I work in postpartum and take care of all the new moms and their babies and so as I wheel these new mom's and their babies out to their cars I get a little sentimental sometimes. ( and sometimes I am glad to get that weird woman and her family into her car and out of my day- ha ha!!!) I look at the new baby and remember each time I was in the wheelchair with my new infant in my arms heading home and how that time is frozen in my mind. But as the years go by, I have forgotten so much about when my kids were tiny. I remember bits and pieces, but honestly, I think I was so sleep deprived that those memories are far and few between. I want to tell all these new mom's that what they are about to do is the hardest, the MOST IMPORTANT and the most rewarding thing they will ever do.
There are so many phases of being a mother:
The new mom, the mom of adolescents, the mom of teenagers, and the mom of adults.
Each one of these phases comes with it's joys and challenges. I have been in almost all of these phases and am now embarking on the last one. I can't say that any one of them is easier or harder than the other, honestly. But I do know that in each phase I have learned new things, struggled with new things and found joy in each one of them.
Being a mom at times makes you feel under-appreciated, unnoticed, overlooked and overworked...
BUT 90% of the time it makes you feel LOVED, important, admired, respected and grateful.
I love my kids so much and am so grateful for the lessons I have learned/am still learning being a mother.
Here are a few things motherhood teaches: ( somedays better than others, of course)
patience
selflessness
unconditional love
gratitude
humility
compassion
organizational skills
cooking
seeking spiritual guidance
cleaning skills
nurturing
how to listen
flexibility
empathy
multi tasking
maturity
The list goes on and on...
But as I ponder these things I am so grateful for this blessing. Being a mother teaches me SO much. I definitely have not done a perfect job and at times have wondered if I have ruined all of my children!! I have had meltdowns, tantrums, freak outs, depression, and exhaustion with being a mother... TRUST me. But over all it has been the BEST, MOST AMAZING journey and I wouldn't trade it for anything else. EVER. I love my kids! I am so grateful for each one of them and their unique and special traits and the love they give to me!!
6 comments:
This blog totally made my cry! I LOVE being a mom too! I am super excited to experience all of it.
Let me wipe the tear from my eye so I can finish leaving this comment... WOW! You are quite a writer. Thank you for reminding me how important and rewarding my job is! I miss being able to see you everyday in the neighborhood. You are right about the kids growing up so fast!
Thank you for the reminder to stop and appreciate the current phase I'm going through...it's too easy to look forward to whats next. I'll think of you when I get wheeled out to my car this upcoming week with my new baby...in fact I'll wish it were you wheeling me out.
You are a great example of a mother to me. Love you guys!
Amen Leslie. I am glad you live so close so you guys can laugh when our kids are acting crazy and I can remember that they are just kids and that this too shall pass (all too soon)!!
Leslie, I loved reading this! You are such an example to me! And it is so reassuring to hear you say "I have had meltdowns, tantrums, freak outs, depression, and exhaustion with being a mother..." because your kids are turning out so wonderful so it gives me hope that mine can too, despite my hard days. :) Thank you for the reminder to appreciate the stage we're in now. I need to do better at that! Great post!!
Amen to this post. Loved it.
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