Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Before I Was a Mom

Before I was a mom, I....
  • wore dry-clean-only clothes
  • put on makeup every day
  • went to lunch at restaurants with fancy-sounding names
  • ate slowly and savored my food
  • could fit everything for a weekend trip into a small corner of the trunk
  • did minor amounts of laundry
  • could shop all day
  • had clean, non-fingerprinted glass doors and windows
  • knew all there was to know about parenting
  • thought time passed slowly
  • prayed repeatedly, asking God to give me a child

Before I was a mom, I never....
  • shopped at Gymboree or The Children's Place
  • ate at Chuck E. Cheese
  • knew the location of every restroom in stores I frequent
  • looked for restaurants that offer "Kids Eat Free" night
  • tiptoed through the house
  • took so many pictures
  • realized how much diapers, bicycles and piano lessons cost
  • understood the joy that came from a spontaneous kiss and an "I love you" before my child dashed off to play
  • feared so many evils in the world
  • saw myself, complete with good traits and bad, reflected before my eyes
  • felt such a responsibility toward another human being
  • knew how grateful I would be for God's precious gift of children
[I will return to my series of open letters next Tuesday.  In the meantime, I am enjoying some "mom moments" with my family, so am sharing this post originally published on August 12, 2009.]
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10 comments:

  1. mamadearestAugust 12, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    Yes, yes...and 10 times more "yes".:)

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  2. Jordan McCollumAugust 12, 2009 at 5:29 PM

    Beautifully put. It's hard to explain the amazing gift of parenthood unless you've lived it.

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  3. Phyllis SommerAugust 12, 2009 at 9:06 PM

    wonderfully said! especially the very first one, ha ha...

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  4. LindseyAugust 12, 2009 at 11:57 PM

    I laughed when I read the "ate food slowly line!" I miss being able to do that.

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  5. Cristin // Simplified BeeAugust 13, 2009 at 10:54 PM

    love this! beautifully put to.

    xo,
    cristin

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  6. BdubbaAugust 14, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    Well said. I have one to add....Before I was a Mom I could watch horror movies and enjoy a scary thrill now I can't watch them b/c I think "what if that was my child".

    Visiting from Hooked On.

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  7. Raise Them UpAugust 14, 2009 at 1:19 PM

    What a great post! Well put! :)

    And yes, clean windows are a think of the past. Lol!

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  8. ClaudiaAugust 14, 2009 at 9:10 PM

    Soooo verry very true.

    Thanks for reminding and sharing.

    TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥

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  9. Amy @ Finer ThingsAugust 18, 2009 at 7:58 PM

    Well said, Tracey. So worth it!

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  10. UnknownJune 9, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    I'm with you - I have grown SO much since our girls have arrived - and I wouldn't change a moment!!

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I look forward to hearing your comments and welcome your questions and suggestions. Thanks for visiting my blog!