Motherhood

I had a very interesting experience recently. I discovered that a friend of mine has started a Blog that takes status updates from Facebook that parents write about their children and then she writes all of these smart ass comments about them. It's a brilliant idea really and tons of people are contributing their friend's status updates and letting my friend unleash her biting whit on them.

I joined in the fun and read entry after entry
and admittedly laughed my ass off
at some of the crazy stuff that these women
were blathering on and on about on Facebook.

Then I stumbled upon one of
MY own status updates on her Blog
and to top it all off, it was the first one.
I was flummoxed by this.

Suddenly the whole concept
just seemed nasty.
I instantly wanted to go take a shower
to wash off the fact that I had been
laughing at those other moms.
I felt dirty.

It was a crash course on compassion.

At the time, I had no idea that it was my friend's Blog
and I wanted to know who
was talkin' smack about
my overpriced organic baby products
so that I could get a voodoo doll
and stick pins in it in their honor.
I found out through a mutual friend
who it was and quickly simmered down.

After a series of mea culpas on her end,
all was forgiven
and I quickly moved on
from the potential drama.

It got me thinking though,
where would the world be without Mommies?
I mean, look at that little critter up there,
it wants it's mom.
I just want to hug it and squeeze it and call it George
but this is another example of how
I want to hug wild animals that would scratch my face off.

Anyway, I've been thinking about motherhood as of late.
The way that being a mother (especially a stay at home)
can take over your life.
People without children have no idea
how all consuming it is
to grow a child,
push it out,
and then help it thrive.

It seems like I am breastfeeding every other minute.
It seems like I am constantly preparing meals,
wiping butts, cleaning up spills, kissing boo boos,
wiping away tears, snuggling,
disciplining, swaddling, napping, etc.
every minute of every day.

Being a mom is the most selfless thing I have ever done.

I mean, I'm no Mother Teresa over here.
I have my moments of wanting
to just walk out the door,
belly up to some seedy bar,
and drink White Russians
until I fall on the floor.

I can't do that though, because
I have these two little wide eyed
creatures at home that need me.

So, how do us mothers relate
to the childless ladies out there?
I mean, I went 30 years without having a child
and could relate to just about anybody.
Why is it that from the moment
you poop that baby out,
the world changes for you?

I swore that I was not going to be
one of those women that has children
and then loses herself in motherhood.
Yet, that is what I am doing with my life right now.
I have 2 kids to keep alive
and try my hardest to
keep out of therapy when they grow up.
I actually have to pay attention to them and nurture them.

Gone are the days of curling up
on the couch with a fantastic book.
My literary standards have dropped,
I'm lucky if I get to read People magazine
while I'm on the crapper.

Maybe this makes me less interesting.
Perhaps I have become socially challenged
because I am no longer focusing on myself.

I'm not complaining though,
I wanted these kids and I love to take care of them.
It just made me pause for a moment
when I discovered my words on that Blog.

I had officially become one of THOSE moms.

Thank God I have yet
to buy a pair of "mom jeans" from Walmart.

That's where I draw the line!