What is Motherhood?

Motherhood means:

• Becoming a better person- developing more patience, temperance, tolerance and love- because otherwise you might just kill your children.
• Learning to not cry (or yell or scream) over spilled milk- and peanut butter on the carpet, hand prints on the windows, lipstick on faces and crayon on the walls.
• Becoming accustomed to smudges and stains on all your clothes; not expecting to have your nicest clothes look nice for very long; acquiescing to the snags in your $60 dress that you wear for Mother’s Day- because it represents what being a mother is about.
• Accepting the fact that you will never have a completely clean house for any length of time- until your children move out- but then you’ll have grandchildren.
• Developing the potential to not be shocked by most anything that might happen- because anything can happen (you just wonder where they come up with the ideas).
• Not becoming too attached to anything because it might not be around for long- at least in the condition you prefer it to be in.
• Not having a day off (at least not very often).
• Wondering if there is some scientific process for transferring some of their energy to you.
• Becoming comfortable discussing uncomfortable topics.
• Flexibility.

Motherhood also means:

• Having someone who is excited to see you every morning- so excited they come and wake you up!
• A little hand that holds on to your finger with all it’s might because it trusts you implicitly
• Moments of “Mommy, I love you more than the whole world!”
• Bedtime kisses, cuddles and stories.
• Laughter every day.
• Big smiles, endless curiosity, wonder and amazement at life’s everyday miracles.
• Realizing that your children love you so much that they copy everything that you do- and what a great responsibility this is.
• Making sure that who you are is worth copying.
• Having the opportunity to change the world, one child at a time.
• Love.