Tomorrow my little one turns four months old! I’d like to say I’m settling into this mommy thing, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there is no “settling”. Just when you think you’ve got a routine down, the little bugger goes and changes it. I guess that’s what come of growing so quickly, being a brand new human and all. Which got me to thinking about how being a mom has made me learn to be more present in the…er….persent.
I once read a great book (whose title I can’t remember for the life of me) about how there are different personality types in regards to how individuals relate to time. Some people are past-oriented, some are present-oriented, and some (like me) are future-oriented. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses.
As a future-oriented person, I’m constantly thinking of what I can do to make upcoming events run smoothly. As an actor, I always had the next step in my plan of attack in mind (sign up for a certain class, start a new marketing campaign, etc.) and never waited until the last minute to work on sides, learn my lines or decide which outifit I’d be wearing for an upcoming audition. As a mom, my diaper bag is always fully stocked and ready to go, the next case of diapers is always on hand, and I eagerly read up on the next phase of my son’s development.
But Henry has taught me to stay rooted in the present. Obviously, because babies’ needs are very immediate –llike when he’s hungry, he’s hungry. When he’s pooped, it better get attacked right away. It doesn’t matter what I have scheduled. He is entirely dependant upon me to put his needs first.
But the positive side of this forced present-focus is that I am enjoying the day to day moments more than before. When he looks up at me and giggles in the middle of a feeding as if to say, “Thanks Mommy”, I think to myself that this particular moment will never be again. And to just LIVE in it.
And that’s a great lesson for an actor!
Jennifer
Jennifer Weedon is a new mom and working actress who has appeared in films (The Height of the Sky, A Beautiful Mind), commercials (Coca-Cola, Old Spice), and theatre (Under Milk Wood). She lives in Manhattan with her husband, actor/pianist Evan Palazzo. Visit www.jenniferweedon.com for more info.
