How Motherhood is Different Than I Thought

Motherhood was never what I imagined. For starters, I had my daughter when I was only 17 years old so I never had a "happy" pregnancy. I was stressed and worried about school, my parents were obviously upset with me and I was worried about my future.

When I was a child, I thought that because I had the "mom" title, my child would automatically listen to me and it doesn't really work that way. Children love saying "NO" because they feel authoritative. After a while, you learn to accept the "NO" answers until they get to a certain age. I also imagined a life full of responsibility. While that is true, I have been delighted to be a mother--even at such a young age--because every day that I spend with my daughter, she brings a smile to my face. Sometimes I feel as it I am too hard on her or expect too much from her but it's only because I want the very best for her. I can only hope that when she is older she can understand.

I've had hundreds of juice spills, soup bowls turned over, many lipsticks have been used on the walls and even had my dog written on with permanent marker. A child does what their imagination tells them to so you can't be upset. Eventually, you do teach them that their pet is not a coloring book and the walls are not a canvass to draw on but in the mean time, enjoy the beautiful memories that this child is giving you. Every day with your child should be a gift, just as life is.

In this time and age with the economy being the way it is, things are difficult for everyone in every sense. Jobs are being lost, homes are being foreclosed and sometimes we even wonder how we will pay rent. While these problems are important and we may feel like we can't go on anymore, remember that you have little ones to think about. They depend on you no matter what. Motherhood is about making things work no matter what. You can lose your home, your car and your job ... those things are always replaceable, a child lost is never replaceable.

Motherhood brings many smiles, tears and new experiences. You can read thousands of books and get advice from many people when it comes to being a mother, but nothing will every prepare you for what is to come. You can only learn by making your own mistakes. To truly experience motherhood means to give up everything you've every loved like going out, partying and even sleeping or taking short naps in the middle of the day, to be unselfish in every way and to leave your child the best memories to last a lifetime. You give up so little and gain so much. Enjoy being a mother.