Being a Mommy

I love being a Mommy. There are times when I get frustrated (getting my four year old to stop talking for 2 minutes and eat his dinner) there are times when I get impatient (trying to get my older kids to get dressed so we're not late for an appointment) and there are a lot of times when I get the bejesus scared out of me (when my three year old decided it would be great fun to climb on top of his dresser and leap off). Being a Mommy is not for the faint of heart. But it is the most wonderful experience. Sure, you may have times when you're ready to tear your hair out, scream, cry and break something (like the most annoying toy ever invented) but those big smiles, the sweet cuddles and the happy I love yous make it all worth it.

There are times as a parent when you wish for more freedom. There are times when you desperately pray for just five minutes to yourself, or just a chance to go to the bathroom alone. There are times when you need just 2 minutes of quiet to make a phone call but you don't get it. And trust me, there are many mornings where you hope, wish, and pray for just a little more sleep. Those mornings have also inspired my undying gratitude to whomever was genius enough to make coffee. There are times where you have to jump in the shower and right back out almost before even getting wet. And times where you realize you forgot to brush your hair. Quiet, relaxing dinners and clothes that are free of baby and toddler substances can seem like a distant memory. A trip to the mall without popping into The Children's Place, Build-A-Bear or Auntie Anne's (or some other store that caters to kids or sells tempting treats) forget it! Your spotless carpet, finger print free windows, and neat as a pin house? Kiss them goodbye. Mani pedi times for you are replaced by bathroom soaking bubble baths for your kids. Those killer heels? Useless on the playground. Have you ever burned your tongue on food that was too hot? Once you have kids that won't be a problem, pretty soon you'll forget the feel of a hot meal.

Doesn't sound quite like paradise does it? But the funny thing is, you (mostly) won't care. Sure, there are plenty of things you give up when you become a Mommy, but there are so many other things that you gain. Your once empty arms are now full of a tiny little person who thinks you are the center of the universe. And you are to them. Moms gladly trade spotless shirts for drooly baby cuddles. Moms don't bat an eye at being peed, pooped, puked or snotted on. It may be more difficult to see and enjoy grown up movies, but you'll have the pleasure of seeing the excitement on your child's face as they watch some cartoon character dance across the screen. You can ditch that over priced fitness class that you hate and spend an hour running around the park instead. And let's be honest, parents love having an excuse to check out the latest toys.

But do you want to know the best parts of being a Mommy? First of all, there's knowing that no matter how horrible your day is going, a smile, a hug, a snuggle or an I love you Mommy can make everything better. Then there's watching your child learn and grow up healthy and happy. At the end of the day, that's what all Moms want, a happy, healthy kid.