Lessons Motherhood Has Taught Me…. So Far

For as long as I can remember I’ve always wanted to be a Mom. The most vivid must-become-a-mom memories started as early as kindergarten when the first person to enter the playhouse after Bible time was the designated Mom for the day. Want to know who sat on the back of the story time mat so she could always be Mom? This girl. While I was naïve to think life would be like that playhouse, filled with play food and well-behaved 6-year-olds, I thought I knew everything I needed to know about running a household plus raising children from that very moment.

While I’ll admit life was much simpler in the Kindergarten playhouse, motherhood has taught me many lessons since the birth of my Joey [October 1, 2013] as well as the birth of his siblings. And you know what? Nothing. NOTHING in that playhouse could have prepared me for some of the wild things motherhood has taught me thus far.

Lessons Motherhood Has Taught Me…. So Far:

1. Each child is an original. While there are general expectations for kindness, politeness, cleanliness, etc. I can have for each, there are also emotional and physical limitations I need to take into account when considering each of my children.

2. Just when you think no one is listening to you, everyone is listening. And they’ll likely repeat something you don’t want them to repeat over, and over again.

3. The only girl will run this show. Captain obvious, right?! I’m finding that little sister wants to do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING the boys do. She will even try peeing in the woods or on a tree at the playground like her brothers [no she didn’t learn this one from Mom]. Monkey see monkey do. And of course, she doesn’t think anything of it.

4. My kids will cause such a ruckus in the grocery store that just when I think I’m about to break down in tears, a woman will come up to me and say, “how lucky they are to have you as Mom. Remember that.” I could cry just typing up that memory!

5. Sleeps like a baby? Eh. In my experience, whoever came up with that statement didn’t have a baby. If I had to recreate the saying I would say, “sleeps like an 11-month old!” Speaking of babies… forget diaper bags. Get yourself a diaper backpack. It’s much easier to carry and keep organized when you’re hauling around a baby, car seat, and sometimes stroller!

6. Preschoolers can do many things for themselves. It might be messy when they wash their plate or put it in the dishwasher. It might take forever to put on their winter coat and hats and gloves. But my future self and their future selves will thank me for giving them the confidence to do things on their own. Yep, even wiping their own poopy butt.

7. And lastly, just as every child is an original, so is every Mom. Don’t compare [something I think is easier said than done in our social media driven world]. Appreciate your own Mom-strengths and those you are giving to your family day in and day out. And just when you think you have nothing else to offer or give, phone a friend, call a babysitter, or turn on the TV. That’s a sure sign Mom needs [and deserves] a break in MY book.