These Glory Days

Two years ago I had just given birth to my third baby. My oldest was barely three years old. My days were a blur of breastfeeding, dressing, bathing, feeding, dirty diapers, laundry, and little messes. I had never been busier in my entire life, and yet I had never felt more unproductive. I was completely exhausted in every way–physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. One day I found myself in a conversation with my younger brother, Jonny, and sister, Melissa, both of whom were single. Jonny had been set up on a blind date yet again, and he told us why he didn’t want to ask the girl out for a second date: “She kept talking about how great she is–she had to mention her high school accomplishments over and over.”

“I get irritated when people feel like they have to toot their own horn,” I said, “but I can kind of understand the need. Sometimes I look at myself in the present and wish people could see me doing all the things I once did, so I could feel cool again, so I could…” I trailed off, searching for words.

“Relive the glory days!” Melissa chimed in.

“Yes, exactly!” I said. And then I saw myself in that moment and felt a little bit sad. Once a world traveler, it was now a real challenge to “travel” five minutes to the supermarket with my three little ones. All of my athletic accomplishments seemed a distant memory–I could now barely huff and puff up the hill pushing my little crew in a Baby Jogger. I remembered those days when I was actually intelligent. I recalled the many activities I was constantly involved in….

“Oh, Teralee,” Jonny interrupted my thoughts, “you are in your glory days!” Those words were the sweetest ones spoken to me during that time in my life. There have been many times since then that I have had to look at myself in the mirror and proclaim, “I am in my glory days!” Jonny’s words helped me to gain a little bit of perspective–and to see that there is a different glory in this era of my life. Not the kind of glory that will earn medals or stamps on my passport or A’s on my report card or praise from coworkers. This “different glory” can be seen in the smiles or expressions of love and appreciation from my little ones. It can be felt in quiet moments when I know that I am doing the most glorious thing possible right now. The recognition is more subtle, yes, but the peace of these glory days far surpasses the accolades of those old glory days.

QUESTION: What unique accomplishments can you claim in these glory days?

CHALLENGE: Sometimes it is difficult to quantify the work and accomplishments of motherhood. It may help to make a brag sheet (just for personal use, of course!)–do it, and on those days when nothing seems to be going right, read over your list, look at yourself in the mirror, and say, “I am in my glory days!”

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About Teralee Malouf

Teralee Kemp Malouf lives in Detroit, Michigan. Born and raised in Panama, she loves the rainforest and ocean and anything that gets her outside. Teralee caught the “travel bug” as a child and has never recovered—she has a constant itch to see new people and places. She enjoys competing in long-distance races and triathlons and goes for daily runs with her little brood in a Baby Jogger. Teralee works primarily as a personal assistant to her five clients (husband and four kids, ages 7, 5, 3, and 1). In her “spare time” she works as a childbirth educator teaching HypnoBirthing classes.