Motherhood

Motherhood, really not what one imagines based on the movies you watch growing up. In reality there is no Maria (Sound of Music) or Nanny McPhee. Raising children isn't easy no matter if your in a relationship or your a single parent doing it all on your own. Although there are several books on what to do and how to do just about everything in real life its a learn as you go type of job that you get no vacation time from you are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year. I come from a place were even though I was married I still did everything alone or with the help pf my mother. At the age of 26 I found myself divorced with 4 children all under the age of 10 working a full-time job, a part-time job and trying to balance the most important job of full time mom. I couldn't have done without the help of my Mom. So no matter how old your children get parenting doesn't end when they turn 18. The pay is sweet though when your children actually thank you for the hard work you do pay comes in the form of hugs, kisses and thank yous .... Sometimes.

As babies your able to hug and love on them they soon turn into toddlers and if you have multiple children remember they are all different. I'm sure you've heard of the terrible two's. Thats fun huh, well lets try that at 6 and again at 10 then they get moody as they become teenagers. Point is that moodiness doesn't go away just gets replaced by either anger or hungry temperamental spurts of leave me alone yet at the same time whats for dinner or cranky smarty pants that think they know everything and are gonna do what they want when they want attitudes. So the give me give me give I want I want I want never goes away it just comes out differently. The adorable babies you once had become these toddlers that will kick, scream and cry in the middle of anywhere to get what they want. The older they get that doesn't change but instead of that type of dramatics you end up with nagging children. An endless sound of MOM, mom, mom, mommy, mother :Hello I'm talking to you MOOOMMMM!" We go from being called by our given name for as long as we can remember that we are lucky if we can remember what that name even is cause we now believe our new name is Mom.

Now after years parenting solo I've remarried, so now I'm not just a mom I'm a (STEP MOM) having recently married my youngest son is by marriage but we don't say Step mom or dad in our home. All children live with us we are a team and parent together. Which is nice definitely no complaints by me. Having now just a part time job but I'm still a full time parent, that job will never end. From morning til bed time even in the middle of the night one of my children always needs something. All you can do is the best you can. Don't be afraid to discipline your child. To me thats the biggest mistake one can do is not teach your children right from wrong and discipline when necessary. I'm in no way saying beat up or abuse your child but give them reasonable consequences for there behavior. Start off young and as they grow they will see the hard work you have to do to earn something that you want. They have to open there eyes and know nothing in life is free you have to work for it. A value of a dollar to studying hard to make that 100 on a test. Talk to them about goals dreams they have and how to make those dreams come true. There is no rule about not being able to be their friend too but being a parent is always before being their friend don't be afraid of hurting their feelings or making them mad. There will be times that they will say they hate you but they will always say they love you too maybe not right away but they will. Motherhood is a never ending journey that you take each day as it comes and do your best. Its the one job you really never know whats gonna happen.