Writer's Workshop-Motherhood

Motherhood.

Are there enough words to describe how it has changed me?

See, the thing about motherhood is:

There are a lot of variables that make being a mommy pretty unpredictable. One can control many variables with schedules, but even those have flaws. There is no guarantee that the whipper snapper(s) involved is going to adhere to the "rules" imposed. I like a schedule. I love nap time and the time it gives me to take a deep breath. I love that every day has a moment that allows for reflection on the unexpected that invariably already happened that day.

The first time I got pregnant I didn't mind throwing up everyday. I didn't mind gaining 50 lbs. and looking like a beached whale. I didn't mind any of the weird things that the body goes through to grow a baby, but I did mind one thing. And it took me years to admit it. I saw plenty of births in childbirth class, yet I don't remember or forgot that many times they don't clean the baby before giving him/her to the mommy. After I birthed my first baby, they promptly put her on my stomach and I literally didn't know what to do. I was crying because I had just experienced the greatest joy of my life, yet I was perplexed. Was I supposed to pick up the slightly stinky, bloody baby, or just touch her? Worse yet, I didn't know if there was something wrong with me for really just wanting to hold her once she was swaddled and cleaned? That was my first experience with the conflicting emotions that motherhood brings.

While I was pregnant, I fully committed to breastfeeding. I knew that it would be easy, economical and the best thing for my baby. A few days after the birth, my milk came in. I was a little shocked. By everything, even though I thought I knew all about it. I DID not know that it (human breast milk) didn't come out in a single stream. How was it that no one had ever told me this? I had commited to breastfeeding, yet for me it was one of the hardest things I had ever done. It was stressful for me, and I didn't feel like it provided an opportunity for extra bonding. I wasn't expecting this.

The latest revelation that has shocked me is that even though I love to read, I don't love reading with my children who are learning to read. This is supposed to be a magical time, but I find myself going crazy waiting for each word to be deciphered. I think it must make me a bad mom in a way, but perhaps it just shows how much I love my children in order to do these things that I don't love.

In fact, that must be it. The thing about being a mommy is love. In all it's unexpected forms. Has it changed me? Infinitely. It's perplexed me, it's humbled me, it's allowed me adventures I never dreamed of. It's made me far less self centered AND. It's filled me with joy.

Head on over to Mama Kat's place to see what others are saying.

Wordful Wednesday-Motherhood Edition

*Wordful Wednesday is for those of us that like to showcase a photo(s) but that just can't seem keep our mouths shut about it(them). If you'd like to play along, post a photo on your blog, and let the words roll. Feel free to "capture" my 7 Clown Circus button (below and on the left) or simply hyperlink to my site, and be sure to add yourself to Mr. Linky. Thanks for playing along!

Grab My Button


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For the past few weeks we've tried out having a prompt IF and only IF you would like to use it.

This week the prompt is: MOTHERHOOD. Let's see it in all its beautiful forms.

I've posted this picture before. I'm posting it again because it screams motherhood to me. I have all of my babies with me, connected, and we are heading towards one common goal.

That's kind of what motherhood is to me. Loving up my babies and trying to help lead them in the right direction. I pray I'm doing a decent job.

For Next WEEK, The prompt is:

Sleeping. Kids sleeping.......you sleeping. Your dog sleeping. Totally up to you. :)

PLEASE let me know (with an asterik by your name or blog title) if your post is about motherhood. If it is, and you are the winning Wordful Wednesday entry, you'll recieve TWO things. First, a feature on Eliza's blog with your winning entry, AND secondly, a set of aden + anais Zoo Muslin swaddling blankets (pictured below).

For more information on Motherhood, the movie, become a Facebook Fan!

This Mommy...

...could certainly be described as the anti-perfect mommy. This mommy probably takes far too many short cuts when it comes to parenting. This mommy probably yells too much. This mommy probably allows her children to eat far too much candy and stay up far too late during the summer. This mommy might possibly be too laid back because it's easier that way. But who is to say really?

This mother's mothering has done a form of evolution in my survival-of-the-fittest-as-a-mother quest. I've changed certain things.......and not always in a good way, I might add. I don't make my children bathe/shower every day anymore if they are not dirty. I haven't made them scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast on a regular basis for years. I don't even make them write thank you notes every time it's appropriate because it takes so much effort on my part. Sometimes I do their chores for them because watching them do it at a snail pace or with a complaint makes me crazy. And sometimes, (gasp) I let them watch far too much TV. I don't don't dote on them the way I see many mother do, and I'm pretty sure I'm not one of those delusional moms that think their children are perfect.

However, this mother adores her little children with a love that feels like it could burst right out of her chest at any moment. I'd like to think that even though I am far from a perfect mom, I am loving mom; one that does everything in her power to teach her children the things they need to learn to be good people. I hope that I am the one whose children know how much she loves them.........the one who tries to keep them safe, always.........the one who didn't know what fulfillment children bring to a person until she had some of her own.

THE END.

I am having a contest this Wednesday in conjunction with Wordful Wednesday. If you follow the prompt and get Wordful with a picture what motherhood is to you, PLEASE let me know (with an asterik by your name or blog title in Mr. Linky) if your post is about motherhood. If it is, and you are the winning Wordful Wednesday entry, you'll recieve TWO things. First, a feature on Eliza's blog with your winning entry, AND secondly, a set of Aden & Anais Zoo Muslin swaddling blankets (pictured below).

To see what other mom's are saying, head on over to my good friend Scary Mommy's blog.

Writer's Workshop-My Birth

Another edition of Writer's Workshop with Mama Kat has arrived:

First off though, I have to do a little bragging. Guess who I spoke with yesterday on the phone?

Good guesses. I think. I can't hear you. But I'm pretending I can.

Uma Thurman. Can you believe it? I'll tell you about it soon.

I'm busy getting ready for SITScation.

Oh wait. Writer's Workshop.........MY BIRTH.

Speaking of births. I just became an aunt again......my sister gave me a new nephew a few days ago. So exciting.

I got side tracked here, didn't I? I actually have a very interesting birth story.

I was born on April Fool's Day. In a truck. On the side of the road. During a snow storm. My dad delivered me. And gave me black eyes. I had respiratory issues that the small town hospital could not handle so I was put in an ambulance to go to a bigger city. The ambulance kinda crashed. I survived.

The end.

And here I am.

Are your eyes watering?

Mine are.

And I'm guessing yours would be too if you could smell my house. And me, for that matter.

No. It's not onions. I actually wish it were.

It's smoke. As in, smoke-that-is-in-my-house-as-a -result-of-my-twins-trying-to-burn-it-down.

It's my fault though, so I can't blame them.

I took a shower AND attempted to blow dry my hair without checking on them.

I guess they got hungry and decided to make their own breakfast.

Toaster waffles.

Only..........................

Only..........................

They popped and then re-popped those suckers until they were on fire.

Don't worry. No one is hurt. I've got a house full of smoke and two hungry boys (the waffles obviously didn't look very appetizing burnt to a crisp), and yet another example that proves my very unscientific theory.

No one knows real excitement and adventure until they become a parent.