Motherhood: Things I Love & Things I’ve Learned

 

I’m switching gears on the blog today. I am a lot of things: a blogger, DIY-er, crafter, wannabe photographer, friend, wife/daughter/sister/aunt/etc., but most importantly, I am a mother. It is by far the most important job that I have. Today, I’d like to talk about it.

I would like to share with you 10 things that I love about motherhood and 10 things I’ve learned so far. I hope you don’t mind. I know that the vast majority of my readers are women, and many of you are mothers too, so you can probably relate to this post. Male readers: I’ll give you a pass if you want to skip over this post, although if you are a parent you can probably relate too.

“There is no other closeness in human life like the closeness between a mother and her baby.” -Susan Cheever

1. That feeling of holding your baby for the first time. It’s the moment that everything changes, including the way you view the world and who you are as a person. There literally are no words for it.
2.  Hearing my boys call me “mommy.” Or say “I love you.” Or say anything at all. Their sweet little voices are precious and I hope I never forget how they sound right now.
3. When you pick up your child and they put their arms around your neck and lay their little head on your shoulder. There is no better feeling in the world.
4. Morning snuggle time.
5. Watching my boys form their own little personalities and likes/dislikes. Seeing them become passionate about things and knowing that even though they are so young, they are each already unique individuals.
6. Hearing my kids giggle until it turns into a belly laugh, which then turns into the hiccups.
7. Watching my boys become best friends. Knowing that the two people I love more than anything in the world love each other more than anything in the world is such a wonderful feeling.
8. When my boys say words incorrectly. There’s nothing cuter than a child saying “feepy” instead of sleepy or “eyebrowns” instead of eyebrows, or “oitmeal” for oatmeal.
9. Watching my children grow and learn. I love seeing the wheels turning in their minds when they figure something out for the first time or learn something brand new.
10. That stage when they first learn how to walk and they look like a drunken robot man wobbling around. It is adorable. (This list really could be a mile long, but I’ll stop here.)

“Making the decision to have a child – It’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” – Elizabeth Stone

1. Even if you haven’t showered in days, can’t remember if you brushed your teeth, your hair is matted into a knot on top of your head, and you feel like a hideous beast, you are still the most beautiful woman in the world to your child, simply because you are mommy.
2. It’s ok to tell your children “no.” In fact, you might be doing them a disservice if you never say it. I’m not saying you shouldn’t say yes too, or indulge them sometimes. But the only way they will learn to appreciate what they have is if they hear the word “no” once in a while. I have a secret fear of my children growing up to be spoiled brats with a sense of entitlement. The good news is, one word can prevent that: “No.” (Disclosure: I am writing this in a room that looks like a toy factory exploded. Note to self: follow own advice. Say no more often.)
3. Having a basic routine makes all the difference in the world. That’s not to say you can’t be flexible (and let’s face it, some days the routine goes out the window.) But if your kids have a general idea of when they can expect to eat and sleep each day, life will be so much easier. Trust me.
4. Keeping a journal is one of the best things you can do to hold onto all of the precious moments of their childhood. You think you’ll never forget all of the cute things they said and did, but you will. Write it down.
5. No matter how many books you read, there is no manual or magic handbook for parenting. Every child is different and has different needs. Books are helpful, but ultimately you have to learn through trial and error what works best for you and your child. Do what works best for your family, regardless of what the books say. (P.S. If you find a magic handbook, send me a copy!)
6. Everyone has an opinion on how you should be parenting your children. The only opinions that truly matter are those of you and your spouse.
7. There is no love on earth like the love a parent has for his/her child. And every cliché about motherhood is true.
8. Leaving the house is hard when you have kids. You should do it anyway.
9. Accept help when you need it, but figure out how to survive without it. That said, DO take time for yourself sometimes. Not only do you need it, you deserve it!
10. Motherhood is hard and you will probably doubt and second-guess yourself often. Just know that you’re doing a better job than you think.

I’ve only been a mother for 4 short years, so I know that I still have a lot to learn. Becoming a parent has been everything I ever imagined it would be and more. I am so thankful that God chose me to be mommy to my sweet Aiden and Jake. Although I have a lot of things in my life that I try to balance along with motherhood, being a mommy always comes first. Thanks for reading my two cents and allowing me to be mushy today.

Are you a parent? What are some of your favorite things about parenthood? I’d love to hear from you!