Motherhood

     I don't know what most women envision motherhood to be like, but I am pretty sure it's not what they expect.  Motherhood for me was never something I grew up putting in my "what I want to be when I grow up" essays.  Now before you get the wrong idea here, let me please clarify; being a mother was something I always knew I would do, it was a part of my being.  I just always knew that I would be a mother and someone's partner.  Whatever I decided to do in life was always going to be second to motherhood.  But I have identity issues with only being a mother.  I never wanted to be identified only as a homemaker.  I went to nursing school and earned my LPN, but being a mother and being needed at home made motherhood as my only job.
     It's a hard job.  Dr. Phil said being a full time mother is the same as having two full time jobs.  Now I may not agree with all of Dr. Phil's views, but he got this one right.  I have been a single mom working to support my three boys and that was so much easier than being a full time stay at home mom.   I imagined motherhood to be hard, fun, challenging, and most of all rewarding.  For the most part that is what I have experienced.  It is certainly not what I am thinking when it's 2:00 in the morning and one kid is puking, while the baby is crying, and another kid has a severe cough; but for the most part it is what I envisioned.
     I have a lot of pride and love for each of my beautiful 6 children.  I became a wife and mother at 18 years old and so there has been many years of cherished moments of being with my kids over the last 22 years.  It is sometimes challenging having such a age gap between some of the kids but it has turned out better than I imagined.    
     I have such respect (and jealousy) for women who tell me all they have ever wanted to be is a mother.  I have a very difficult time being home each and every day.  I get cabin fever (my mom says it's the Grover side of the family).  I wish I was talented like some other mom's I know who do such creative things with their little ones.  I am normally counting the hours till my husband gets home so I can hide or take a nap.
     Kudo's to all mothers whatever kind of mother you are.  It is a noble calling.  You don't have to be someone whose given childbirth.  There have been wonderful women who have been mother's to my children helping them along in their journey upon the earth and I have been very grateful for their love and sacrifice in serving my family.