The Joy of Motherhood

Calla and I visited one of my old colleagues at the hospital recently; she'd just given birth to a lovely little girl. As I carried the little baby, my mind flashed back to the times I was at the hospital with my own newborns. Those times were special, just me-and-them moments. Of course, these were also very precious times because I could press The Magic Button and lovely nurses would shower me with attention, but I digress.

The girls, 1 day old. L: Poppy, July 2008, R: Calla, April 2012

Motherhood is a funny thing. In the world of roller coasters, motherhood beats 6 Flags any time. It's the only thing that can make you say "It's the best job in the world!" and "It's the crappiest job in the world!" both in the same day.

Only motherhood could make you weep happy tears and say "That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!" when little slimey purpleish things are thrusted into your arms. Only motherhood makes you scoop poop from off the floor without being paid. Only motherhood makes you wake up in the middle of the night to be a snackbar. Only motherhood gives you boobs that make you stick to your curfews better than when you were a teenager.

Motherhood makes you do silly things in the name of love, like taking off your shoes and splashing in water fountains with your kids, or tear bits of paper up to throw in the air just to see your child smile as they fall all over the living room. Or do cartwheels on the grass or fly like aeroplanes. It makes you do silly gestures, funny sounds and monkey dances so your kids will laugh.

It gives you the opportunity to re-live your own childhood memories - like playing Old Maid and hopscotch; I also re-picked up arts and craft as a way to occupy Poppy, and ultimately made it into a business!

Thanks to these two little dudettes, I've done things that I never thought I would or could (apart from picking poop up from the floor) - I can read upside down, I can use the chopsticks with my left hand, I am able to control my temper. I've discovered that the world doesn't just revolve around me, and I'm totally okay with it. They've made me learn to appreciate the little things.

Motherhood. It's made me realise that I am capable of So. Much. Love. 


Motherhood. It rocks.