ON BEING A MOM

I don’t have time for myself every day (not even close).

But I sure enjoy the four arms thrown around me and bodies piled on top of me hundreds of times a day.

Getting dressed up these days is anything besides wearing my sweats.

But I’m still told I’m beautiful and “stylish” every day.

My house is normally a wreck and quite possibly a danger zone.

But you’ll always have fun and feel comfortable stopping by.

I don’t see the inside of the mall or enter my favorite stores very often.

But I am so much better at noticing the small joys outside, like balloons in the sky and airplanes overhead, than I ever thought I’d be.

I moan and groan every morning when my body is enveloped by a small person greeting me with a hug in the wee hours.

But I never feel like I’ve wasted a morning away by sleeping.

I don’t get to enjoy belly laughs with my friends as often as I used to.

But I HEAR belly laughs almost every day from a joke I told that was not even funny.

I don’t have many romantic nights of lying on my couch kissing my husband.

But butterfly kisses on my cheeks from tiny eyelashes are so much better anyway.

I rarely remember to put on lip-gloss to make my smile prettier.

But I always remember crayons in my bag so that I can draw a perfect smiley face on a napkin.

I used to spend too much money on manicures and pedicures.

Now I have my own personal 7-year-old cosmetologist.

I so clearly remember the days when my parents would embarrass me in front of friends.

Now, the stories of my kids embarrassing me are so much more fun to tell my friends.

When I was little, it was all about the presents.

But today, it’s all about Being Present.

I used to take being alone for granted.

Now I skip out the door to go to the grocery store alone.

I used to feel like my profession held little “meaning.”

Now, my world is defined by this mom job I do every day.

I don’t get corporate reviews, promotions or raises anymore.

But “Thank you mommy” and “You’re my best friend mommy” are more rewarding anyway.

I was NOT that girl who grew up dreaming of being a mommy.

But now, with those two small people to call my own, I wouldn’t dream of it Any Other Way.

Do you even remember NOT being a mom?  Do share what you love more in your life today than what your life used to be like.