Countdown

We love a Countdown in our house.

Countdown defined as “counting of numbers backwards before important event; period just before important event”.

We are currently on Countdown to my daughter’s Birthday - 7 days to go. Plus we are on Countdown to my Birthday too which is 5 days away. Yes my Birthday is sooner. Yet my daughter’s Birthday is the big one for us. Of course my hubby and children spoil me too yet I’m always planning and looking forward to my girl’s Birthday.

My son is always on a Countdown - he asks me very often “how many more sleeps”. My little boy, like most children, loves his Birthday, and as soon as the party is over he starts asking “is it still my Birthday”, “is it my Birthday again soon”, and then “when is my Birthday”, “how many more sleeps”.

My son loves the Countdown. Today I promised to print out the months of a calendar and write  important dates in the calendar so that he can see and Countdown himself.  I must print them out for him tomorrow - the day got away from us today with playdates and dinner and getting the children to bed not too late.

Having a Countdown builds excitement and gives us an occasion to look forward to in the future. Having a Countdown brings Joy, builds Joy - the closer we get to the date, the more excited we are, the more Joyful. 

Having a Countdown helps with planning and being organised too, ensuring we are ready for each big day - ensuring we maximise the Joy. 

There are other times when we Countdown and it is moving towards a transition and in this type of Countdown there is grief and sadness.  I am in a Countdown at the moment towards stopping breastfeeding with my son.  I am having an operation on 20 October 2020 and so the night before will be the final night to connect and comfort my boy in this way.  I am sad when I think about this transition.  And my darling boy will be sad too.  And I know I have to make it okay to be in the sadness and to share the sadness with him.  And I will take photos to remember the moment.  The precious moment, the precious moments - the precious time shared with my son and my daughter.  I will reflect on my breastfeeding journey and in those memories there is Joy.  Plus there is Joy in the closeness I have with my beautiful boy and darling girl and I will wrap them in my arms and be present to the love I have for my children, and this will not change on that day or ever - I am blessed with such an incredible Joy of being a Mum.