Mother’s Day this year was a day of great reflection for me. I’ve been a mom for 3 years. Three of the most amazing and difficult years I could imagine.
Being a mom is the hardest job I’ve ever had. Like many mothers, I struggle with the delicate balance of work, family, and personal time. I need to remind myself to be present and live in the moment.
I dream of being the kind of mom who isn’t upset by her children’s tantrums, or frustrated with their infantile behaviour. I long for some sort of potty training specialist to drop out of the sky and train my boys for me.
Becoming a mom wasn’t as hard for me as it was for many of my friends, but it was a process that broke my heart every month I wasn’t pregnant. I wanted to be a mom so badly.
I had a challenging pregnancy and a near fatal delivery. But, nothing has compared to the experience of being a mom.
Being a mom has tried my patience, caused me to do things I never thought I would do. It’s made me cry, laugh hysterically, want to pull my hair out and fight with my partner. It’s caused me to lose friends, gain friends and put a greater strain on some of my relationships than I ever thought possible.
Being a mom has also taught me that I will stand up for my beliefs no matter what and threats to my children make me the meanest Mama Bear ever.
Now that I am a mom I carry a camera everywhere, constantly wish I’d gotten every moment on video and resulted in the creation of this blog.
Being a mom has caused me to look at everything in my life and the world around me differently. I fear scary TV shows, movies and news reports. I cry at commercials, the zoo and the doctor’s office. I appreciate a good babysitter and give the great ones presents as often as I can afford. There is nothing so amazing as being able to leave your children with someone else and not worry about them for a minute.
Being a mom has made me appreciate my mom more than ever. I am in awe of her strength and resiliency daily.
My boys have taught me so much about love, and trust and family. They show me everyday how important it is to learn, to explore and to live in the moment. They have filled my heart and my soul with their beauty and kindness.
Being a mom has caused me to eat chocolate covered almonds for lunch and think that is okay. It’s forced me to rethink my relationship with food and evaluate labels and ingredients.
Being a mom has made me want to be better at everything. To lose weight, to exercise more, to be kinder to myself so that I can set a good example for my boys. At the same time, being a mom has exhausted me to the point that I don’t think it is possible for me to go on.
In the end I love being a mom almost all of the time and I have to forgive myself for the parts I don’t. For every difficult moment there are hundreds of amazing moments.
Being a mom is the best and the hardest thing I have ever done. I am so thankful for the gift of motherhood and I hope I have the strength to survive it!
What are the hardest and most surprising parts of being a mom for you?
your right it is a lot of hard work that brings lots of joys as well may we all have strength to do a good job :)
createwithmom recently posted..Supporting a Good Cause with Ultimate Lovable Labels Camp Pack
Yes, strength is key. Sleep is also critical :)
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..On Being a Mom
What a wonderful post! Being a Mom is most likely the most challenging and rewarding job on earth!
MultiTestingMom recently posted..Paper Flowers for Mother’s Day – Artsy Play Wednesday {LINKY}
Thank you – so true!
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..On Being a Mom
I could relate to so much of what you write … but now that I’m a mom with older kids (almost 5 and 11), I can tell you for sure that it definitely gets easier when they are a little more independent and they are potty trained! (or at least, you can get a bit more sleep :0) Thanks for sharing these beautiful thoughts.
Coffee with Julie recently posted..Mother’s Day Play-by-Play (Or alternatively titled: Read, Nap, Repeat.)
Thank you Julie. I keep reminding myself I am “in the trenches” and it must get easier! :)
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..On Being a Mom
Happy Belated Mother’s Day!!
And you are 100% right. Being a mom is hard and wonderful at the same time. I think for me after having two little ones back to back one of the hardest things I had to do was potty train when my son was born. With a newborn and an almost two year old, I remember being so stressed. But it got easier as it always does and I feel so blessed and fortunate to have two healthy little ones who I love with all my heart.
LaQuita recently posted..Book Review: Screwed by Laurie Plissner
As I read your post I was nodding, everything you wrote had applied to my life as a Mom at one point or another. Motherhood changed me, I feel more. Both the good and the challenging…..and I’m grateful for that
SoberJulie recently posted..CAA Blogger Challenge – Finding Discounts at GAP & Banana Republic
This is a great post, and mothers everywhere (me included) are shaking their heads up and down as they read, agreeing with what you have written. I hope your Mother’s Day was filled w/awesome. :)
Rosey recently posted..Visiting the Coach
A lot of what you wrote, I could have written myself. Thanks for putting it into words.
Hardest — Besides all of it (smile), trying to remember to stay calm and that at the end of the day, it.just.doesn’t.matter.
