Motherhood

Motherhood is sacrifice

The sleepless nights, the housework, for most an outside job as well, the constant laundry, wiping bottoms, noses, doctors visit, stopping having a life of your own and putting plans on hold while they are very young, the sicknesses. All of this with no pay. No one realizes while there is food, clean underwear, timely paid bills, maintenance done and everything is going well. When things are going well, mom is invisible. All the little things that hold the home together is unrecognized by everyone for the most part.

Motherhood is humiliating

When your child toots in front of others, burps like a frat boy in public, when there is poop in your outfit because the diaper leaked, when you walk around with spit up covered clothes, when you are in the car just covered in a blanket because your child vomited all over you.

Motherhood is humbling

All the big statements you made prebaby, crumbling right before your eyes. You feel like a jerk for making judgements on things you had no idea about. You eat a lot of crow and humbly pray to God for forgiveness. When you judged women out with their 1 week old babies and then you find yourself sitting in a restaurant with your 5 day old, that is humbling.

Motherhood makes you grow up

You have to be so much better than you ever thought you could be. Selfishness is not an option. When you think you don't have anymore to give, then you give some more. When you haven't slept more than 5 hours in the past week and you are sick yourself but then you again get up at 3 in the morning to soothe a crying baby, you are officially grown up.

Motherhood is rewarding

The first smile, calling mama, morning snuggles, hugs around the neck, searching you out in a crowd. And then there is the privilege to nurture a child, have him look up to you, and pray for him his entire life.