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25 Things

25 Things Being A Mom Has Taught Me:

1. You will love like you have never loved before.

2. Your heart will break like never before.

3. You will remember how fun it was to play with all the things you loved playing with as a child—things like LEGO, Play-Doh and Playmobil.

4. You will become very emotional. Not just right after you give birth, but always. You'll be changed forever, and commercials that aren't made to make you cry will make you cry.

5. Your level of empathy for others, especially children and mothers who have suffered a terrible loss, will increase and although your heart is full of love, there will always be a part of it that is broken for every tragic story you hear about.

6. You will be like a deer caught in headlights the first time you have to deal with cleaning up floating poo from the bath-tub. Unfortunantly, this may be something you have to do more than once. This has happened to me more than a handful of times. Poo in bath-tub is NOT fun! Vomit clean-up is also just as awful.

7. You will breastfeed in places you never thought you would. I enjoyed breastfeeding, but I was also private about it. When I could be. Other times, I'd whip out my boobs on the airplane, on a bench in the mall, in Starbucks, and during dinner at a fancy steak house.

8. All the little things you thought you would love about being a mom—after dinner visits to the park, pushing your child on the swings, going for ice cream, snuggling in bed on a rainy night, having picnics in the grass—those experiences are the very best.

9. Happy Meals at McDonald's are absolutely acceptable once a week.

10. The dislike for winter grows tenfold when you have children, because trying to get them into snow pants, boots, hats, scarves and mitts causes a lot of anxiety, stress, and tears. And then trying to fit your children who look like the Michelin Man into their car seats? Sob.

11. Going to the bathroom without little people watching you is a luxury. For the most part, I will take a shower late at night, after my little people have gone to bed.

12. Your mom was probably right.

13. Having to take your child to the bathroom at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere during a road trip will not help alleviate your fear of germs. In fact, your panic will be so clearly visible to your child that after the experience, he will sleep with a bottle of Purell beside him.

14. You will catch yourself eating food off the floor. It's a quick way to clean up. Sometimes, the food you eat off the floor actually ends up being your dinner.

15. You will not fit into your old jeans three weeks after you give birth. Anyone who does fit into their old jeans three weeks after they give birth is not human and I don't want to know them.

16. "Sleeping in" is as distant a memory as "Tequila Sunrise".

17. You are stronger than you think. Both phyiscally, as you carry your children in your arms even when they're four years old, and emotionally, as you have to face seeing your child sick, upset and hurt.

18. Saying 'no' is never easy.

19. You will sometimes feel like you're not doing the best job parenting. But when your children run to you, greeting you with kissses and hugs, and call out your name in the middle of the night, you'll think you're doing alright.

20. Teaching your children is a very beautiful thing. Watching your children read, or watching them write their own name for the first time, are moments to always be proud of.

21. You will get extremely embarrassed in public many times. Your children will swear loudly in front of others, and you'll have body parts exposed when you least expect it. Grin and bear it!

22. The 'first time' moments—when your baby walks alone for the first time, the first smile, the first words—are the happiest moments. The 'last time' moments—the last time you nurse your child, the last time your child drinks from a bottle, the last time your child wears a diaper—are very emotional moments.

23. Time goes by so quickly. Take a lot of pictures. And videos!

24. When writing a blog post about your children, make sure you don't write anything that they'll be upset about 15 years from now.

25. Take a deep breath. It's not as bad as you think it is.

Comments

Jessica said…
Love it! I agree about taking video, children change every day and I am amazed when I reflect back with videos.

Thanks for #24 because I was about to blog about what happened today when my kid threw a MONSTER tantrum at the playground...but it would embarrass him later in life.
Amen, sister! To everything... except maybe #14, because, well, we have a cat... :)
Alyssa said…
That is a lovely post and it's all true! Cameras are a must have as a parent. Time does fly but I love every moment of it ;-)
It surely does change you, doesn't it? In ways you never even imagine.
Unknown said…
Such a good and true list. Wish I'd seen one like this BEFORE having kids! (you know, just to know...) :)
Mom2Miles said…
Great list! I agree with so many. Tub poo's the WORST. And man, do I miss sleeping in. Just tonight I took a video of my 4yo reading a book to my 1yo. Sweetest thing ever!
Erica Ehm said…
Funny how there's a perception that when you have kids your brain shrinks. When the reality is, its a whole new bunch of stuff to learn and adapt to. Loved this post. Motherhood rocks. And so do you :)
I know what you mean about always being emotional...I never was before kids, and now, I'm such a sap! :)
JackiYo said…
And sometimes, you don't know when "that time" will be the "last time". They grow and change so fast. It's astounding.
Lindsey said…
This list is absolutely perfect!
rachel... said…
Yes! All of these. Except maybe #18. I don't have much trouble saying "No". And also #24. I hope to one day embarrass the heck out of my children with my blog posts. That's what they get for #s 6, 11, and 21. ;)
Lady Mama said…
I was nodding and laughing all the way through this post. So true, on all accounts. I've become an emotional wreck since becoming a mum - I can hardly watch the news or a sad movie. As for sleeping in? Sleeping is a distant memory for me. And a I especially like the last piece of advice - it's important to remember to breathe! Great post.
Stacey said…
You're so right! I even cry at cheesy soap opera mother issues and still sleep with my 15-mth-old!

I'm hoping to avoid the whole pooping in the bath thing if I can help it (fingers crossed)!

Great perspective and post!
Stacey
OMG - the one about eating food off the floor made me laugh out loud!! Because I do that often (actually just did it today). Who would have ever thought, before motherhood, that I would do this!! This is a great list, by the way!!
CaraBee said…
Every single one is spot on! Great list, Loukia! I have been amazed by how much I've changed, for the good, since I became a mother. It's overwhelming, but so rewarding!
skichik79 said…
I wish you were right about the last one .. I feel so overwhelmed ..

And the emotional stuff is so true .. I was so tough before and now I get all teary eyed so easily ...

I was selling some of my baby clothes and getting so emotional about it :( boooo
You are SO right! and the bathroom thing? So true. It is such a treat to go alone. My husband was even in there the other night. Seriously!?
Avitable said…
Ooh, how exciting. Can't wait to be a mom!
Stephanie said…
Oh I agree with each and every one of these!! I really never knew what love was until my babies came along.
I'm so glad I read this tonight.
danniibeauty said…
Love this post! Found you from twitter am following you now! http://danniibeauty.blogspot.com/
Anti-Supermom said…
excellent list and great advice (coming from a mother of a newborn).

It does go by fast. way too fast.
I love this!!! And having just had a baby, I especially love #15. ;-)

And also? You're right on with #12. My mom was right. But I would never admit it to her face!
Faiqa said…
This is one of the best posts on mother hood I have ever read. Simple, true and beautiful.