So I was doing my 3rd load of laundry the other morning (one of my most dreaded tasks) and while sorting and folding and wishing I was in Hawaii- I found a sock that had been missing its pair for a few days. When I went into Bailey's room to reunite the two- I felt like a detective solving his most elusive case. I was actually giddy that I had been able to locate a sock! And reunite it!! I almost called my husband...
It was in that moment I realized- I am a mom.... (And I have been a mom for over 3 years...) In the small amount of time I have been raising my kids and making a home, I have recognized some special traits, characteristics, and qualities that set moms apart from other professions. And I came to the realization sorting socks...
I think these confessions might qualify me as someone who has a lot of time on her hands... Or maybe just someone who needs to have more adult conversations... In any case, I became acutely aware of all the ways a mom stands out from the crowd. I hope all you other moms out there appreciate this. And yes, I do need to get out more...
You know you're a mom when....
- You have discussions about bodily secretions daily and without disdain. You talk to your spouse, friends, doctors and strangers. You can discuss it at dinner. You can discuss it at church. You worry about consistency, smell, texture, size, color, lack of, overabundance of... It is thought about even if it isn't discussed. And its all normal, cause you're a mom.
- You will walk into a room and see clothes littering the floor. You will know that all of these clothes cannot possibly be dirty. To sort out the clean from the dirty- you will simply stick them up your nose. This is not safe to do when smelling your husbands gym shorts- or underwear... but we all do it still. Why? Cause we're moms and it is the most direct approach to verifying cleanliness. We've got tons of things to do... Time is precious.
- When you walk into a store or home or mall and can visibly see that a person is sick- you steer you and your family as far away from that person as humanly possible. No one wants to get sick. No one wants to touch or be near the sicko. When you're a mom and your kid gets sick- you can't stay away from them. You are constantly checking them, kissing on them and cuddling them. You don't care if you catch what they have... they're your baby. They always will be.
- Little things make you so proud it hurts. When I worked- a raise, a comment from a peer, or a happy patient made me feel good about who I was. It made me feel valued. When I was at school, I loved making A's, being on the dean's list, having a paper read aloud to the class. Now, I couldn't be more proud of my little girls. I swell with pride when Bailey says a prayer, puts on her shoes by herself or gives her sister a kiss without solicitation. My girls make me feel like I am successful.
- I wear yoga pants almost everyday. No, I do not do yoga. I wear them because they are comfortable. I also wear t-shirts and hoodies. Everyday. If I am dressing up- I wear jeans. Sorry babe...
- Make-up is not a necessity . Zit cream, however, is.
- When moms get birthday money, Christmas money, lottery winnings, we excitedly go out and get a new outfit, or get our hair done, or find something special just for us. Sometimes, we are successful at truly spending some time on us, and getting something we really love. Other times, and more often then not, we will spend every cent on our kids... and feel just as happy about it.
- I have not slept through the night in over three years. I don't think I will ever sleep peacefully again....
- I have weekly play dates. My husband always comes home and asks me if I had "fun." While I LOVE being able to have my friends over, and while we are sometimes able to have some form of adult conversation, I usually spend the entire play date running after my child... or cleaning up a mess they made, or making sure they don't sit on the other children... It is in those moments I wonder when my social life started to revolve around my child?!?
- When a child, and not even necessarily my own child, spits something out of his/her mouth- I instinctively stick my hand out to catch it. Who does that?
- I use saliva to clean my child's face.
These are only a few of the ways I have seen my life evolve into motherhood. I am so grateful to be a mom. I love the way my life has transformed and developed. I love my girls. I love my husband. While I only catch glimpses of the woman I used to be- I wouldn't change a second of the transformation. The woman I am now is more refined, more aware, a little more selfless. Thank you mom for raising me right. I wouldn't be a good mama without your guidance. And thanks to all you moms out there that inspire me and help get me through the rough spots. Motherhood is tough, but SO worth it!
