Before I Was a Mother

Before I was a mother, I would rarely say I was sorry because I didn’t want to admit I was wrong. Now that I’m a mother, I’m quick to say I’m sorry to my daughters, and I’m working on it with my hubby.

Before I was a mother, I would avoid holding babies because I was afraid they would cry. Now that I’m a mother I carry babies with ease and know how to soothe them.

Before I was a mother, I was an only child who longed for siblings. Now that I’m a mother, I’m part of a vast sisterhood.

Before I was a mother, I would speed up to prevent anyone from cutting me off on the road. Now that I’m a mother, I drive safer with and without my girls in the car because it’s not worth the risk.

Before I was a mother, I would put up with situations I was unhappy with. Now that I’m a mother, I’ve learned to be assertive when necessary to make sure my children are happy.

Before I was a mother, I often couldn’t understand my mother’s perspective. Now that I’m a mother, I understand where my mother is coming from and can empathize with what it must have been like to be single at 35 years old with a ten-year-old daughter.

Before I was a mother, I would save my money to buy the things I wanted. Now that I’m a mother, I gladly buy things for my daughters instead of myself.

Before I was a mother, I was well-rested. Now that I’m a mother, I’m exhausted.

Before I was a mother, I took my mother for granted. Now that I’m a mother, I appreciate her more, especially how we ate buttered pasta for dinner so she could buy me the $80 jeans every other girl in high school was wearing.

Before I was a mother, lilacs were my favorite scent. Now that I’m a mother, my favorite scent is my daughters’ hair after they’ve bathed, assuming they remembered to use shampoo!

Before I was a mother, I studied journalism and objectively reported on tragedy. Now that I’m a mother, I cry for mothers I don’t even know when I hear stories about children who are sick or who have died.

Before I was a mother, I worked eight hours a day, five days a week. Now that I’m a mother, I work 14 hours a day, seven days a week.

Before I was a mother, I traveled abroad during a war, drove with my friends to faraway places on Spring Break, and drank beer until I passed out. Now that I’m a mother, I’m already worried about the stupid things my daughters will do when they’re teenagers.

Before I was a mother, I wasn’t myself yet. Now that I’m a mother, I’m who I want to be.