Thank you to Sandra Crook for today’s picture prompt. I have so much I could say, so many different observations that could lead to stories, but this is the one the Muse chose this morning. Your comments and critique are very welcome.
A few weeks in, Alice was beginning to feel motherhood was her own personal Groundhog Day. She was Bill Murray, working her way through the same piles of diapers and washing and pain and tears – her own, as well as Aiden’s – over and over again.
Like Bill, she tried something subtly different each time, and although the consequences were considerably less hilarious in real life, love was still the goal. And that first time Aiden smiled, together with every time he waved his tiny fat feet in delight, she knew spring couldn’t be more than a short time away.
elmowrites 
Ahh, so good. I really like ‘love was still the goal’. It might help that I love that film. (I forgot to put a C by name this week, but it should have been there.)
I haven’t seen the movie on a long time, but I remember enjoying it, and thinking it was very clever. Glad you like the story
Dear Jen,
You couldn’t have painted a lovelier picture of motherhood. Those tiny changes every day and that first smile. I loved the reference to Groundhog Day as it’s a favorite of mine. One of your best.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you so much, Rochelle. I am amused, and delighted, that you consider this a ‘lovely’ picture, since the first paragraph in particular is intended to reflect just how hard and relentless it can feel, especially in those first few weeks, and how love can be a goal rather than a given, even between mother and child. I’m glad the hope and the resolution shone through that though. Your last line makes me smile
Aww that’s lovely 🙂
Thank you!
Aww. I loved the sound of those tiny fat feet. I feel a nibble coming on. Nice one.
I’m glad that line makes other people gooey too!
That’s lovely and I say this as the father of a new mother. And they do wave their feet when delighted – spot on.
Both mine definitely did/do. Congratulations on Grandparent-hood, and the best of luck to the new Mummy.
Awww..that was sweet. I remember those days.
Wherever you and your kids end up, motherhood is forever. Thanks for the reminder!
This is lovely, Jennifer. Is this, perhaps, partially from personal experience? 🙂 It’s nice to know it ends well and that there is hope in the future.
-David
Wherever you and your kids end up, motherhood is forever. Thanks for the reminder!
Personal experience, absolutely. And yes, I think babies are the definition of hope.
I can attest to motherhood seeming like Groundhog Day. A great read (with winces of memories)…
What a lovely story. I think you can take that beyond motherhood. Love and togetherness of every kind needs work, repetitive and tiresome work, but the rewards do come and are so worth it. C: To me the story is well constructed, moves the reader and works. 🙂
Thanks! I like how you’ve extended the metaphor.
Such a sad piece, but hopeful to. I’m mother to a 16-month-old and I can certainly relate ❤
Thanks, I’m glad you felt the mixed emotions. Good luck with your little one!
It’s the tiny changes that make the undoubted drudgery worth while, as my daughter has been discovering over the past year.
Just watched a tv show recently about life in the50s, so I’m trying to remember how different my “drudgery” is from my grandmother’s
I almost went the Groundhog Day route too… and sorta kinda did…
Ahhhh… the monotony of those early days of motherhood, sprinkled in with toe munching and coos and all those other wonderful things that we can look fondly back on!
I have this suspicion that those who are looking back remember a lot more of the good than the bad. Looking forward to that day!
Without being i n a rush to get there, I hope!
And I think it is better to focus on the positive…
No rush, no. I try to treasure it all
Good! It goes by fast enough!
This was so sweet.. I think that love can conquer all the diapers in the world,
I think so too!
You capture the endless days on new motherhood well. Then it’s gone in a
The blink of an eye and you wonder where the time went.
The nights are long, but the years are short, right?
This is a masterful portrayal of motherhood – the struggle and fatigue, and the love, that sometimes you do have to remind yourself is the ‘goal’. I love the description of the smiles and chubby feet. Wonderful.
Thanks Margaret. I wanted to be clear that her distress is balanced by the positives, as I think is how many women experience it
Delightful! I love how you weaved the essence of the Groundhog movie into your story. Such a beautiful ending 🙂
Thank you, I’m glad you like the ending
My pleasure 🙂