Motherhood Is….

Just when you thought you had the most challenging job in the world, the universe goes and throws a global pandemic at you, forcing mothers all over the world to stay inside with their kids 24/7.

Yup, these past couple of months have certainly been interesting for us mamas. And as Mothers Day approaches, this quarantine has given me a lot more time to recognize and think about everything motherhood entails. It’s helped me better appreciate the beauty — not just the beastly — of this incredibly important role.

So what is this crazy experience called motherhood? What does it mean to you? I started jotting down what it means to me during my free time (bahahaha! made ya look! there’s no such thing as “free time” in motherhood! ) And I came up with everything from the sweet to the silly. Here are some of the ideas that come to my mind when I think about this amazing ride we call motherhood.

Motherhood is . . . .

feeling the purest form of love from the most innocent little humans.
those moments when you hear yourself called “Mom” and still can’t believe how cool that is.
embodying the phrase “whatever it takes.”
learning how to see the world through the wondrous eyes of a child.
finding human feet repulsive, but sniffing and nibbling baby toes every chance possible.
being the personal assistant to a much younger, often opinionated boss.
effortlessly catching toddler vomit in one hand while holding your dinner plate in the other.
the excitement of envisioning your children’s gifts turn into their future.
realizing that your child is what drives you nuts as well as what helps you keep it together.
enjoying the sweetest, simplest things in life like bedtime lullabies, fresh new crayons, and breezy walks together.
the embodiment of selflessness.
feeling like a world-renowned chef when your smallest food critics praise your cooking and knowing those tastes will stay with them when they’re old and grey.
learning to love yourself, flaws and all, the way your children love you.
understanding why grocery shopping with kids is like an Olympic sport.
thinking about every word you say and every move you make more than you ever did before.
never having a hot meal that is still hot by the time you get to eat it.
caring for your child more than anything or anybody else.
mastering the art of interjecting “Wow,” and “That’s awesome” throughout a small person’s rambling 20 minute story.
wanting to be the best version of yourself for your child.
the fire inside you to defend your child against anyone or anything.
desperately waiting for bedtime to have some alone time and then staring at their sweet sleeping faces and gushing over the cute pictures you posted of them on Instagram.
knowing and loving that unmistakably unique scent of your child’s skin and hair.
waking up to a tiny foot on your forehead and a small person in your bed.
looking in your children’s eyes and thinking, “Where did this new little person come from?!”
being unfazed by boogers, poop, or vomit on your hands or clothes.
wanting the last piece of pizza (cake, candy, insert favorite treat here) but giving it to your child instead.
making a fool of yourself in front of thousands of people in Disney World to get youd kids to smile in a photo.
cramming 12 hours of adulthood into the time between your children’s bedtime and your own.
staying up at night to watch a fever, and wishing you had it instead.
the excitement you feel setting up toys at Christmas or wrapping birthday surprises.
spending hours cooking a meal that’s devoured in 15 minutes and immediately followed by requests for snacks.
being amazed that anyone can adore you and look up to you as much as your children do.
the motivation to be as good a human as your children see you.
the living definition of unconditional love 💓