8 Surprising Things I Learned After Becoming A Mother

From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a mother, and being the second oldest in a family of 12, I felt prepared for it. I thought I knew what to expect. Boy was I wrong! No matter how prepared you think you are, you cannot REALLY be prepared for a position you have yet to fill. Motherhood is more physically and mentally challenging, and yet far more rewarding than I had anticipated. Here are 8 surprising things I have learned in the past few years of being a mother.

1. Privacy is Almost Non-existent

I’ve heard it said by mothers over and over that “the bathroom is the only place I can get privacy.” What?! You actually get privacy?! I’m jealous! If I close the door while I do my potty business, there will be fits, tears, and wild hysteria. OK, OK. I do get a tiny bit of privacy. But that either means I managed to coordinate naps (Mom win!) or I’m up WAY past my bedtime.

2. Mothers Are ALWAYS Cleaning Up Messes!

I swear, I clean up the same mess 50 billion times a day! Alright, I admit I am slightly exaggerating. But that’s honestly what it feels like some days. I take solace in knowing that one day my kids will have to do all the chores. I’ll just watch, big bowl of ice cream in hand, and a smile on my face.  Maybe I’ll even add to the mess a little. Knock some books off the shelf, dump out the toy box, rip up some tissue…oh, and ice cream could make great paint! Mwah-ha-ha!

3. Naps are Heaven

I am willing to bet nobody enjoys a nap quite like a mother. Being a mother is downright exhausting! Mothers are busy from the moment their eyes open in the morning until they close again in sweet slumber.  Although exhausting, it can be pretty difficult to sneak in a nap between the feeding, comforting, cleaning, laundry, dishes, and cooking, not to mention the quality time with hubby. I can’t even remember the last time I managed a nap. I can, however, remember the last time I almost got a nap (which my daughter spoiled by asking for a cracker…guys,…a cracker). So when a nap is finally achieved, the angels sing.

4. Snot is Not THAT Gross

Don’t get me wrong, snot IS gross. But it’s not gross enough to refuse my daughter’s kiss if she offers one. A snot covered face is not gross enough to push my son off my shoulder when he wants to snuggle. Snot doesn’t faze me a bit when my sick daughter needs some love and kisses. Snot is gross, but not nearly as gross as it used to be. And certainly not as gross as other things I’ve grown accustomed to dealing with.

5. Shopping With Kids is Not Easy

Before I had my children, I loved to go grocery shopping. It was fun planning meals and taking my time in the store gathering food. Now with two little ones, shopping is the LAST thing I want to do. In order to go shopping I have to get us dressed and out the door in a timely manner (psh!), and strategically plan around naps and snacks. But just getting out of the house is the least of my worries.

Here are a few of the things my daughter (2 1/2)  has done while shopping:

• Helped me out by ripping open boxes of food.
• Ate the broccoli straight out of the bag when I wasn’t looking. (At least she likes broccoli)
• Fell asleep in the middle of the cart leaving almost no room for food.
• Built a tower in the cart which knocked chicken broth onto the floor. Of COURSE it HAD to break open and spill everywhere. Embarrassing!

So, if I HAVE to do the shopping without the help of my husband, I try to get it over with as quickly as possible.

6. Motherhood is a Daily Roller Coaster of Emotions

You know exactly what I am talking about. Those rip-your-hair-out moments when your son helps himself to the candy bars in your purse, followed by swooning over his chocolate covered face. Or wanting to scream and cry (and maybe even run away) because your daughter has her 10th meltdown in 5 minutes. Then 2 seconds later you have to belly laugh because she finally fell asleep with her face in her plate of spaghetti.

7. My Husband is Suddenly More Attractive

Not to say that I wasn’t attracted to him before, but my husband’s attractiveness (is that a word?) has tripled now that he is the father of my children. Gosh, that man is hot sauce. I love watching my children enjoy play time with their daddy, and I love to see the pride on my husband’s face as he watches them play. I love my family!

8. A Mother’s Love Multiplies

After I had my daughter, I was so happy. I was the whole entire world to a teeny person who emerged from ME. I love her so much. Then I found out that there was another on the way. I was very excited, but I started to wonder to myself, “What if I don’t love this baby as much as I love my daughter?” Then my son was born and I fell, I fell HARD! My heart had already been so full, but somehow, it filled some more. I have the same love for both of my children. It multiplied! I don’t know how it is possible, it just is!

What’s Next?!

Motherhood has taught me so much, and turned me into a better person. It has been an incredible journey already, and I still have many more lessons ahead of me. I am enjoying the years while my children are young, and too soon the teenage years will arrive.  I am SURELY unprepared for that! In the meantime, I will learn what I can from all the wonderful mothers around me.

What surprising things did you learn after having children? What would you want a new mother to know? Let me know in the comments!

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