How Motherhood Changed Me

Okay, first off I'm just going to go ahead and come right out and say it.. I was one of 'those' people who thought that once I became a mother I would be the same old me just with a side of baby on my hip. Wrong. Here's some examples of how being a mommy took me from an apple to an orange.

1. I was never an emotional person before becoming a mother. I mean don't get me wrong I still had a soul and all, like the one time I hit a bird on my way into work... I didn't cry or anything but all day I thought about that poor little birdie and how I sent him into a ball if feathers. If I would have hit that bird now.. BOOM tears like a big 'ol baby. I can't even watch an episode of Chicago Fire without boohooing. It's not like being an emotional person is a big deal or anything, but the fact that I always picked on my mom for crying all the time and it has come back to bite me in the butt.. Well that makes it one.

2. I am a sanitizing freak. And by this I mean I have sanitizer hanging on the diaper bag, Malia's dresser, kitchen counter, and even on my car keys. I mean it's everywhere! I know that I am making myself sound like I wasn't a clean person before, but that's not true at all. I totally loved all those delicious smelling hand soaps and I've always bought them in bulk, but now it's like I should be a valued customer or something for how often  I'm buying it.

3. I've become the ultimate planner. I plan EVERYTHING. For example, if I make plans to meet someone for lunch, then that means that I have to plan things such as what I'm going to wear, whether I will shower the night before or the morning of, what Malia will wear, and what time I will need to get up in the morning in order to have everything ready. I also have to make sure that the diaper bag is stocked and ready for every spit up, poopy blow up, and bottle feeding that I will in counter while out in town. I had to say goodbye to all those times I woke up ten minutes before I had to leave the house and hello to becoming a walking planner.

4. I'm obsessed with online shopping. Before becoming a mother I would shop online here and there, but for the most part everything I bought was from making a trip into the store. That's not so easy anymore now that I'm lugging around a 5 pound car seat with a 11 pound baby in it plus her diaper bag (which somedays feels more like toting around luggage). To put it as simply as I can, online shopping just makes my life easier (and it also makes it easier to say 'no' once you see the S & H prices sometimes).

5. I'm finding that I have become more compassionate towards those with a crying/temper-tantrum throwing child. Before having my own child I would sometimes look at others and be like "okay, get your child under control people, or get them out of the public eye". But NOW I think dude that whole baby screaming because he's hungry while you're trying to pay in the checkout line thing.. I GET IT. It's not like Malia is a fussy baby at all, but when a baby wants their food, they want it and they want it NOW. And Malia does not ask for it quietly. So when I see a child crying while their embarrassed parent(s) try to calm them only to fail as they cry louder... Yeah all I can think is that was me last week. And if you have children of your own I would think that you would feel the same way (unless your child eats gold and poops butterflies) that being a parent isn't always easy, and sometimes they unexpectedly throw curveballs at you while you're in a building full off judgmental people. But that's LIFE.

6. I care so much less about my self image. And let me clarify that I am not saying I don't care about the way I look, that's not what I mean. I just don't look at myself and criticize the way I look like I used too. I mean my body went through huge changes in 9 months, and it's not even the same body anymore. This body grew a human being and not all bodies are able to do that. So for that reason I think I owe it to myself to give my body the credit it deserves. Eventually I hope to get off the 8 lbs I have left to lose, and hey it'd be awesome to lose even more than that.. But I'm not going to stress over it and honestly I don't have the time too. I'd rather put my energy towards being a good wife and mother and enjoying myself for the person that God created me to be, not the person society wants me to be.

7. I enjoy life so much more. Uh, hello? How could I not? I have the 3 best things I could ever have in my life; God, my husband, and my daughter.

So yes, I'm not exactly who I thought I would be after becoming a parent.. But that's okay, because I'm happy with the new me. It's kind of fun in a way being able to see the positive changes that have taken place in my life. And any other Mama's out there that have noticed changes since parenthood feel free to share! I love hearing everyone's experiences!

Stay well--
Meg