"Mama, You Been On My Mind"

Although I've only had about 3 months of experience, I thought I would take some time to reflect on motherhood.....what it has been so far, and what I imagine it to be in the future. Most of what I've learned about motherhood, I've learned from my own mom. Thanks Mom!

Motherhood is waking up for the millionth time to attend to your crying baby, holding the "throw up bucket" for your sick 4 year old, or changing the wet sheets for your child who just can't seem to make it to the toilet. Motherhood is lavishing kisses and spider man band aids on your child who just learned to ride his bike without training wheels. It's singing "Rise and Shine" to wake them up in the morning "Skina ma rinky dinky dink" to make them smile in the afternoon and "Jesus Loves Me" to make their eyes close at night. Motherhood is reading Bible stories, Dr Seuss, and I Love You Forever while trying to conceal the tears welling up in your eyes. Motherhood is making a pallet for your kids to sleep on in your bedroom during a stormy night. Motherhood is breaking up fights between siblings, teaching about apologies, and displaying forgiveness in your own life so that your kids will learn to forgive others. It is saying "I love you" just because. Motherhood is that gentle sway that always puts a baby to sleep. It is praising your children for their accomplishments. It's punishing them for their sins. It's showing grace despite their sins. Motherhood is seeing your children for who they really are, and not just through rose colored glasses. It's a lifetime of prayer. Motherhood is holding your child's hand on the first day of kindergarten. It's a hug after a first heartbreak. It's a sweet note in a lunchbox. It's a "happy" just to say I love you because YOU are YOU. It's rejoicing when your children rejoice, it's mourning when your children mourn. It's trying to make everyone happy because you're the mom and you have some innate conviction that that's what your supposed to do. Motherhood is extreme. Extreme happiness, extreme sadness, extreme guilt, extreme frustration, extreme contentment. It's a gift and an overwhelming responsibility. It's giving up your own pleasures for a child. Motherhood is a humble opportunity to be a servant like Jesus.