Writer's Workshop: Describe How Motherhood Changed You

It's Thursday. David and Ethan are off to Minneapolis to pick up my MIL from the airport, Claire is taking a nap and I just got 15 minutes of bliss in a shower with no interruption. WOO!! Now, I'm blogging. Since it's Thursday, I'm doing the Writer's Workshop brought to you by MaMa Kat. I can never get her button to work for me, so click her name and head on over and see what's the Writer's Workshop is all about. This week I chose the prompt, Describe How Motherhood Has Changed You. Let's begin.

Motherhood has changed me in a number of ways. I was 19 when Ethan was born. I was still a teenager, teetering on the edge of adulthood and hadn't found my footing on the road to being a grown up. I didn't know what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be and who I was going to become. I mean, people probably figure that stuff out before the age of 20..I had no clue. Then, they put him in my arms, and that was it. Who I wanted to be, what I wanted to do and what I had become was a mommy. There he was, all 7lbs 11oz of him, cradled in my arms, waiting for me to teach him things and watch him grow, and I grew up and learned lots in the process. Two kids and one on the way later, I'm still learning, but here are some bits and pieces I've picked up along the way:

-You can't control everything that happens. There's bruises, scrapes, bumps and bloody noses. There's vomit, poopy and disorder diagnoses. You roll with the punches. You give boo boo kisses and learn about those disorders. You ask questions, seek answers and move forward with with positive attitudes. You help your child embrace who they are, so they can flourish into who they are to become.

-A puppy probably isn't the best Christmas present for a 5 year old, but his sister will love that the dog is around when she's 1.

-Do as I say, not as I do doesn't work on 7 year olds. They will almost always do as you do, and talk back at what you say.

-Elmo and The Imagination Movers are the greatest inventions. Claire could shake her little tush with The Imagination Movers all day.

-Always insist on an X-Ray if your doctor tells you he "thinks" your child has the beginnings of pnuemonia. Also insist on a stronger antibiotic than amoxcillian.

-Pregnancy does weird things to your body, but that little person you meet at the end makes it all worth it.

-Make your kid's lunch at night. There's too much zombie going on in the morning not cut a finger when you're cutting up apples.

-Toys will always find a way to be stepped on.

-Cookies will always get an 18 month old out of hiding.

-Sleep is a girl's best friend.

And...That's really all I can think of right now. Time to get the house spruced up for my MIL.