I'm taking a break from posting about Savvy Shopping for a post in honor of Mother's Day. Six years ago when I was pregnant with my first child, I had no idea what being a mom would be like. Sure, I had read all of the parenting books and had a few friends with kids, so I thought I had a good idea of what to expect. But if there is one thing I've learned about being a mom is that there is NO way you can prepare yourself for both the joy and the pain of being a mother. The joy comes daily from that first moment you meet your child, some days more than others. There is the joy over the big things...first steps, first day of school, birthday parties. And there is joy over the small things...a new food tried, a hug after a long day, rocking them to sleep each night. So much joy...it fills your heart to the brim!
But the thing you don't expect is the pain of motherhood. There is pain in childbirth, pain in breastfeeding, pain in waking up so darned early every morning, but that's not the pain I'm talking about. It's the pain of watching them grow up before your eyes, that moment when you realize they don't need you as much as they used to, and the pain of seeing their little hearts break over something you have no control over...that is what really tears your heart out! There are moments when you wish time would just stop and that you could just hold them in your arms forever. But as a mom you know that part of your job is to let them go. And as painful as it is, it's also joyous to watch as your child steps out on their own, but stops to turn around and wave at their mama on the way.
I love you, Sam and Annie!