Before becoming a mom, many women have a clear vision of the parenting path they’ll take. They watch other mothers navigate toddler meltdowns in stores or deal with food flinging at restaurants, swearing they’ll never fall into those traps. Alternatively, they might hear about the mom who gives birth in a kiddie pool while juggling homeschooling and knitting, thinking there’s no way they’d ever take that route.
Fast forward a couple of years, and after a few life twists involving a partner and maybe a little help from science, you find yourself ordering a home birth kit while your little one throws a tantrum at the midwife’s office. Motherhood has a funny way of shaking things up and transforming you into a version of yourself you never anticipated. Here are 15 experiences that mark the journey of motherhood:
- You’ll find yourself navigating the grocery store with one of those obnoxious car-shaped shopping carts, kids spilling out of the windows, as you awkwardly bump into everything. Ironically, you’ll get oddly upset when all the carts are gone, despite hating them.
- Missing a meeting or a coffee date with your great aunt? Don’t worry, just blame it on your baby. Forget that you once rolled your eyes at coworkers using their kids as excuses—now it feels justified!
- You may venture out, even to a job interview, only to discover stickers plastered on your backside when you finally get home. Surprise!
- There will come a moment when you have to catch your child’s vomit—yes, possibly in your bare hands—in a public space ill-equipped for such emergencies. Airplane? Church during communion? You might even ruin the first day of summer for a crowd of kids at the pool. Trust me, it’s a memorable moment.
- You’ll do everything in your power to avoid the dreaded car nap. Yet, if you fail and your toddler dozes off, you’ll just sit in the car and read, unwilling to risk that precious nap transfer.
- At some point, you’ll injure yourself trying to prove to your child that you can still do the cool kid things—like pogo sticking or navigating the jungle gym. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t always go as planned.
- You’ll inevitably encounter a “mom nemesis,” that one mom who knows just how to push your buttons. She appears everywhere, from playdates to soccer games, and her unsolicited advice will make you want to scream.
- You’ll find yourself sounding just like your own mother (and possibly your father) when you start saying things like, “Turn off the lights!” Surprisingly, you’ll be okay with it.
- Strangers will get to see hundreds of photos of your kids, whether they ask for them or not.
- You may get into an unspoken competition over whose baby is better at your Mommy & Me class. Even if you used to roll your eyes at this behavior, it’s hard to resist when someone else brings it up first.
- You’ll begin referring to yourself in the third person as “Mommy.” “Mommy said it’s time for bed.” Honestly, you might even consider asking your coworkers to call you Mommy too!
- On Mother’s Day, you’ll feel a twinge of guilt for wanting a moment alone, as you secretly dream of sleeping past breakfast—no poorly cooked meals in bed, please!
- You’ll feel ancient and so uncool when you embarrass your middle schooler in public for doing something that once seemed awesome.
- Cleaning out the toy box, you might find your child’s beloved stuffed animal, missing an eye and smelling a bit funky. Prepare for some tears.
- And finally, you’ll find yourself telling a new mom, the very words you once dreaded hearing: “Cherish it; it goes by so quickly.” Because deep down, you wish you had cherished every single moment.
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In summary, motherhood is a wild ride filled with unexpected moments and lessons. Embrace every quirky, challenging, and beautiful experience that comes your way.