A big thanks to Disney Baby for sponsoring this post and the Disney Baby “Little Character”Contest.
It’s hard to believe that my kids are now 6, 8, 10 and 14. With school ending I officially will have 4 kids in full day school next year….and a freshman in high school. I can’t really wrap my mind around that without feeling bittersweet for the days when they were little.
While having little ones at home is definitely tough (and sleepless!) I do miss that time so much. It was so exciting to see each of my babies smile for the first time, say ‘mama’ for the first time, and learn to crawl, walk, and talk. There’s just something so amazing about watching a little baby grow.
I was already in a rather sentimental mood, but having Disney Baby ask me to share a magical moment had me digging through my photo archives, box of tissues by my side.
My Magical Moment
There are so many magical moments in parenting. I really try to stop and cherish every one. The first time I held my children in my arms. Anytime they fell asleep in my arms. Watching their eyes light up with love for me, their Dad, their grandparents, and other people they love.
I think the most magical moments though are seeing them together. Seeing them loving each other, caring for each other in ways that I could never expect. It’s one thing to see their love for me, or their Dad, but another thing altogether to see them be friends.
My oldest, Nathan, was the kind of baby that didn’t like cuddling. He didn’t find it soothing to be in my arms, or to be close. His need for affection was vastly different than I expected as a first-time mom. After having his sisters, we started realizing how different his behavior was. The older he got, the more differences started showing until finally during my last pregnancy, with Aidan, Nathan was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.
It was a tough time being hugely pregnant, reeling from a newly diagnosed child, and 2 young toddlers (3 and 18 months). That period of my life is still kind of a blur as we put the necessary supports in place, and I spent lots of time juggling parenting and appointments at school interspersed with midwife appointments and research.
Aidan was born just a short time later, and I struggled physically with my recovery after his birth, and emotionally with a new path in life. It may seem silly to say it that way, but it really changes your whole life in a way that is hard to explain.
As Aidan grew it became clear that Nathan had a real connection to his brother when he was just an infant. Something just clicked with him, and I encouraged him to engage his brother while I cooked dinner, or help me change him. In so many ways having a brother has taught Nathan a new level of emotion and connection that I don’t think he would have experienced otherwise.
I don’t think I realized the full impact their relationship had, until we were playing together one day, and I snapped this shot.
It was just a moment. One that seems so simple for so many kids, but in that moment I knew he would be okay. He would learn to love, and empathize with others in some way, because he found that in his little brother. He could see him get upset, and would go to soothe him.
Their relationship is sometimes contentious. It’s sometimes fraught with anger, and fighting, and picking on each other. But…mostly it’s full of love, and that is the most magical thing in the world to see your baby bring light, love, and laughter into everyone else’s world.
Disney Baby would love to share the magic with you and your little one with the Disney Baby ‘Little Character’ Contest. Submit a photo of your child (ages newborn-24 months) for a chance to win some amazing prizes including a college scholarship, and a crawl-on TV role!
More info about the contest:
From May 15 through June 18, Disney Baby will select one winner a week for a total of five finalists. Finalists will receive deluxe Disney Baby prize packages, including Huggies diapers, and will be eligible for the Grand Prize. There will also be a fan favorite who will win a Caribbean vacation. Finally, beginning on June 28, America will vote to select the Grand Prize winner who will win a $10,000 scholarship for their child among other awesome prizes from the five finalists. To learn more about the contest head to the contest page, and see all the prizes here.
What’s a magical moment you’ve experienced with your children?
Kelly
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of DisneyBaby and Splash Creative Media, for which I am a partner.
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