What it means to be a Mom

I want to take a moment to capture the whole essence of what it means to be a mother...every single detail of every single second. The good, the bad, and the sometimes-stinky.

Being a mother means...

having super powers. Suddenly you can heal boo boos with kisses. You can hear silence and know exactly what is happening in the next room. You can smell it and know who dealt it. You can predict the future: "that cup is about to be knocked over"...bump, SPLASH. And you can demonstrate super human strength with the ability to carry a car seat, a toddler and one thousand bags of groceries all at one time. Put on your cape, you deserve it.

being present. In every moment- even the ones when you are not physically there. When they look out into the crowd, they are searching for your smile- your pride. When reaching down within themselves, they are searching for your words- your encouragement. Just knowing you are in the room next to them at night, and they are not alone to fight of the scary monsters in their closet. Your smiles and sayings can be with them always even in moments of solitude. 

suddenly being the wiser of the two. With life comes life experiences. Suddenly, you will be the one giving advice to eager listening ears. Suddenly, you will be the one who knows what it best. Be certain to learn from each day and remember that the lessons you learn will be lessons you teach. 

getting messy. Let them get messy. Get messy with them, no matter how much it makes you cringe inside. Splash in the puddles, smudge brownie mix on faces, make mud pies, throw water balloons, let them have the stickers and bath crayons that Grandma sent. Then laugh and bathe.Messy floors and faces are temporary, memories are permanent. 

providing good role models- you being one of them. Introduce your children to great minds and successful people. Women can lead, and write and think and speak. Men can do all of the same. Their are no boundaries, no limits. Their are no reasons why she cannot play football or why he cannot dance. Teach them that success is not measured by possessions, but rather happiness. 

keeping secrets. Seal your lips and throw away the key. Big. Small. Simple. Or complex.
A secret is a promise, and promises are forever. 

sharing secrets. When the time is right, share your little untold words of wisdom. Remind them in moments of hardship that you too have failed. You too have made mistakes, have suffered from a broken heart, have been teased, and have failed tests. They need to know that you have been through the good, the bad and the ugly and that in the end, you found the beautiful. 

learning everyday. Learn about yourself, about your child, and about what you believe 
in. But most importantly, learn what life is all about. Family.

encouraging. Encourage your child to follow every whim, every thought, every passion. She may want to wear her brother's backwards hat or play football. He may want to put on your nail polish and play dress up, so what? Allow it. Encourage them to be whomever they choose to be.

putting your child first. Before everyone and everything. No matter what. No guilt required. 

teaching independence. You teach your child that the only thing stopping them from not doing it is not trying it. Do not button their shirts or tie their shoes if they can do it themselves. Do not tell them what to think or how to act, let them decide for themselves. Help them to see the power of their own minds and muscles. 

experiencing the ups and downs of e.v.e.r.y emotion. As a mother, you experience a large spectrum of emotion, and each is magnified and more intense than the last. One moment, you are practically be jumping  with joy and pride. While the next, you are spiraling down in agony as you try to steal your child's pain of broken bones or broken hearts. You feel everything for your child. You reach every extreme, ride every roller coaster, and at the end of the day you will always look back and know that it was a wild ride, but absolutely worth it. 

being selfless. Makeup and showers are no longer top priority in the mornings. It is suddenly about making sure breakfast is warm, faces are smiling and the day is ready to roll.

being healed by tiny smiles. Their giggles, their smiles, their squeals of joy can heal you in even the darkest moments. The worst of days and the worst of news can be forgotten with a kiss from your child. They make it all better. 

driving a minivan. Okay, okay, maybe not always the minivan. But forget the sports car. Your car is a means of transportation, not style. It is likely to be polished with the scent of old milk, smeared with goldfish paste and full of screaming children. Stick on some stick figures in the back window and embrace the crazy.

learning about yourself. You learn that you are capable of big things. You are more patient than you could have ever dreamed. You are able to smile even when you are completely exhausted. You can reach down deep and find the strength to get through anything. And suddenly, you are a better person.

having more heart. Suddenly, you get it. You see every person as someones' daughter, someone's mother, someone's son, or someone's father. You are more tolerable. You are more understanding. And you learn to accept people for who they are because you want the same respect for your own children. 

seeing the world with young eyes. Flying a kite. blowing bubbles, singing out loud, dancing in public, finding the magic in Santa Claus, taking ridiculous pictures, sledding down hills that are teeny but seem gigantic as you whip down them, having dessert every single night of the week, drawing with chalk, running through sprinklers, picking dandy lions, reading favorite books over and over again are all completely acceptable, even expected. As a mother, the wonder of the world is brand new again. Every day is full of magic.

having your heart walk around outside of your body. Period.

learning your true meaning. Your whole world. Your whole purpose. Your whole reason for being on this Earth. You are holding them in your arms.