Before becoming a mother, many women have a clear vision of how they will navigate the journey of parenting. They witness other moms handling toddler meltdowns in public or juggling multiple tasks with ease, swearing they will never let things go awry like that. Then, reality sets in, and after a couple of years, a partner, and maybe some fertility treatments, you find yourself ordering your home birth kit while your toddler throws a fit at the midwife’s office. Motherhood often leads to unexpected behaviors and emotions, sometimes even transforming you into your own mother. Here are 15 unforgettable rites of passage every mom goes through:
- You will find yourself maneuvering one of those ridiculous car-shaped shopping carts at the grocery store, kids spilling out of the windows, as you awkwardly bump into everything. And despite your initial disdain for them, you’ll feel an irrational surge of anger when all the carts are taken.
- You’ll miss important meetings or social gatherings and blame it on your baby. Forget the fact that you rolled your eyes at colleagues using their kids as excuses pre-parenthood; now it’s your turn to use that handy excuse!
- You might head out in public — perhaps even for a job interview — with stickers stuck to your backside, completely unaware until you get home and change.
- You’ll instinctively catch your child’s vomit — possibly with your bare hands — in a public place that’s least equipped for such emergencies. Think airplanes or places of worship. Trust me, you don’t want to be the one ruining the first day of summer for a crowd of kids at the pool.
- You will do everything you can to prevent your toddler from napping in the car. However, if you fail and your child dozes off, you will sit in the car with them, reading, just to avoid that dreaded transfer mishap.
- You will end up injuring yourself trying to prove to your child that you can still do all the fun kid activities. Whether it’s pogo sticking or climbing around at the playground, you might discover that you’re not as agile as you used to be.
- You will inevitably find yourself with a mom rival. She’s everywhere — at the playgroup, your child’s soccer team, and even your hair salon. Her advice on motherhood will drive you to distraction, and you’ll wonder if you need to change your entire routine to avoid her.
- You might catch yourself sounding just like your own mother, and sometimes even quoting your father. You’ll come to terms with it, surprisingly.
- You will proudly show off pictures of your children to complete strangers, even if they didn’t ask.
- You’ll engage in an unspoken “my child is better than your child” competition with another mom at a playdate. Even though you know comparisons are pointless, you can’t help but join in.
- You’ll refer to yourself in the third person as “Mommy.” Phrases like “Mommy says it’s bedtime” will become second nature, and you might even consider having your coworkers call you Mommy too!
- On Mother’s Day, you might feel a twinge of guilt for wanting some alone time. You’ll probably keep quiet about wishing for a peaceful morning instead of a lumpy breakfast in bed.
- The first time you embarrass your middle schooler with something they used to find cool will make you feel ancient and dramatically uncool.
- You might find your child’s beloved toy while cleaning out the toy box, and you’ll clutch it to your face and weep when you see its worn-out state.
- You’ll tell a new mom to “cherish every moment; it goes by so quickly,” even if you once hated hearing those words during your own exhausting days of sleepless nights. You wish you had cherished it more, as it seems to fly by.
For more insights on the journey of motherhood, check out this blog post on intracervicalinsemination.com. Also, if you want to explore options for starting a family, visit Make a Mom for comprehensive resources. You can also listen to valuable information regarding fertility on the Cleveland Clinic’s podcast.
In summary, motherhood is a journey filled with surprises, challenges, and shared experiences that transform you in ways you never thought possible. Embrace these moments!