True story. The nurses said that yes, I was in active labor, but I was far too happy to stay in the hospital, leisurely chewing on ice chips, hooked up to an epidural, and peacefully awaiting the blissful arrival of my baby. It was a full moon, after all, and they were booked solid. "Go home and come back when you're smiling less," they said.
So I did. By the time I got back to the hospital early the next morning, I was certainly smiling less. In fact, I was liable to give myself the epidural if they tried to turn me away again. I explained this, regrettably, in a not-so-nice way to the intake coordinator. "Congratulations!" she chirped. "You're ready!" My sweet girl was born shortly afterward, and in that moment - just like that - I became a mother. There was no ceremony, no test to pass, no certification process to complete. It was the simple passing of a moment that catapulted me into a completely new place in life.
If I'm being honest, before I became a mother I thought it seemed like the easiest thing in the world. I would often hear mothers expressing their exhaustion and inability to shower for days at a time, and I would shake my head in confusion. What was everyone so worked up over?
I prefer my humble pie served warm, thank you.
The role of Mommy, while indescribably (unbelievably!) amazing, has not necessarily come easy for me. I'm one of those let's-get-everything-done-right-now types, and for me, the hardest part of being a mother is that you can't always get everything done. Sometimes you can't get anything done actually, and you end up with seventeen half-finished projects that add up to the biggest mess you've ever seen in your life. One of the most important things I've learned as a mother is that some things can wait, while others can't. The dishes can wait. The hug can't. But I've found that the messy and chaotic days are usually the best ones.
All this to say that today was one of those days for me, which is why my blog post is a bit later than usual. I'll be back on track tomorrow. Or, who knows? Maybe I won't.
If you get the chance, hug a mom today. But do so at your own risk, because she may not have showered for a few days.
Don't ask me how I know...
Courtney, the thing I found interesting about becoming a mother was the change in the other mothers I knew. Before the birth, any expressions of insecurity were met with reassurances of how easy it was and how it would come naturally. Afterward, complaints were met with knowing smiles or smirks as if there were some kind of mother club whose members were sworn to secrecy about the less than perfect parts of raising a child. But there were also the hugs and the smiles and the sentimental tears when things were going well and your love for that little messy bundle just oozed out all over the place. My little bundle is now 42, but he's still a bit messy, and I still love him like crazy.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
I know what you're talking about with the knowing smiles/smirks. I'm pretty sure I've been giving some of those out... :)
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