For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved quotes.  Growing up, my bedroom walls were covered with Quotable Quotes and my school binders were always decorated with Words of Wisdom. I still enjoy collecting them only now I do so via Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook. I do think it’s important to give credit where credit is due- to recognize the authors of the beautiful quotes I come across.  However, when researching the author of my Momtra No.2, “This too, shall pass,” it seems like I might be going down a bit of rabbit hole. Was it King Solomon?  Sufi Poets?  Jewish Scholars? Or from the Bible? The verdict is still out I guess.  And I sure don’t know! All I know is that it is one of my favorite quotes and I first heard it from my very favorite, super sweet Ammu Auntie. So for purposes of this post- she’s getting credit for it…and did she ever deserve it! Whenever I would complain to her about anything, she would always listen in a way that made me feel heard…even though I was just a kid. She had a way with wrapping her words around me that would warm me up on the outside like a cozy, soft blanket. And on the inside, my heart warmed as well, like a piping hot cup of Masala Chai. When I was done telling my sob story she would always say, “This too, shall pass.” And she was right!

What? They only had ROUND waffles? Oh no!  Here comes an all out hunger strike! Perhaps you too experienced the preschooler-who-insists-you-read-Goodnight-Moon-over-and-over-every-single-night phase. Or the early-school-years-inability-to-pronounce-the-letter-R phase. That was wealy wuff. So glad I didn’t end up going with my first choice name for him- Wajan. I mean Rajan. How about the teen-who-literally-says-literally-before-literally-every-word-she-literally-says phase! We’re literally still in this one, but it is starting to subside…finally.

The thing is, phases are phases.  They are called phases because they don’t last. Otherwise instead of the Whiny Phase it would be called the Whiny Forever. And that would be a real bummer!  Phases come. And phases go. Know this. And in knowing this also remember to pick your battles.  Some phases you won’t mind…they may even be cute. Like my favorite daughter’s phase with her imaginary friend, Kianna- cute.  Other phases may drive you a little bonkers. Like my favorite son’s obsession with watching reruns of the TV sitcom Friends…repeatedly. How many times can “PI-VOT” be funny?  Ok, in watching that clip again, I guess it is still pretty funny!  But I digress. My point is that by fighting a phase, ultimately you only gain two things. 1) Misery (for you, the kid, and everyone else in the family) and 2) A high probability that the phase will now last WAY longer than it would have had you just let it be. So instead why not:

It’s all temporary.  All of it. The good, the bad and the ugly. So check your focus. See the big picture. Be present in the moment. That sweet baby powder smell.  Those adorable pigtails with the red ribbons.  The family sing-a-longs of The Itsy Bitsy Spider. The endless drop offs and pick ups at school, football games, high school dances and friends’ houses.  All those magical moments too shall pass. So instead of complaining about them or wishing the phases would hurry up already and go away. Enjoy them while they last.

Ah, nostalgia!  I think when my favorite daughter comes home from college for Winter Break this week I will guilt trip, I mean ask her, to listen and cuddle with me as I read her Goodnight Moon for old times sake. And I may even sneak a peak of my kidult as she is sleeping. On second thought, nah. I can’t stay awake that late!

Stay Positive,