Kuddos to Stay Home Moms!!

Let me just start by saying I have a newly found respect for stay-home moms! I totally get it. Nothing in the world could’ve prepared me for the overwhelming sense of protection I felt the need to establish the minute my son was born. In that moment I never wanted to put him down; or fail him, or make him cry, or see him scared or hurt or sad…or anywhere in this world without me! I was one of the moms-to-be that felt like 8 weeks would be more than enough time to bond with my newborn and return to my schedule (a term in which I’m learning to use very loosely these days)! Surely I wanted time to spend at home, but surely I’d want a normal schedule back, right? WRONG! Even now, knowing my days of maternity leave are ticking away just makes me cringe. Now I will say, being a full-time stay home mom is still really not my jive; but if I had the opportunity (and financial comfort) to only work part-time now so that I could have more time with my baby – I would no doubt jump on it.

I was so prepared to love him “controllably”, not at all thinking this experience of being a new mom would overtake any sound emotion I had etched in my brain. I remember hearing how people talk about there being “no love like what you feel for your new baby”. I sort of hated the saying. Maybe because I didn’t understand it before. But now…my goodness. There is truly nothing more special, more genuine, more overwhelming than looking into your new baby’s eyes and making more promises than you can keep up with! (I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s done that!). It took about two weeks before I made it through a day without crying uncontrollable tears of joy. I’d start reflecting on my very lengthy labor experience (we’ll talk about that later!) from start to finish and just think about how good God truly is. How amazing it is that a new precious life can be created from right within woman’s body. It truly is a gift on so many levels! Even with all of the technology these days that allows you to virtually see every angle of the fetus inside you, as the song says ain’t nothing like the real thing! Months of wondering whose nose he’ll have, whose eyes, ears, hands and feet – examining my new baby in my arms was like unwrapping that gift you’ve always wanted and can’t believe you finally got!

To say I’m in love is a severe understatement. Stay-home moms, you all are my new superheroes. If I could pick anyone in the world to be like right now, it would definitely be you! I would not trade these sleepless nights, moments I try and steal for a quick shower, meals I sometimes have to prepare with one hand and spit up shirts for nothing – ok, maybe I can trade the spit up shirts! Being a mom is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I just wanted to share it. There’s still so much to discover, so many challenges to come and oddly I am more than excited to experience each and every one of them.