How do I explain being a mom?!

I got an email from a sorority sister about being pregnant, and she is the type of person who loves to be well informed, and it makes her a great person. This email wanted to see what was needed for her bundle of joy she is expecting. I know she has a ton of questions and I felt honored for her to email me regarding this. BUT where do I start, where do you begin to tell someone the joys and pains of something that is so ingrained in you its in your core and soul?

I started with the basics of what baby will need, like diapers, burp rags, wipes, etc. Then I was stuck. I love being a mom and it is the major part of who I am. I love it so much I would have 10 more kids to shower them with my love, but how do I convey what its like to a soon to be new mom?

There are times my house isn't clean (all the time) and you have to climb over toys to get down the hall, but how can I ask my kids to stop playing and clean them up when I have so much joy just watching them play and use their imaginations. How do I get up when we all are cuddling watching a Disney movie to do boring dishes. How do I force myself to stop smiling when they push each other around in the empty toy bin when I did ask them to pick up. I can't, and I won't.

Children grow so fast and before you know it that little infant you held in your arms is almost 5 years old. Where did the time fly? Why waste that time on cleaning when you can play and watch and take pictures of them to build those memories.

We are in a society now that thrives on the go go attitude and we forget to just slow down and cherish the small things. We forget what our grandparents said about taking life one day at a time. We are in such a rush to grow up and be rich and famous we forget to enjoy the little things. I don't want that for my girls. I want them to have a wonderful childhood full of memories and stories they tell their kids. Life isn't about being rich and having a perfect home and tons of fancy stuff, its about having fun, building memories that will stay with you forever. If being a mom means I clean during nap or when they are in bed and play with them when they are up, then that is what it means. I wish we could all just slow down sometimes, and cherish what is right there in front of us, our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Being a mom is something different for each new or experienced mom, and you can't really explain what it is. Its something that comes from within and just grows inside you to the point that all you know is that feeling of being a mom. By all means it isn't an easy job, its time consuming and tiring and stressful and scary and that is all before breakfast. But when you look into that sweet child's face you forget that hard part and the joy of the job is right there in front of you. I can't tell anyone how to be a good mom, just do what you feel is right for your child. Its scary and I still get scared, but you know what that's OK. Its okay to be afraid that you have no clue what to do, its okay to wonder what if I did something differently, its okay to get so worked up you want to pull your hair out. But never and I mean never regret anything you do for your child that is in the child's best interest. I stress this because I have a friend who in less than 2 years has lost 2 children, and as much as it breaks my heart I find peace knowing she did what she could for her children. Losing a child is the worst thing for a mother, but finding peace knowing you did everything you could for them is only a small part to healing. A mothers heart will never heal fully when losing a child, but it can build that scar to help you keep on.

Thank you for reading this, and I apologize if it is a little scattered, lets just call that MOMMY BRAIN!
God Bless, and hug your kids tight, show them you love them!