Being a Mother {Self-Interview}

As you know, May is the month we celebrate Mother's Day. Four fabulous lady bloggers came up with a way for us to showcase our own special mommy moments and the mothers in our lives!

For this week's post, I was to interview myself by asking and answering the following questions: 

Before you ever even had children, how did you feel about being a mother?

Being a mother was not something I had dreamed about. I thought I probably would be a mom, but it was never my focus. I loved children and was gifted in working with them.  

After M and I got married, I began to feel the desire for our kids. 

I was no longer satisfied  working with other people's children. 

When I was pregnant with our oldest, I was fearful about how I would handle being a mother. 

I was afraid that I was going to be too uptight (which I am more than I should be) or that I wouldn't know what to do (and, I still don't).

For each of my pregnancies, though, I loved my babies from the first instant I knew about them.

BORN:  JANUARY 2003

Since becoming a mother, what is something 

that has happened that you never thought would?

As my kids have gotten older, I have become increasingly bothered by how other people treat them. I will admit that I have felt the desire to give a stern lecture to other people's children or to the parent, themselves, about their behavior toward my child. The anger that rises up in me is nothing like I felt before I had kids, and it surprised me the first time it happened.

BORN:  APRIL 2005

Is being a mother less difficult, more difficult or 

exactly how difficult you imagined?

Being a mother is nothing like I imagined. And, exactly like I imagined. Although I expected difficulties, I am still discouraged on the days when it seems too difficult. It's on those days that I feel as if I'm failing them.

When my oldest was a baby, I remember watching an episode of Oprah in which several women talked about what a great joy is was to be a mother. I remember thinking, what am I doing wrong? Why don't I feel THAT joyful. It hasn't been until recently that more women people have started talking about how difficult motherhood really is. 

Is it great to be a mother? Yes. Am I always joyful about it? No.

Being O's mom brings me both pleasure and pain and was infinitely more difficult than anything I could ever have imagined, especially during the first two years of his life.

My kids are a gift to me. When I take the time to really look at them, I am in awe of the fact that God has entrusted me to raise them.

BORN:  APRIL 2008

What is your fondest memory of being a mother (so far)?

With three kids, it's hard to pick one moment or a single memory. The first time they each said, mama or I love you or gave me a kiss. Those were amazing moments.

In general, what makes me the proudest is receiving compliments about my kids. When other people tell me amazing things my kids have done, particularly in an area where growth was needed or when it's related to their character or love of others, I am blown away by them. Those things are forever embedded into my mind and have become the fondest memories.

If your children only learn one life lesson from you, what do you hope it is?

Love God and love others. Those are the greatest commandments.

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