Some Things I Love About Being A Mom, in No Particular Order

Today I was lunching with an old friend (I've known her since we were wee toddlers) who is expecting her first baby, due in just a few short weeks. She confided in me how difficult it has been for her to hear acquaintances discuss in terribly negative tones how taxing and trying motherhood has seemed to be for them. She continued to tell me in strength and optimism that she believes that since God has commanded us to multiply and replenish the earth, that it should bring joy to us. I heartily agreed.

Now, I fully recognize that motherhood brings unique trials (exhaustion, postpartum/antepartum depression and anxiety, wayward children, etc. to name a few), but I believe it's important to give just as much time--nay, MORE time--to discussing the positives.

With that, I also want to extend a heartfelt hug across time and space to mothers of every kind, those who have given birth and those who haven't, mothers who are married and those who are single, those mothers of every age and shape and kind that have loved and nurtured God's children.

My friend and I began to discuss what she's excited about in becoming a mother and some of the many things that have brought me joy as I've carried Charlie for 9 months and nurtured him these 14 months. I wanted to share some of the reasons I love being a mother:

• At times, when Charlie is upset at night and wakes up in tears, all he wants is a good snuggle to help him fall back asleep. Nothing could melt my heart more!
• Each and every day, my cheeks and forehead and shoulder are covered with sincere, slobbery kisses from my little man; each accompanied by a great big "MMWAH!" sound. Not to mention all the kisses he blows me when he's a bit too far away to give me a real kiss.
• I love how excited my little one gets each time he experiences something new--meeting a horse, riding on a tandem swing, going to the swimming pool. His gleeful expression over the simplest of joys and learning experiences, my, that's magic.
• I have read to my son every day since his first. Just this week, he started to search for his favorite three board books amongst his library, carry them across the room or apartment to wherever I am, and hold them out to me insistently. We've read "Dinosaur Dance" at least 50 times in the past three days, but how could I allow myself to feel the least bit bothered? I can't. My boy is literate and loving it, and I couldn't be more proud.
• I constantly have a shopping-buddy, a piano-playing-buddy, a breakfast-eating-buddy, a laundry-folding-buddy. I'm not lonesome. I have my son, and I'm so grateful.
• My son is for me on a daily basis a rock-solid source of Christlike love. He constantly shares his Cheerios and toys with me. He smiles and gives me a loving exclamation when I go to get him from his crib after he wakes from a nap. He waves at people at the grocery store and out our window. He rubs other babies' hair in a gentle gesture in our mother's group. I learn from him every day how I ought--and NEED--to treat people.

In short: Motherhood is a gift. The hard stuff? Yes, there's hard parts. ANYTHING worthwhile is hard. Teaching was hard. Studying at University was hard. Learning Spanish in a foreign country was hard. 

My choir teacher in High School, Mama J, once taught us, "Do you know what real fun is? Real fun is doing something REALLY hard, REALLY well. That's real fun." Motherhood, by golly it's the hardest. And you know what that means? IT'S THE FUNNEST THING EVER, EVER, EVER. So I'm glorying in the joys, and I'm assured each morning--whether 2am or 8am--when I awake, that God will give me the strength and joy and love I need to be the exact kind of mom that Charles needs that day. And in the end, I'm given all the love and joy I need back. Heaven's got us covered, y'all. I have total faith in that. 

And I LOVE being a mom.

The end.



Day #298