When the tides change

Have you ever watched a tide go in or out? 

I lived near a beach for 4 years of my life and I loved it.
There is something about that ocean smell, the sand, the sound of  the waves crashing.
It's serene in it's constant movement.
Those waves are always changing the landscape above and below. 
With each rise and fall, the beach changes, the ocean changes.
Isn't that how mothering is?
These little people change us inside, outside, upside down.  
We have to wrestle with the tides that come and go. 
Every. Single. Day.
We struggle with maintaining an identity, our sanity, our relationships.  We have to weather the tantrums, attitudes and fears.
Those waves can be rough. 
What seems to happen somewhere along the line is the tides, the inevitable changes, become less worrisome. 
You know they will come and go.  You know this tide of having young children will soon turn and bring with it a whole new set of waves.
I've been through an actual hurricane and have seen how much damage waves can make. But those daily tides can wear us down too, emotionally or physically, and sometimes we have to weather a hurricane and hunker down and call in for some sand bags. 

None of this parenting stuff is easy.  Even in the very best moments, I know I'm raising these children to at some point leave me.  And at some moments, that point cannot come soon enough. 

They create the most massive waves in our lives.  We don't know how big they will be, how much they will change the landscape, or if they will create a category 4 hurricane someday, but somewhere along the line, there is a sense of peace and confidence that settles in that we're going to be able to weather whatever comes our way. 

Not because we do everything right, or know what to do in every situation, but because we don't and we're all still here. 

And, wow, being in the presence of those beautiful waves and peaceful breezes that come, the smiles and giggles, the cuddles and naps, if even for a moment, seem to make those waves and hurricanes bearable.