“When I’m a mom, I am never going to do that to my kids!”
“I will never tell my kids – ‘because I said so, that’s why!’”
“I’m not going to do what my mom/dad/parents did to me!”
Ok all you Moms out there, tell the truth. Think back to before your adventure in motherhood, and tell me you didn’t say a version of one (if not ALL) of those statements to your own Mom, or at least think it on occasion?
Oh, I said them all. I was going to be an enlightened, understanding and ever-so patient mom. I would never snap at my children or yell in frustration or tell them, “go find something to do, or I’ll find something for you!”
And then? Well, then motherhood came and slapped me upside the head. And I was so surprised when something I swore I would never say to my children, slipped so easily out of my mouth.
Now I’m not so surprised, but I have found that I am much more enlightened on what it takes to be a mom. My mom? Now I can look back and see that she did a pretty amazing job. Her “way” seems to be a pretty darn good way of doing things. And also? Being a mom is hard work. Every single day. And my Mom has been doing it for 38 years, and for three kids.
So today I not only send you wishes and gifts of love, Mom – but I also give you thanks for providing me an example of a good Mom to live up to, and a rough draft of a “Mom Handbook” to try to follow.
And when my girls tell me, “When I’m a mom I’ll never…,” I will just smile and know someday they too will figure out the Mom secret. Because I think you can only really fully appreciate something after you’ve lived a bit of it.
To all the hard-working moms, and especially mine, I hope you have a beautiful day and can truly relish in the awesomeness that being a mom brings. Love to you all.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day, Bean!
Happy Mother’s Day to you also Bean… Sorry I missed your call.
Love You
Mom
I think the only perfect moms are the ones who aren’t moms yet.
I know I too was going to be always patient, calm, and loving…and then, well, I became a mom! This was a great post, Carrie. Happy Mother’s Day to you. You are giving your girls a GREAT example of what it means to be a good mom.
Excellent post!
Oh the plans that I had for motherhood! I really imagined that I would be stricter than I am. I think having twins really put a damper on that one. When faced with two crying toddlers, it’s just. so. easy. to give in. I have gotten better at discipline in the last year, though. I was “never” going to let them watch TV. *hah!*
As for “because I said so”….well, I was at a convention last month and heard Amy Roloff speak. She mentioned that she would tell her kids “because I’m your Mother and I’m responsible for what’s best for you.” Now, to me that is basically a way to say “because I said so” in a loving, I care about you way. So now I use the phrase all of the time. ALL of the time.
I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day. You are so, so right Carrie. If I only had an ounce of that patience I thought I would have with my children. Beautiful flowers too.
Happy belated MOther’s Day to you! Beautiful roses.
Truer words… Hope you had a wonderful mother’s day Carrie.