Whether you’ve dreamed of becoming a mom since you were a little girl yourself, or if it was something that found you later in life, once you walk into motherhood, you can’t come out unchanged. My kids are 2 and under, and I can already look at myself 2 years later and say I am not the same person. For better or worse, this is me.
How has Motherhood Changed Me?
These are only a few of the many things that have changed in me. I could write a blog post a week on everything from simple, non-important things such as how often I do laundry, to the deepest core of who I am. Here are a few of mine that were on my mind this week, share in the comments some of the ways you’ve seen yourself change over the years!
I’m more tired.
I’ve reached a new level of tired. One where I can’t form sentences and the bags under my eyes can’t be erased by makeup. Coffee helps for a few hours, but once the caffeine wears off you can’t avoid the new level of physical and mental exhaustion you find yourself in during those first few months and years.
I’m less selfish
Before kids all you have to think about is yourself and your husband (occasionally). After becoming a mom, the time you spend caring for yourself and thinking about your own needs dwindles to a small fraction compared to before. You give up your body for 9+ months as you have the baby and nurse, and then you give up all of your routines to care for them. You are on their schedule, and with the second baby that fraction that you think about yourself gets even smaller. You can’t help but become less selfish as a mom.
I’m more confident.
Don’t mess with me, I can make little humans. I’m responsible for two other lives and make long term decisions almost daily. I can get a kid dressed, fed and to preschool in the time that it used to take me to simply make a cup of coffee. I’m not ashamed of my yoga pants attire, my 9 pm bedtime or the chaos that follows me through the grocery store. After spending 24/7 with these little munchkins I am confident that I can solve whatever problem they (or anyone) throws at me. The confidence wasn’t natural, it has grown over the years. After raising my first through her first year, and then having my second – I can confidently say, I got this!
I’m messier
There is always something sticky or smelly stuck to me. Dirt follows me in my car, in my house, to the store… you get the point… and my toddler is almost always to thank for the mess. The minute I’ve picked up all the toys, they are back on the floor being played with. There are always dishes in the dishwasher, food leftover from breakfast on my table and laundry waiting to be done, folded, or put away. The mess is just part of this season of life, and all I can do is embrace it the best way possible. I don’t go to bed without a long, hot shower and it is one of my favorite times of day.
I have a new outlook on my body
I’m a personal trainer, I measure numbers like weight and body fat percentages. Before I had kids, I saw the body do amazing things like gain muscle and lose fat, completely transforming. After having a baby my respect and understanding for women’s bodies has reached a new level. There is no training that can prepare you for this.
Our bodies grow another human inside of them, birth them, and then are able to feed them for their first year solely on milk our bodies are able to make. Insane. I still can’t wrap my head around it. So when I’m talking body fat percentages and making body changes I have a new perspective of what our bodies are capable of.
I’m more protective of my time
With two kids I don’t get a lot of me time, so I’ve become over protective of my time. I feel every day I spread myself thin between kid time, friend time, playdates, errands, husband time and me time. I’m learning the art of saying no and protecting my family time. The importance of not over-scheduling, quality time vs. quantity time and how if I don’t protect my time it can quickly spiral out of control. I find myself driving from event to event to event and by the end of the week, the kids, Josh and myself are too exhausted to think straight. Some days you need to slow down, stay in your pajamas until noon and practice doing nothing.
These are a few of the many. There is no doubt in my mind that motherhood has made me a better person. My littles keep the important stuff in perspective and remind me to keep dancing through the chaos! Share in the comments how motherhood has changed you!
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