I want to remember what motherhood is for me right now…
Motherhood is…
listening to my 3 year old sing “skitter mer rink a dink a doo!” and talk to his cars while I work on the computer during “quiet time”
getting told to “just stop talking….. please” by my 8 year old
hearing phrases like, “I have always wanted to fly, that’s why I grabbed the umbrella.” on a daily basis
Cuddling
Never ending bedtime routines that I love and hate
worry…
worry that my kids have friends, that they are spending too much time with their friends, that they have good friends, that they know key life skills, that I am teaching them responsibility, that they will get hurt on the way to school, that I am spending enough time with them, that I am enabling them by doing too much for them….
teaching….
the right way to clean (the older two are past the, I’m just happy that you are cleaning at all phase and into the, you actually have to do a good job phase.), scriptures, values, fun, hardwork, confidence, how to look someone in the eye and smile and say hi, politeness, table manners
lots of giggles
discovering wonderful children’s books together at night
questions… so many questions.
motherhood is full of fairies, and nightmares in the closet, monstro the whale, and ever after high. everything is so real.
tears
lots of help when I don’t necessarily want it, and not so much help when I do
learning….
learning from my kids, from my moms, from my friends, from books and then going with my instincts.
different with each child…. each of my children is so completely themselves
bike rides
exploring
swimming
surfing
traveling
boredom
busyness
mundane
exciting
constantly starting and stopping whatever I am doing to help with something
Interesting fashion choices.
Lots of “hugs and kisses”
Watching them learn to look out for each other.
Messes
Noise
Wrestling
Hide and Seek
Screaming
Hitting
Trying to find myself among so many other needs
Watching them go from this…
To this in 3.2 seconds
Motherhood is full of joy.
I’m so glad that I have this guy to help with it all.
And I’m so grateful for this amazing lady. She has taught me so many things and I still need her as my Mom and my friend every day…. which makes me hope that my kids will still need me to be a mom even when they are gone from my house.
Thank you to this amazing lady as well. You raised my husband and my family would not be the same without you. I see how much I am blessed because of mothers going back and back and back… It feels me with purpose and joy.
motherhood matters.
I love those kids! Those baby pictures tugged at my heart. When did they get so big?! Also those are some real nice shirts we are wearing in the picture.
This post is a precious, and definitely real portrayal of motherhood. It captures the joy, hurt, and success of raising a family. I was touched by your point that there were many mothers before you that shaped you and how you are raising your family. Great writing!