Lessons from motherhood

Goodwill strikes again with a $4 skirt I picked up while on vacation in Myrtle Beach

Hello lovelies~

I have been a mother for a full three weeks now, and therefore feel authorized to share lessons from motherhood with you all.  Boy oh boy is life different once the children come along.  Now, as I suspected, I'm not the type of mother to smother or re-design my life around my child, but it is amazing how children take over.  There are so many things and events that I have already done or attended for Rima that I had absolutely no desire to take part in (for example, 2 hour robotics team meeting on a Friday night, yuck). However, I get through these moments by reminding myself that the world doesn't revolve around me and that I'm not the only one who deserves to have a good time.  So, the biggest lessons that I have learned thus far include patience, selflessness, love, patience, acceptance, patience and more patience.

One thing that my mother and I have often struggled with in our relationship is her allowing me to be myself even if that meant that I wasn't a "mini-me" of her.  I have had a really hard time understanding why it has been so difficult for my mother to simply let me be and to express myself in the way that feels most comfortable for me.  I had a difficult time understanding until Rima came that is.  Oh my goodness, I want so badly for her to wear cute clothes, to be more adventurous, to try new things, basically to be more like me.  Of course it is beside me why she wouldn't want to be a mini-me, but I acknowledge that that is something I have to accept, as hard as it may be.  So,  I guess the old saying of "you'll understand when you become a parent" is true.  

Now for the ultimate question, have I turned into my mother?  Although there was one day when I had a revelation of oh my goodness I am being Melissa (this was a day when I was dragging Rima around a furniture store looking at pieces that we probably won't buy that she couldn't care less about), I'd have to say no, I am not my mother, not yet at least.  However, I do feel like I understand some of the decisions she's made regarding me a WHOLE lot better.  

Oh how time and knowledge bring about change and understanding.  

Well, those are my biggest motherhood lessons thus far.  I anticipate many more lessons before June rolls around so I'll keep you all updated on those.  

Feel free to share any motherhood or life lessons that you have learned and found helpful along the way.

Tootles for now!