parent plays their own role in each family.
Jen c
Gorgeous pictures, beautiful family. Bean is lucky to have such a great balance of parenting.
Kat @ Living Like the Kings
I worry about Peanut thinking that only dad is the fun one! For now, since I’m nursing, she seems to attach to me but I’m already a little jealous that she recognizes his voice over mine! I also just LOVE the pictures of you and Bean. They’re incredible!
Summer
You look so stunning in these photos! Simply radiant!
Jeska
Bean and Grace are super lucky to have you two as parents!
And Katie, that last picture of you and bean… STUNNING!
Cindy In Owensboro, KY
Those are some very precious pictures of you and Bean!! Love it. It doesn’t have to do anything with nursing or not nursing a baby whether they attach to their dad because I nursed my little girl for 17 months and she is still daddies girl. He is the pushover in the family.
Tressa
I’m with all the other comments!! You look absolutely beautiful in these pictures. That last one definitely needs to be framed. Sorry not to comment on the topic itself, but I can’t get over these pictures!!! 😉
Christina C.
These pictures are stunning, I love the light in them. And you speak so thoughtfully about motherhood, it makes me look forward to that time in my life. 🙂
Sarah
such a sweet post. this is one thing that worries me, being jealous of how much my husband will love the kid and whether the kid will love me or him more……
Amy @ Serve At Once
Katie, you are looking radiant in these photos! And the gentlemen don’t look so bad either. 😉 Seriously, I’m so glad you’re getting to enjoy motherhood–even when Bean is sick. I’m sure you and Gracie are going to have a wonderful bond that only mother and daughter can share. 🙂
Michelle @ Mambo Gook
Katie, these are some of the most gorgeous pictures of you and Bean! Especially that last one! I know there is nothing better than being soothed by my mommy…even at 21
HeatherM
Nobody cares for sick kids better than a mom. I’m 28, and I still want my mom to come take care of me when I’m sick 🙂
Also, nobody recognizes a kid is sick faster than a mom. Mothering instincts are AMAZING!
Tori @ FIToriBLOG.com
Just found your blog. Love it. You are beautiful and you have a gorgeous family. I’m preggo w/ #1!! 🙂 Nice to “meet” you
Ayana Posadas
Wow! You are totally glowing with beauty. You look gorgeous in those photos!!!