I was up all night with him on me, feeding every hour or less. And I’m not complaining about that. Because I love breastfeeding. And I’m so grateful that I can. And I genuinely want to continue for as long as I feel like it’s best for us. But the reality of nights like this is: I didn’t get a wink of sleep. Not that I can remember anyway. And I’m exhausted today. I feel this course through my bones. And I’m a little touched out. Actually I’m probably a lot touched out. And I just hope he will have a gigantic nap today at some point so I can regroup and recharge for as long as I can before we are one again for as long as he needs that. But this isn’t complaining either. Not in my view anyway. This is me talking about a consequence. A consequence of an act. A very beautiful but often very time-consuming and draining act. Because there is always a consequence, positive and not so positive with any act, motherhood related or not. But in motherhood, this is so often forgotten. And consequences are considered as complaints. Here’s what I think. When I talk about being exhausted because of a teething baby, I’m not complaining. I’m talking about a consequence of having a sore and needy teething baby. When I talk about wanting bedtime to come quickly on any given day because my toddler has been struggling with her emotions since she woke, I’m not complaining. I’m talking about a consequence of having a toddler who can’t regulate her own emotions yet while I’m trying to regulate mine. When I talk about the mess and unfinished business everywhere I look, I’m not complaining. I’m talking about a consequence of being at home with two very little children who need every part of me every day. I think we can talk about the hard without complaining. I think we can talk about the not so positive without being ungrateful. I think we can talk about the CONSEQUENCE as simply that. Because every act has a consequence, but not every consequence is a complaint. Here’s to talking about the consequences. 📖 Words taken from my second book “Mother On”. Linked in bio. @wordsof_emmaheaphy