Motherhood, Has It Changed Me?

I was in a Mommy and Me class last week when the discussion question was posed... "Has becoming a mom changed you?"

I thought to myself, "uh...yeah!  I'm more tired, fatter, can't go to the movies, can't go out to dinner, and sometimes when I cough unexpectedly, I might pee a little in my pants (sorry for that visual, especially to all you non-parents, but it's true...and it sucks).

But in all honesty, becoming a mother, while torturous as it is much of the time (like when I "need" to go shopping and decide to bring both kids and neither has napped, and no one wants to ride in the stroller), it's those small moments of joy (like when you change a diaper and it hasn't leaked, or your child actually eats the food you made) that make it all worthwhile.

And although I'd like to think I'm still the same old me, I've changed...a lot.  The things that were important to me before (like my career, which was really REALLY important to me) have been put lower on the list (to get to eventually).  And in their place I go to kiddy classes, playdates, and birthday parties.  I do miss the days when I could do what I wanted when I wanted, but now I can wake up with a bed full of people and an, "I love you, Mommy," and seriously, it's the best.

Of course, much of what I do goes unappreciated, but someday (hopefully), my kids will grow up, have their own kids and realize, "wow, my mom was awesome!" And then they'll appreciate me.  I know, "too little, too late."  But then again, "better late than never," right?