You Might Be a Mom...

I always wanted it. Dreamed of it. Wished for it. Couldn't wait for it. 

Now I'm in it. Motherhood: the most challenging and exhausting yet rewarding and completely amazing thing you could ever experience.

It's hard being a working mom. It's hard being a stay-at-home mom. It's all hard. It's easy to get wrapped up in life, too busy to slow down and live in a a state of wonder. I'll never forget a blog post I read from a mom feeling guilty for always hurrying her kids along, not allowing them to fully take life in, ask questions, touch and feel, find and discover. Just stamp "Guilty" on my forehead why don'tcha. In order to keep our house running, my peeps well fed, and my place of work happy with my output, I much too often get "too busy". This morning on my day off, I decided to sloowww down and truly enjoy my time with L. The only thing I planned to accomplish was grocery shopping. So L and I woke up, got ready (kind of), and went to the store...in...no...hurry. And I noticed so much... 

She gave me her first grocery request as we passed the blackberries. It was as if she spotted a puppy when she pointed to them. It was so cute I couldn't say no. Plus, who can say no to fruit? Then in went the tomatoes- they're like candy to her. (She gets it from Grandma). We stopped near the vegetable produce and she exclaimed, "More!" Veggies? No, no... she just wanted the produce to get sprayed again. Towards the end of our trip she was nearing a meltdown and laid her face down on the side of the cart. [Just keep pushing and hope for the best.] As we stopped at the bread, she looked up and again said, "More!" It took me a minute to realize she wanted the cart to move again so that her cheek would vibrate against it. So in a circle we went. 

As I finally finished loading the car, I opened the back door. My attempt to place her in the car seat and head home was put on hold as she excitedly pointed to my seat. "Oh, you want to drive?!" I asked. Yes. Yes, she did.

We did eventually make it home. I pulled into the garage, and we sat in the car for a second as I sang along as loud as I could to the music playing on the radio. I stopped and turned around to see an elated toddler clapping and screaming, (you guessed it) "More!" [And that's the only time anyone will ever clap at the conclusion of my singing.]

It's not always fun and games. Nayyy... It is not. But if you don't stop every once in a while and soak in all that motherhood has to offer, you are sadly minimizing the amazing gift God intended it to be. 

We all experience it differently, but I'm just sure we can relate to a few things. (Wink, wink). Sometimes I have to pinch myself in order to believe I'm actually a mom now. Other times life just screams, "You're a mom!" The following list encompasses it all and will only get longer with time...

Yoouuu might be a mom if:

You find baby hair bows in your coat pocket, toys in your bed (not that kind), or a three-month old bottle behind your bed (with some scientific stage of milk in it.)

You find puffs in random places. You know what "puffs" are.

You say "poo-poo" and "stinky" more times more times in a day than you care to admit.

You can't figure out how your dry shampoo is gone again...already!

You start shopping at Target- like a lot...

Going grocery shopping by yourself produces the same relaxing feeling you get from a trip to the spa-Wait, what is that?

Your washing machine load size is most often set on "small."

You understand that "nap-time" is comparable to receiving a million dollars with only two hours to spend it.

You secretly feel satisfied watching other children misbehave and think to yourself, "Thank God, mine is normal."

(We'll call this one a "mild fit").

You sometimes feel so physically and emotionally tired and desperately in need of a break, you wish your child would go away. The moment they're away, you miss them.

You don't remember what it felt like to shower off the clock- or maybe even just shower for that matter.

You sometimes feel as though you have more arms, hands, fingers, and [yes, even toes] than you thought. (Monkey toes are a real bonus).

You eat like someone is going to run by within a matter of minutes and steal your food.

It feels like you're going on a road trip every time you leave the house, and you pack as though you're never returning.

You find no shame in dancing like a wasted old white woman just to catch a smile.

You know it is possible to feel completely exhausted and completely happy at the same time.

You give other moms the "mom smile" out in public because you instantly feel the bond (and pain...if you're trying to shop).

You have no clue what hit music songs are these days but you can sing baby songs word for word-- and you do often because they play in your head like "the song that never ends..."

Your body just ain't the same as it once was...enough said.

When you think about someone ever hurting your child's feelings, your blood reaches unhealthy temperatures.

Your heart has grown ten sizes; it hurts much easier but loves even stronger .

You feel like you're melting when you hear your child giggle. A belly laugh? Immediately a puddle of wax on the floor.

You don't remember what it felt like before children and you wonder how you ever felt complete without them.

You think and say really cheesy things -such as above- but you don't even care because they're true.

You get choked up [and cry] over any of the following: sad or just plain sweet stories on the radio, friends' blog posts, surprise birthday parties ... seriously?! Seriously.

And lastly...You feel like the luckiest person in the world- every single day.

...........

What would you add?