A Day in the Life

It's 6:30 AM and you're woken up by an obnoxious alarm. You wait for the snoring mass beside you to get up and turn it off. It is his alarm clock after all. As you lay there praying the smaller snoring mass, who crawled into your bed at some point in the night, doesn't wake up, you feel the bed shift and the blaring noise stop. You can relax, she didn't wake up. You feel yourself drifting back to sleep to the sounds of your husband getting ready for work.

Later that same morning you wake up refreshed and ready to start your day. Oh, who am I kidding you're a mess, tired from last night's bedtime battle and yesterday's makeup still on your face. You drag yourself out of bed.

Some time later the coffee is brewing and as if by magic you're dressed and ready to start the day. A small hand is pulling on your shirt, an even smaller voice is saying, "Momma, momma, I'm hungry." Offering her a variety of fruit, toast, and eggs, that small voice just keeps repeating, "Ice cream mommy." Ah, finally. The coffee is ready. You take that first blissful sip, and again by magic or caffeine, you're ready to do the breakfast dance. "No ice cream, you can have a banana and some yogurt." Eventually giving in to her momma, partly because well.. you are her momma and partly because you bribed her with dessert if she eats all her breakfast, either way, she is eating her breakfast and you count that as a victory.

Somehow it's noon. Where did the morning go? You've cleaned the house, made many different snacks for your indecisive little Ray of Sunshine and are working on your fourth cup of coffee, but really the third one didn't count. You set it down on the counter when you were washing last night's dinner dishes and completely forgot about it. By the time you remembered, it was cold and disappointing, much like the weather today. As you look out the window you think it's going to be another day stuck inside. The rain starts to fall, you sit by the slightly ajar window, sipping that fourth cup of coffee, you can hear laughter and singing, and you smile. Suddenly it doesn't feel like you're stuck anymore.

The days are usually very similar. Wake up, take care of your tot, do your housework, maybe have a bit of time for yourself (but that's unlikely). Some days are overwhelming and you feel alone.

Motherhood is hard, motherhood is scary, motherhood is also so special and so rewarding.

You lose a lot when you become a mother. You lose your pre-baby body, you lose your temper a lot, you lose your freedom, your sleep. It's also easy to lose yourself when you live for another person.

But for everything you lose, you gain something even better. The unconditional love, the joy of watching this tiny little person grow and change every day. The soft embrace when they're snuggled into your arms. A best friend for life.

But let's get back to our story... Where was I... Oh yes, it doesn't feel like you're stuck anymore. This moment, though very brief, felt as though it lasted forever. You feel peaceful and happy, and suddenly you're broken out of your blissful state but the sounds of cries. Running, you're physically running, but that's not the only thing running. Your mind is racing. The worst scenarios are blowing through your mind. You reach the door to her bedroom and with a quick glance around the room, you see that she was reading on her chair and must have slipped off. You go to her and scoop her up in your arms. She stops crying immediately. All she needed was her mom's safe embrace. You may not know now but this is one of those moments. The moments you'll think back to when she's all grown up and has a family of her own. You'll see her comfort her child just as you did for her. You'll remember this moment.

You hug her closer, but this time it's not for her.

Time flies by today, it's already close to 5. "Daddy will be home soon," you say. A smile shines brightly on her face, you feel yourself beaming back. You go to the door, hand in hand, waiting patiently. The silence between both mother and daughter is just building the excitement.

You're thinking, "Finally a grown up to talk to." She's thinking, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy, come play with me!"

You both hear a car approaching. You look at each other and smile. She looks back through the door, she can see her daddy, and she can barely contain her delight. You, however, hold your gaze a second more, you're amazed by how pure and innocent this little girl is. Amazed by everything you see in her.

He's getting out of the car now, walking up the drive. You watch him every step of the way, and again you're amazed. He glides through the door and with ease he picks up his daughter in one swift movement; she laughs and hugs him. He leans in and kisses you. You tell each other about your days and again that small hand is reaching up but it's pulling on his shirt now. That same small voice is saying, "Dadda, come on, come play." They disappear into her room and you return to your spot by the window. Listening to their combined laughter.

After a nice dinner, you start the daily Battle of Bedtime. Many songs, books, and snuggles later, she is finally asleep.

You and your husband sprawl out on the couch, he turns the television on, and you cozy up with a book. This time together is always copacetic. You feel your eyes closing and you know it's time to end the day.

You're laying in bed, and he's laying beside you. You smile as you recall your day. You say, "I love you." And you drift off, knowing tomorrow will be another good day so long as you have them in your life.

Like I said. Motherhood is rewarding.