My life has changed in so many ways since my oldest son was born five and a half years ago. Some of my friends have younger children or have just had their first babies, and I am reminded of when my son was only one, two, three years old. Things were very different then; life was slower and less complicated.
Yesterday, I randomly thought of someone I had been friends with years ago, before I was married or had children. When my son was around two years old, this friend and I ran into each other. It was great to catch up with her and to find out what had been happening in her life since we last spoke. She had two sons, five and eighteen months old at the time. I clearly remember asking her if she was raising them as vegetarians (this was something that had been very important to both of us back when we were friends).
I remember feeling as though I was judging her (I know I should not have been) as she explained to me that she was not a vegetarian anymore. At that time, I believed that I would always have the control that I had at that moment when my son was only two years old. Today I know that this is not the case. My life as a mama is not always the way I thought it would be. It is better than I could have imagined! I am in awe of my son and the person he has become, full of ideas, love, joy, opinions...
However, there are times as a mama when things do not go the way I want them to go. The times when 5 year olds act like 5 year olds. The times when they will not eat their dinner, or they talk back, or come home with a button from the craft store that they said they "found on the floor". This is why I am begining this category, so that as my son (and daughter) grow, I can also grow. When my children and I disagree about something, I hope to be able to be objective and open minded and not force things because I think I am right. My children have taught me so much and have helped me to grow tremendously as a person. I think that whether you are a mama or not, it is important to challenge the way we think about things and learn to be able to see the world through another person's eyes. I believe that writing about these things will help me to be the best mama I can be!
This journey of mama-hood can be an overwhelming one at times, we want so badly to do a good job- a perfect job. I am fortunate for the things in my life that I am overwhelmed by. I will not take life more seriously than I should. I will see each parenting obstacle as an opportunity to grow and be the best that I can be...but I will spend most of my day having as much fun as possible!
alison
I love your post. I am just starting out on the motherhood path and I have been giving so much thought to this subject.
Posted by: Maria Rose | May 28, 2009 at 12:25 PM
honestly, I admire you and John so much. :)
Posted by: Terri Van Benthuysen | May 28, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Thanks so much! I hope you'll keep checking in!
One thing that I am learning is that things...and children, are always changing...in many ways, some days I feel like I am just starting out on this path myself!
There is always omething to learn, but there is nothing better or more rewarding!
Posted by: http://mysweetbabu.typepad.com | May 29, 2009 at 09:18 PM
Thanks, you know that means the world to me!
Posted by: http://mysweetbabu.typepad.com | May 29, 2009 at 09:19 PM