Mom answering cell phone: "Denise *******, something something pharmaceuticals."
Me: "I just wanted to apologize for every time I wiped my nose on your shirt. Every time."
Mom: Laughs

After talking to both my mother and sister yesterday I started to think about my experience as a mom, thus far. Charlotte is officially a toddler. This means that yesterday she walked the entire length of our house to the bathroom where I was taking a shower. Then she pushed the door open (I didn't figure it would need to be latched) and then walked to the shower. She proceeded to open the door and stick her head in and call to me to let her come join the fun. As I was still in the shampooing process and she was fully clothed so I didn't let her. This made her mad. Being a toddler also means that she can make her way to the bathroom all by herself. And that she's strong enough to open the lid on the toilet. All I have to say about that is ick, ick, ick.

After recounting a few stories like this to my mom and then my sister, Katie said that being a mom must be a lot of work. Every little thing that isn't a big deal becomes a big deal when you have to take the baby along. When she said that I replied that being a mom isn't that hard of a job (please don't write hate comments until you read to the end of the post). My reasoning is that for every night of screaming terror or puking disasters there are days of let's just watch Nemo or splash in the ponds. Every job has its positives and negatives. She told me that she was going to remind me of that comment one day (now that I've written it down you don't need to Katie). It got me to thinking though, is that really true? Do I really spend more time just having fun or doing work? I came up with my answer, for now, after a whole 9 months of experience. Granted it's not expert opinion, but it's my opinion, and my blog come to think of it, so there.

Here goes.

I think that the hard things about being a mom are surprisingly HARD. I thought I was ready for them. Whenever I watched Supernanny I thought, duh, of course you have to keep putting your kids back to bed. They need to learn to go to sleep and sleep in their own beds! You'll go insane if you let them stay up all night every night! I still agree with the reasoning in that statement, but now I understand why it was so hard for the moms and dads to do that. I do not blame them for not being able to teach their kids that sooner. Because it is stinking hard to listen to your child wail like a banshee, long enough that they cough. I remember when I would lay in bed just holding my husband's hand waiting for her to sleep so that I could. That was hard, but for us it worked.

It's also hard to not know what your child wants.

It's also hard to know what your child wants and know that they can't/ shouldn't have it.

Breastfeeding for the first two weeks involves physical pain. I don't care how many books I read saying that if you're doing it right it shouldn't hurt. Charlotte and I were doing it right. I went to a lactation specialist and she told me so. It still hurt every time for two weeks.

Going places with kids is hard. Just the physical act of getting them ready takes a bit of fortitude.


On the flip side, the awesome, great, fun things about being a mom are amazingly good. I was trying to think of a better word than good, but that's really what describes them. They are good in every sense. They fill me with joy and I love them.

My baby's first smile, giggle, roll over, anything and everything is exciting to me. I have loads of photos of my daughter sleeping just because I kept trying to get a shot of that little smile. I share every milestone with family and friends because I just can't contain my joy.

I love that I can do things whenever I want to. I remember a day last summer that I decided we wouldn't clean the house we would play splash instead. I filled up a serving tray with water sat her in it and we just splashed together. I can spend all day cleaning and doing chores one day, but the next we can spend going to the park, making cookies, and seeing friends.

On a more selfish, and completely honest note, I know I can count on two hours of alone time just for me everyday. I can do with it what I want (granted sometimes that means mopping the floor without interruption) and I love it.

So I don't know if I would classify being a stay-at-home mom as a hard or easy job. All I know is that it's the best job for me right now.