Mom Life
Sometimes, I think, what happened to my life?
You get to a point in adulthood when you decide (or you just take the leap and don’t think it through, in my case) to sacrifice your free time and sanity to start a family. You experience highs and lows like a junkie – from exhaustion to euphoria. And you go back for more! You forget about the risks and the long, sleepless nights.
I am in the thick of it – I am the mother to a two-week-old baby and a two-year-old toddler. I am living the “mom life” and there is no turning back. Caring for two kids has really tested my ability to be a high-functioning human being. Although I feel like I’ve entered the ranks of a secret society of motherhood – women who are able to accomplish arguably super human feats, but often neglect societal norms.
A few things I’ve noticed happening to me that many moms can probably relate to:
1. You routinely forget to look in the mirror before you leave the house.
2. You almost always wear black yoga pants.
3. Your last meal consisted of scraps from your child’s plate.
4. It takes you at least an hour to leave the house.
5. If you could only have one beauty item, it would undoubtedly be under eye concealer.
6. You find yourself busting out into song to get your kid to do routine chores like brushing his teeth, eating or going potty.
7. You’ve been pooped or puked on (or maybe both) some time in the past 24 hours.
8. You’ve tried, with or without success, to do several other things while wearing or breastfeeding your baby.
9. There are always snacks in the abyss of your purse/diaper bag.
The older generation tells you things to make you feel better: “Everything is a phase,” “It gets easier,” “You’re doing great!” It’s all true, but there’s no way to remove the guilt from parenting or the feeling that you're losing your mind. It can even feel like an out of body experience – and it all starts with the way they come into this world. But that's a different conversation for a different day. For now, I am just going to keep snuggling my kids, changing diapers and savoring those quiet moments when I can enjoy a glass of wine and a bubble bath or put on some makeup and get out for a date with my husband to feel like myself again for a moment.
Much respect to all the mothers out there.
Cash (2) and Ruby (newborn). They look innocent here, but they turn in to savages if they don’t get what they want. Photo courtesy of Shannon Wucherer photography.