Number One turns seven today. He was up at six, dressing in his favourite t-shirt and shorts, ready for the Lego Movie themed party that would begin eight hours later. I hadn’t the heart to tell him that he won’t really be seven till a few minutes before midnight.
At six am on the day he was born I was pacing our apartment, excited and nervous, breathing through contractions that had been coming and going since 4am, blissfully unaware that I had another eighteen hours of this ahead of me and ignorant to the fact that that life would never be the same again.
You see, if it wasn’t for motherhood, there are a lot of things that would be different in my life.
I’m so shy, I would never have joined a local club or committee for myself. But now I’m a long-serving member of the kindergarten parents’ council.
I do not flinch at snot, poo, wee or vomit landing on my hair, clothes or skin. This was not always the case.
I don’t think of time as mine any more but rather I think of time running in parallel – mine, my children’s, my husband’s and other people’s – sometimes it overlaps.
I am wiser than I used to be. As my children grow older, I find that my negotiation and project management skills have developed and improved.
I laugh every day and smile so much I’m getting wrinkles. My pre-child wrinkles are all from frowning.
Life was always good to me. But since I became a mother life has been its best yet.
Unbeknownst to me my neighbour gave birth to her first child this morning at 6.09. I wonder, does she realise the adventure she has started out on?
A Thai person try would convince you that smiling doesn't give you wrinkles. Bit rich coming for a nation of people who look at least 20 years younger than they actually are though.
8 hours is a long time to wait for a lego themed party. I hope you both survive x
It is crazy how young they look! The cleaning lady at my son's school looks around forty but she was telling me recently about her grandchildren (and not in a “I had my first child at 16” kind of way).
We survived, thanks. Details will follow. Stay tuned 🙂
Ah Fionnuala I also feel like motherhood has given me the chance to become a part of something bigger than myself – networks of local friends, support groups and information sharing. I definitely think that parenting makes us constantly aim to be better people as well – it's a job and it always pays to improve on your skills at work over time! Thanks for linking up X #thetruthabout
Exactly. Well put Samantha! Being a mother is a work in progress.
Lovely post! Especially the part about the wrinkles – I've never smiled this much before in my life! 🙂 #wineandboobs
Thanks! Isn't it amazing how such a simple thing as smiling can fall by the wayside. Children are a brilliant remedy to it.
It's amazing how much your life changes after having children. A job that's so hard in many ways, but also the most rewarding job I have! 🙂 x
I totally agree Michelle! All the downs are more than repaid by all the laughter, heart-melting moments, pride and the rest of the wonderful things motherhood brings with it.
Lovely post!
It's so hard sometimes to remember to make the most of what you have, because it won't always be there.
I hope the next seven years are just as amazing for your family, and that the lego party was a huge success.
Thanks for linking up with #wineandboobs
@twentryfirstmama
Thanks Lora! I hope so too. Thanks for stopping by from #wineandboobs.