Real Talk Mothering

Women without kids take so much for granted. I know I did before I had mine. So if you are still child-less, I encourage you to savor these simple pleasures that become rare luxuries as a mom of little kids: Sleeping the whole night - I used to be such a deep sleeper but after breastfeeding both kids through the night for over 6 months each, I sleep much lighter and more restlessly.  Sleeping in - in order to keep the kids' sleep schedules (wake around 7am, sleep around 7:30pm) which I'm pretty strict about because it gives me a predictable schedule and well-rested kids, I have never been able to sleep past 6:30am for 4 years now. Finishing a meal in one sitting - I constantly have to get up to get them things from the pantry, fridge, or counter. Or clean up a mess. Or prevent them from making bigger messes or tipping back their chair. I am usually the last to finish eating, and I was already a slow eater before I had kids! Taking a leisurely shower without rushing - I only sho...

I'm sure this is an age old notion, but it came to me in somewhat of a poetic way one day so I thought it'd be fun to jot it down and share it.  Moms wear many many hats. We have to become master multi-taskers whether we like it or not, whether we are good at it or not - because there is simply too much to do! Here's what I find myself being responsible for while being a SAHM to a 1-yo and 4-yo: [re]Scheduler of appointments  - being on the phone listening to inefficient automated messages and being on hold with a screaming tugging kid in the background.  Registrationer of lessons & classes - looking up the hours, prices, reviews, and locations of swim schools, gymnasiums, dance studios, libraries, play gyms, etc. while glancing back and forth to my calendar and the weather app to see when is the most convenient time to do what.  Wiper of butts, hands, eyes & noses  - going through tons of baby wipes, sanitizing hand wipes, Kleenex, and toilet paper to w...

Lately I’ve been feeling miserable and unhappy with my situation. A long painful conversation with my husband made me realize that I feel stuck and frustrated with the choices I have made. Here’s the kicker: I wouldn’t make any different choices! I feel the choices I have made are the best for me and my family in the long run, I am just really not enjoying it right now. Ever feel that way? I'm thinking of 3 choices in particular... 1) HAVING CHILDREN Having children is a commandment in my religion that I always expected to follow. Whatever preferences I may have had for myself were subsumed under this desire to be obedient to God. From what little I knew about parenthood from friends and the media, it seemed all-consuming. So I had as many adventures as possible before motherhood while passionately investing in my career because I knew I would not be able to do those things while my children are young and living at home. I'm so glad I did! It turns out I don’t enjoy taking care...