Wednesday, February 10, 2016

A few things I've learned since becoming a mommy


1. I now understand all the times my brother or I were sick and my mother would say "I wish I were the sick one! I hate seeing you guys sick. I would trade with you if I could". As a kid I truly believed she secretly thought "Aha suuuuuckers. Look at y'all all sick. Here's some meds, I feel great!" Now I know it's heart breaking. I would do anything to have Juniper's fever myself and for her to feel 100%! 

2. It's never what it seems. Stop comparing yourself to other moms on social media. Or at Target. I couldn't figure out how all these stay at home mamas looked so put together. (This is not directed towards working mamas. You are saints and I envy your time management and all around woman power)... Back to Target moms...  Hair done? ✔️ Make up perfect? ✔️ Real pants on? Like...the kind that button? ✔️  Hmmm, how do they do it? I started asking around. I got answers like "an hour of Mickey Mouse and pancakes!" Or "I wake two hours earlier than my kids to get ready for the day" and even "My kids get a movie every morning during breakfast so I can be put together!" Yea... No, no, and no. To each their own. Do what you gotta do. But hair and make up are not that important to me. Seriously, depending on the weather and the day my biggest outing could be bra-less to the mailbox. We have to remember that what we see projected is not necessarily the true picture. 

3. Some days are harder than others. This is hard for me to admit. I love my child more than life itself. But sometimes no sleep and no naps and multiple tantrums and I'm sick or she's sick or were all sick or were stuck inside with bad weather or whatever it is... Some days are hard. Totally 100% fucking worth it, but not always easy. 

4. Friendships change. Especially with friends who don't have babies of their own yet. But can ya blame them? I'm currently a stay at home mom. My daily social interaction is limited. If you catch me at the right time of day and I'm not too tired or busy to answer the phone and Juniper isn't at my calves begging for dinner then there is a good chance that I'm going to answer the phone and spend 15 minutes telling you how tired I am. How little I sleep. How cute Juniper is. How precious her 2 new words are. How many teeth she has. By the time you get a word in edge wise I'll probably need to go change a diaper and you'll hang up and call someone else and tell them how thankful you are that you don't have kids yet because you just had the MOST BORING CONVERSATION EVERRRRR. 

But don't worry. I understand. When you all have babies one day and you need to call and tell me about their diaper rash, I'll be here ;) 

5. It takes a village. I am so thankful for all of the people in my life that I can text/call at any time to ask random questions about Juniper's health/mommahood, etc. I think being a parent is like "paint by number" except more like "learn as you go". We're all really just winging it. 😉