The Process of Motherhood

One of the best things I've ever done is become a mother. My pregnancies were interesting. Each had their own little quirks. I was glad when they were over so I could hold my babies. I never had a hard time getting pregnant, but I faced more than a few challenges once I did. My physical issues, while interesting, do not compare with my real struggle to become a mother.

When I became a mother, I had to learn how to put someone else first. It's not that I was selfish. I just never had to take care of another person before. But there she was, needing things when I least expected it. I had to feed her in the middle of the night. I had to change her diaper before I could brush my teeth in the morning. I had to spend money on daycare. It was hard to become a mother.

A few years later, her little sister was born. I thought I had it all figured out, having been through it once already. Her little sister came with a whole different personality, which included a different set of rules. I had to sleep in the rocking chair, little sister in my arms, for ten months. I had to invest in special dead bolts when little sister learned to climb. I had to go up to the snake show at the zoo, when little sister went on stage with the trainer. I hate snakes.

Little sister was almost potty trained when little brother was born. She decided to be like little brother, and stayed in diapers for about six more months. Little brother would giggle at his big sisters. He would chase after them, and my three children would have so much fun together.

When little brother was seven, he got very sick. I stayed by his bed for over two weeks while he was in the ICU at the hospital. I never knew being a mother could be so hard. I struggled with the thought of losing him. I was so relieved when they finally said he would be okay. I learned a lot about what it means to be a mother back then.

You see, I had two big sisters that wanted their little brother to be okay. They were counting on me to make him better. They needed my strength, because they were sad about little brother. They needed my optimism because they were worried. I looked deep down inside of myself. I struggled to find the courage that would make my daughters feel better about things. I became a mother.

Each day that goes by, and each year that passes, I receive new opportunities to give what I didn't know I had to give. There are times when it is so easy. I seem to know exactly what to do and say. There are times when I don't know where to find the answers. All of this allows me to give my best to life because I am becoming a mother.