Surprises — Maybe not so much a surprise but something that makes me really happy is that I genuinely like my kids. Love them goes without saying. I think they’re really cool and love chatting with them and hanging out. I’m so lucky to get do that.
P.S. When you find the toilet training specialist with all the secrets, send them my way.
Besos, Sarah
Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo
Sarah De Diego (Journeys of The Zoo) recently posted..An Order of Maple Syrup with a Side of Bribery {Humor}
I’m not sure how my kids can simultaneously stress me out and calm me down at the same time? It’s a mystery.;) Great post.
Candace recently posted..Chocolate Stuffed French Toast
This is such an insightful post and I agree with you on so m any things! We mamas are mighty. xo
monica recently posted..Every Mother Counts
Motherhood is a beautiful thing! You couldn’t have said any better! I know I have my moments where I wish I could sit in the dark, alone, in the fetal position LOL!! xoxo, Jessica
Jessica Marie recently posted..Bloom Into Baby: Milk It Kit Giveaway – Ends 5/19
Happy belated Mother’s Day Kerrie! I was smiling and tearing up reading this post. LOL typical mom?
Hmmm the hardest part so far is watching my kids adjust to new schools or starting school and seeing them cry as I walk to the car to leave.
Great post. You write about motherhood so eloquently.
Cheryl @ Kids On A Plane recently posted..Sticky Lips BBQ in Rochester, NY
What an awesome post. I am right there with you. I think the most trying moments in my life has been trying to move and complete house projects with two little kids in tow. I’ve wanted to pull my hair out, but then I sit back and think about why we wanted this place and it was for them. I think my hardest moments are when I have to be pulled in different directions and be both mom, maid, wife, and work at home mom all rolled into one. There are times when I wish we had a babysitter even if for a few hours so I could run and do some child free grocery shopping. Being a mom is so hard sometimes, but like you said, its the best thing I’ve ever done, the hardest thing I’ve ever done and has been the one thing I continually learn from.
Heather recently posted..The Beautiful Lila Rose Flexi Clip
The hardest part of being a mom for me is letting go of my kids as they’re teenagers. Relinquishing control is very difficult. The best part is everything.
mara recently posted..What Does 20 Years of Marriage Mean?
Great post! Being a parent is difficult but the hard work pays off. I see that in my kids’ sleep patterns, their manners, their consideration of others.
I am at the stage where we can visit friends and I can actually finish a conversation and sit and enjoy a glass of wine without worrying about the stairs, the outlets, the sticky fingers, etc. It feels great. At the same time, I seem them growing up so fast and realise that they won’t NEED me this way forever so I need to relish it instead of wishing it away when I’m tired or feeling pulled in many directions.
Susannah recently posted..Infusing Play into Learning – Tower of Ten
What a beautiful post! I feel most of these things too about motherhood.
I think the most surprising thing for me about being a mom is how darn TIRED I am. I had heard stories of mom-exhaustion, but I didn’t realize how much I’d rely on coffee and slaps on the cheeks to get me through some days!
Christina @ The DIY Mommy recently posted..9 Favourite Things to Make with Strawberries
Beautifully written!
I don’t know if it’s because I have a daughter, but after I became a mom I was also less harsh about my looks. I don’t care if my roots are showing or if I leave the house without make-up anymore. Often it’s because I don’t have time, but deep down it’s because in order to teach my daughter she is beautiful just the way she is I need to practice what I preach.
So true!! And I find myself sounding a LOT like my mom now – how did that happen!? It’s so true – we will do anything for our kids and the innate mamma bear characteristics come out as soon as that baby is born. Good post.
Motherhood is so universal and I’m amazed every time. It has a way of changing each us in such amazing ways. I agree, it’s one of the hardest things that I’ve ever done. At the same time, it’s so rewarding and it actually shaped me into the woman that I am. I owe a lot to becoming a mother…..no telling where I’d be if I didn’t have children (I don’t even want to think about it). I’m grateful too!
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Mariann recently posted..Pity Post: Upside Down and Spun Around
What a nice reflection on motherhood. I have been a mom for almost 9 years now and I continue to learn every day. I learn more about myself, my kids, other people. It’s definitely a tough job, but one I feel so blessed to hold.
Kerry recently posted..Competitive Mom + Sensitive Kid + Youth Sports = ???
The hardest part for me is doing so man things and not feeling appreciated. I am always surprised by how much joy my boys get out of the most simple things.
Shari G recently posted..Father’s Day With Parker Pen #Giveaway
Motherhood changes you forever doesn’t it? Don’t worry, you’ll have the strength for it. You’re a mom. Strength comes with the title. xx
jackie recently posted..Portable Craft Kit for Kids
I think as moms, we just do our best everyday and on the sucky days, we just go to bed early and hope tomorrow will be better =)
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