My oldest child is 14 today and it’s an odd feeling because it
just doesn’t feel like 14 years should have gone by already. I think about what
we have all been through in the last 14 years and then I find hard to believe it
all fit into only 14 years!
What I
really think about is what I have learned about being a mom that you just can’t find
in any how to book at your local book store. The little things that really are
timeless and customized between you and your children. To begin and any good
parent knows this but when your child is born it’s the day you find out you
knew nothing at all until that very moment. Every day to come is unpredictable
and an adventure that never ends. By the time you become a parent you think you
have love all figured out until you hold your child and it’s that moment you
realize you had no idea what love was because you never knew anyone you would
truly give up your life to protect until you held that little hand that can’t
survive without you. The day your child is born is the day you are born.
You
learn sleep is optional and the things you can do without it are impressive and
even though you have no idea when you will sleep again, you’re running on
empty and kids are the fuel that keep you going. Children’s shows are not annoying because
sometimes seeing Barney dance saves the day. You underestimated the ability to
grocery shop cheap and fast and nearly can’t remember how that works. Laundry
is not ever going to get completely done so instead of trying to find the
bottom of the pile you start taking pride in how clean it turned out. You
become a human lie detector based on facial expression alone and mastered this ability
to a point your child thinks you have super human powers. Your car will never
be spotless two days in a row unless no one is allowed inside of it and sun
block does in fact ruin a paint job on a vehicle. Rocks are not just rocks they
are natural wonders that must be kept in a safe place for possibly years. Flowers are cool and you should pick them
all! A blanket is not just a blanket but a germ infested best friend that you
can only wash very late at night. Satan is the co founder of Wal-mart, Toys R
Us, and Chucky Cheese. If you have been to all three of these places with your
children you have officially been to hell and back. Disneyland is in fact one
of the wonders of the world and so are water slides.
Pets
are not just pets they have feelings and if for some reason you have to put one
down you will be labeled a murderer for the rest of your life. Putting rainy
day money away is essential because even the Tooth Fairy suffers from
inflation. You will be told the 80’s are the olden days and no matter how much
you try to deny it, it’s actually a painful truth. Super Nanny and Martha
Stewart are fictional characters created for entertainment purposes only. Do
not try to be either one unless you are being paid millions of dollars for you
effort and you have a nanny of your own to make time for your perfection.
Final thought….Kids are the most amazing gift we can ever be
given. They are full of honesty, wonder, and unconditional love that you teach
them from the first day you hold them. No matter what is thrown at you enjoy every
second and yes even the struggles create memories that you will cherish. I have
two non autistic kids and one with autism. Each one of my children has taught
me necessary lessons about life that I could never express how grateful I am to
be able to learn. The differences between my children are never
ending and all of those differences are extremely important no matter what they
may be. Tackle the challenges as though they are temporary and cherish the awesome
moments like they are temporary as well because it really is all exactly that. We are never promised tomorrow although many of us like to think we are, today is here and if you are reading this use today to consider what kind of parent or person in general you would be if you lived as though every moment is temporary.
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