Have you heard that quote, "I still remember the days I used to pray for what I have now?"
It is so true!
If I could go back to my sixteen year old self crying in her bedroom over a boy, I would definitely show her these photos!
I have always wanted to be a mom.
I never really had a career path in mind. Sure at one point I wanted to be a Veterinarian, then I started off majoring in Early Childhood Education to be a teacher, then changed to a Nutritionist.
Wanting to be a mom, that never changed.
I remember being obsessed with these two real life baby dolls I had as a girl. A daughter named Caitlin and a son named Tommy.
When I played Barbie's, I always made her younger sister Kelly, her and Ken's daughter instead.
I also used to play 'house' with our family cat Pumpkin in my parents bed room, carrying him on one hip while I would pick up my older imaginary kids from school.
And now - it's not pretend.
I'm a mom.
The most challenging, yet rewarding role I could ever ask for in life.
These are my favorite type of days - hanging in my sweats, playing with my babies on the floor.
My happy place.
As much as I like to have my alone grown-up time and moms night outs, especially being a stay at home mom and a part time single parent. {Oh, the military life.}
There is nothing that brings me more joy than being able to spend my days playing with them, teaching them, caring for them, and most importantly loving them.
Now I won't lie, the days are sometimes very, very, long and I am counting down the minutes till bed time, but all us moms know the years are so, so, short.
So, I'll take the temper tantrums, the messy house, the stained clothes, and sleepless nights.
Because I prayed for this life.
I prayed for an amazing man to love me.
I prayed for us to be blessed enough to start a family.
I prayed for happy, healthy children.
And when I pictured my life all those times as a mom,
I didn't see the decisions I was constantly responsible for making on a regular basis.
I didn't imagine how difficult it would be to negotiate with a toddler.
I didn't focus on the endless nights of worrying or no sleep.
None of us moms do.
We see our babies reaching for our hand for the first time.
We imagine sharing family traditions like coloring Easter eggs or baking Christmas cookies.
We picture cuddles on the couch while watching their favorite movie, even if it is for the fifth time that day.
And apparently I even envisioned picking up my kids from school and them running to me.
That is what I try to always remember during those hard days.
Those moments when I am sitting on the floor doing Ully's alphabet puzzle with him and he gets the correct letter or when Sawyer wants to stand and grab on to my arm super tight,
I get reminded again WHY I dreamt of becoming a mother.
{I still never dreamt it would be this amazing!}
Those moments outweigh the other times I am stressed out and I don't know which way is up.
Those moments I thank God for answering my prayers and then also, blessing me with so much more than I could have ever asked for.
Weather you are a stay at home mom, who gets overwhelmed on a daily basis or
a full time working mom, who feels guilty every day after dropping her kids off.
A mom of older kids who are grown and struggling with giving them advice or watching them fly on their own.
Or a young girl like I was, dreaming for the day where you are get to hold your baby for the first time and feel that unexplainable love.
Did you pray for it?
Did you pray for motherhood?
Did you pray for the ability to help support your family financially AND be a mom?
Did you pray that your kids would be successful, good human beings?
Are you praying for the moment you get to announce you are expecting?
Don't worry about picturing all the other hardships that come with it.
Remember why you had the dream to begin with!
I say pray for your hearts greatest desires! You never know what you will be blessed with!
Hope you all have a great weekend and get to spend some time in YOUR happy place!
xoxo
Labels: Family
