Motherhood: What Mom Forgot to Mention!

Parenting is rough. I didn't realize just how rough, until I entered into the role of motherhood and found myself attempting to be a "good Mom" to my children. The thing is, I expected that parenting would be just like the books on the subject said it would be. How foolish I was back then!

Motherhood isn't easy- as a matter of fact, it just might be the most difficult job in the world. When you carry a baby for nine months, bonding with your child even before they are born, you imagine a "perfect" relationship with your child. You also think that you'll be able to slip into parenting perfectly, and follow exactly what all those parenting books say.

I was completely shocked to discover that parenting books don't quite cover "everything." There's a lot left out, as a matter of fact. Nothing was mentioned about the insane amount of things you need to carry in a diaper bag for your child, that being a parent required being prepared for any situation that might arise.

Sure, my parents- especially my Mom- made it a point to let me know that Motherhood was hard work, that parenting wasn't easy. But nothing prepared me for the moment I held that precious, helpless little bundle, looked into innocent eyes, and was utterly terrified at the thought of being responsible for this tiny little life.

No one mentioned the sleepless nights- when your child is sick, and you're terrified it might be serious- the fear of SIDS, being afraid your toddler will choke on something he or she is eating, sending your child to school for the first time, or even worrying about letting your child go into a public restroom by his or herself.

Motherhood makes you think about all of the possible monsters that could be lurking in the dark corners, or the next aisle in the grocery store. New Moms always imagine the worst possible scenario, and it's true that having a newborn is frightening. Before you have a child, being responsible for a tiny human being is an abstract concept.

Foolish is the Mom-To-Be or Dad-To-Be who thinks that they've got parenting all figured out, simply because they read parenting books or had experience with other people's children! I was sadly mistaken in thinking that I had parenting "all figured out." After six children, I still don't have it all figured out.

With each child, I've gone through sleepless nights when they're newborns, fear of public restrooms, checking and double-checking everything they eat for choking hazards, and I've thrown out all the parenting books anyone has ever given me or that I'd originally bought.

Why? Because parenting and motherhood simply isn't a "One-Size-Fits-All" job, there's no single right or wrong way to parent, and you'll find that you learn as you go.

My Mom didn't tell me the one single thing that I needed to know- No matter how many children you have, no two children are alike, and that motherhood doesn't get any easier just because you have more experience. There are still heartbreaks and fears to deal with, that's simply part of being a parent.