Motherhood Changed My Life

My little loves

With Mother's Day coming up it's made me think a LOT about how my life changed after my first child was born and then changed still more after each of the other three.

At the time Caleb, my oldest, was born almost seven years ago I was such a selfish person! I was a full-time employee of a large telecommunications company, able to work from home when I wanted. I slept in till about 8:30 just about every day during the week (I know it's not super late, but it was better than the 6:30 I'd have to get up on days I went into the office!), I ALWAYS got a full nights sleep, and ate hot meals if that's how they were supposed to be. I was reading a new book all the time, able to sit uninterrupted through Sunday School and our main worship service every Sunday, not to mention restaurants. Tim and I saw movies often and traveled a lot. I showered daily, fixed my hair and put on makeup. I felt pretty.

But after Caleb it all went down hill. No sleep, no showers, no hot meals, not much time out. I tried resisting, but really, when you have a new little baby there's only so much you can do about these things. Eventually I gave in and accepted my lot :D We were still able to make a few trips, Southern California when he was an infant.

When Benjamin was born, just a mere 16 1/2 months later, I already knew what to expect so things were "easier". However, while one baby didn't create that much more laundry or maybe it did but everything was so small so I didn't notice as much, adding in a second one made my head reel! Where was it all coming from? Every time I turned around there was a mountain in my laundry room that I needed to climb! Oh yeah, lets not forget that by this time Caleb was sleeping through the night so again, midnight feedings with Benjamin were my undoing! Still wanting to travel, we did make it to Puerto Rico though!

Then it happens again and about 20 months later, comes Abigail. Her daddy's joy! At this time, I have a 3 year old, an almost 2 year old and an infant. We're not sitting through much, be it church, restaurants, or what have you, but again, we did still manage a trip to New York City! However, my house is now ALWAYS a mess. Toys, toys, toys, everywhere. Pictures and creations that need to be saved that I'm not so great at putting away were cluttering up my tables and other flat surfaces. Cheerios and cracker crumbs all over the floor. WHAT happened?!?!?! Oh yeah...three kids real quick.

18 months later, here comes Zechariah who I lovingly call my terror of all terrors. I'm almost positive someone gave him an energy drink IV in the hospital, most likely one of those Monster ones! Caleb, Benjamin, and Abigail were all so full of energy which I know they got from their daddy, but Z by far is the worst! He keeps me on my toes like no other. With the other three I feel like I had a little bit of down time. They all played well alone or together. Zechariah? You better not leave him alone! He was the first one that prompted me to put the kitchen garbage under the sink. The others stayed out of it, but oh no, not Z. Same with the toilet. EWWWW!!! I never bought a toilet lock when Caleb was born and never needed one with the others either. Z? It was his favorite place to splash :( Thankfully he's finally outgrown that one! I have to keep a constant eye on him. He's my climber, pincher, hitter, toy grabber, temper tantrum thrower, doesn't want to sleep in his own bed child! Oh, and he doesn't like to keep his clothes on either. Still not wanting to give up traveling, we did make a trip to Japan. Quite a trip, but I'm tired just thinking about it.

I snuggle with these runny nosed, dirty faced urchins. I kiss their grubby cheeks and hold their sticky hands. My clothes usually have some kind of spot from various things being wiped on me and their clothes don't always match. I read them the same stories over and over and over and over and over, and did I mention over and over again? Same thing with their videos. I can sing every song in our BOZ video, the theme song to Phineas and Ferb and I know almost every line of Cinderella. I mop up after bath time and get up to walk 1 or 2 of them a night downstairs to the bathroom because they just needed that "one last drink" and...I'm a pushover.

I may not always get a shower, don't always have clean hair let alone get to fix it, I don't wear makeup except on Sundays when I go to church or if something special is happening during the week, or I just want to look nice for Tim. I wake up every night for something or someone, or have an extra body in my bed. I don't see too many movies unless they can be rented and I'm well acquainted with my microwave to reheat my dinner, often after the kids are in bed. I've learned to read my books fast, usually skipping a few parts I don't have time for, and I wake up at 6:30 to get Caleb ready for school.

But my children are loved and I know they love me! I feel beautiful right where it counts. I have a special purpose and that's to take care of them and do my best to raise them knowing what is right and wrong in God's eyes and yet teach about the grace and mercy shown to us so we can show it to others. I have so many roles in their young lives, from cook to doctor to teacher to supporter to enforcer, and more. And I wouldn't change anything. I cherish all the moments we've spent together and I eagerly look forward to the time ahead of us.

These have been the best 7 years of my life.

Well, maybe I would change a couple things...get more sleep and I'd have a housekeeper!