Cherishing the Littlest Moments in the Midst of a Big, Busy Life

The library books are overdue (again). Groceries are spilling out of plastic bags strewn across the kitchen counter. The checkbook needs to be balanced. Text message alerts are pouring in from the phone, which is buried somewhere in the diaper bag and almost out of space, filled with months of pictures waiting to be organized and shared. There are a dozen emails that need attention, a half dozen projects to finish, and one Pinterest-worthy birthday party to plan. You are mentally reorganizing your to do list by category because it’s already much too long to be one all-encompassing list.

And your two year old is lying flat on his tummy on the kitchen floor, rolling a Hotwheel and quietly singing Jesus Loves Me.

It is a moment that might be missed in our fast paced world. One that could easily be overlooked in the midst of multi-tasking. This generation of parents is busy, which is probably why posts on slow parenting and stepping back are such good reads right now.

I have discovered something unexpected that helps me catch more of these moments. And I’m not just experiencing them – I’m cherishing every slow-motion second. Time slows to a crawl and I drink in every detail. The concentration. The curled toes. The replacement of “l” sounds with “w” sounds. All of it.

My Secret: I journal – nightly and obsessively.

So, what’s the connection between the two? Knowing that I’m going to write about the moment later that day helps me experience it in a different way. It slows me down. It makes me take notice on a deeper level. Because I know I’ll need to memorize the details to convey the memory in writing, I become more than just a bystander, more than just a witness to the cuteness unfolding before me. I’m transported, even if just for a moment, out of our busy world and fully encapsulated by that one moment.

Photo Credit: www.journal10.com
Photo Credit: www.journal10.com

When my phone isn’t lost in the diaper bag, I use it to text myself a running list of surprising, hilarious, and sweet things that my little guy does and says throughout the day. And every night before bed, I pull up the texts and write about the day’s milestones and memories in my 10 Year Journal. If you haven’t heard of these, they are worth checking out! It takes just minutes a day and allows you to look at 10 years worth of entries from the same date on one page. Great for sleep deprived mamas who can barely remember where their keys are, much less what happened in their lives one year ago today!

My journal started as an alternative to a baby book. The original intent was to capture all the important milestones and present the journal to my son on his 18th birthday. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that this journal was really more for me though. Will Oliver likely get a copy one day? Yes. But for now, for these 18 years of capturing and writing, it’s totally for me.

See, I’m reaping all sorts of unexpected benefits:

First, I dig deeper into my joy in search of just the right words to describe it.
Trying to explain the happiness that radiates through me during the journal-worthy moments leads me to relive those moments, sometimes on a deeper level. When I examine the memory up close like that, processing it for a second time, I get to feel that melt-my-heart gooey goodness all over again.

Second, I find myself tuning in to the important moments, even amidst distractions.
I think this is partly because I’ve formed a habit of looking for and acknowledging those little moments; it’s become an expected part of our daily life. I would compare it to how one tends to pick up the sound of their name being called out in a crowd even though they aren’t picking up on the rest of the conversations. I am ultra in-tune with Oliver’s words and actions, always on the hunt for today’s “Oliverisms.”

Last, and maybe most life-changing, is the increase in gratefulness and happiness in my life.
I write about both the good and the bad, the great memories and the challenging days. But my journal overwhelmingly reflects days filled with the antics of a wildly imaginative, empathetic toddler who has a sense of humor and a huge vocabulary.

Reflecting on the blessings of the day right before bed is good for the soul. Reliving the memories for a second time means twice the joy. Research even shows a correlation between writing and happiness. Check out this article, written about a study done by Brigham Young University. The New York Times also published this post about using expressive writing as an intervention to bring about success and happiness.

If you’re interested in starting a daily journal, but need some direction, there are many options out there. This Five Minute Journal offers a little more structure than an open journal.

Whatever method you choose to keep your mommyhood memories, remember to take time to cherish the little moments in the midst of a big, busy world!

Journaling Tips:

  • Consider going digital. I do love the personal touch of a handwritten entry, but I type about a billion times faster than I write. Bonus: I can back up the file AND share it with Oliver while still keeping a copy for myself.
  • Keep your journal near the couch. Most of us inevitably end up on the couch, watching something fairly meaningless on TV. I journal during commercials as I unwind for the day.
  • Try not to get behind. [GUILTY] It gets a bit overwhelming if you’re a completionist trying to keep up with a daily 10 Year Journal.
  • Don’t be lengthy! [ALSO GUILTY] Keep it short and sweet; you’ll thank yourself when reading back on it for years to come.
Amber Dawkins
Amber loves jellybeans, morning snuggles, and new adventures. Personality tests peg her as 93% extroverted. She loves to write, but most of the time, you’ll find her behind her camera lens. Amber left her teaching position in 2016 to turn her passion into a full time photography career. She now spends time photographing homes for real estate agents, updating headshots, freelancing for local magazines, and creating branding imagery for businesses by capturing their spaces, products, people, and processes. She also does portrait sessions for families, children, and high school seniors. Amber recently got married in a small pandemic friendly wedding. As mama to one and stepmama to four, she thrives on the happy chaos of a large, blended family. Amber lives with both Cystic Fibrosis and CF Related Diabetes and thanks God daily for His blessings and the medical advances that continue to keep her as healthy as possible.