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The Developing Mama
Thursday, May 05, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Sunday is our day! Whether you are expecting, recently delivered, or well settled in your role as a mother, Mother's Day is your day to celebrate the good, the bad, and the "adventure" we signed up for the moment we became a mother.
In my ramblings, I focus on our developing children. This makes good sense as the focus of the blog is "child development."
Today, though, is about you. It's about me. It's about us developing as mothers. It's about how motherhood has changed us.
I went into this journey swearing that parenthood would not change me. I was going to continue to be a working professional. I was going to have regular date nights (wink, wink) out with the hubby. I was going to continue connecting with my girlfriends and heading out for a night now and then.
Smack.
I got pregnant. My body began to change (welcome wider hips, bigger breasts, and a whole lot of weight gain).
I gave birth. I looked at her. That was it. Yes, I am one of these people who, despite the adventurous labor - including the emergency c-section - fell head over heels with my little girl the moment she landed in my arms.
Smack. I was a changed woman.
I used to wonder why some people - specifically mothers of young children - seemed so flighty (I wouldn't want to use the word "dumb").
Now, I am one of these people.
Brain cells have left me. Perhaps it is the lack of sleep? Or the attempt to multi-task one too many times?
Whatever it is, I can admit now that I have changed. Motherhood has developed me.
As I have watched my child grow, I have also grown as a person.
I now have the patience of a saint.
I can pull an all-nighter (with a little help from a cup of java now and then) and still (almost) function the next day.
I can do four to five things simultaneously.
I really have developed eyes in the back of my head.
I have developed a sixth sense. It's a sense that somehow knows my child and her needs better than anyone else.
I've learned that it is as important to think with my heart as it is with my head.
I've been reminded that there is more than one way to accomplish a task.
Best of all, I've been reminded of the simple joys in life. Her smile. Her squeals in seeing a butterfly or the sun. The excitement of having ice cream.
What about you?
Are you the same or have you changed since you became a mom?
Either way, wishing you a wonderful Mother's Day!
