16 & Pregnant

Two things:
1. I freaking LOVE this show...and TEEN MOM, which is my favorite.
2. This blog isnt really about 16 & Pregnant, just spurred my thoughts on the subject of motherhood.

Motherhood is tough. Like, really, really tough, and lots and lots of women are mothers. We come in all ages, colors, sizes, and creeds and somehow we all make it work (for the most part). I think that the fact that motherhood is so pervasive leads people to believe that it is easy to bare and raise a child. Yes, it can be fun making a baby and planning for a baby and painting a nursery and choosing a traditional yet unique baby name, but there is still a lifetime of sleepless nights, cooking meals and doing loads (and loads) of laundry. Its tough.
The daily raising of a child is a full-time job in itself, let alone the daily household chores, grocery shopping, mowing, and bathing. It's like 5 jobs in one: daycare, chef, dry cleaner, chauffeur, maid and...I dont know, maybe a cruise ship director? I know people have done research about how much a Mom would make if paid for all of her duties, and quite frankly, its still less than a GM of Taco Bell (I assume).
Which bring me to 16 and Pregnant...this girl was saying how she resents her boyfriend because he doesn't have a full-time parenting gig. He didnt have to wake up in the middle of the night, or feed the baby, or in his case, change diapers regularly. Oh, sweetheart...I am 28 and I looked up "resentment towards husband" while I was still pregnant with Ella. I am just going to assume that this feeling is fairly common among Mommies around the world. Please, tell me its common...if its not, then please refrain from commenting. I love my husband, I truly love him and respect him and enjoy (almost) every day with him.
That being said, I dont think that he "gets" being a Mom. I dont sit around all day eating bon-bons or go from fancy lady lunch to shopping to mani/pedi's with the girls. Sure, somwtimes I may not get out of my jammies and I may snack on Ella's graham crackers all day, but its not the glamorous idea of a stay-at-home Mom that he jokes about. I do have great playgroups for Ella and I participate in every week. We go to a painting class once a week and a childrens' museum and we make trips to the zoo and to our local park. I admit that sometimes we even take the kids out for lunch after our playdates and we may partake in ONE margarita if it was an especially stressful afternoon out. But, even then I feel that I am teaching Ella a great lesson in moderation. :)
Everyday I feel like I spend half my time just making meals (breakfast, snacks, lunch, snacks, dinner, snacks, plus grocery shopping for meals). The other half is reciting out loud EVERYTHING that I am doing ALL DAY LONG! Babies come into this world a blank slate, and it is up to us to teach them all about the world around them. Ella, can you THROW me the BIG BLUE BALL, PLEASE? Sometimes these teachable moments get in the way of the laundry or the dishes or making dinner, but these are the moments that we will NEVER be able to get back. I will always have smelly clothes to wash, dirty dishes to clean and dinner to make, but those moments between Ella and I may not return again as soon.
I take my cues from Ella. Sometimes she wants intense amounts of attention. She wants to sit in my lap and read books, or wants me to take her outside for a walk or make her a sandwich or a bottle. Other days she is perfectly happy playing all by herself, walking around the house collecting random items and laughing at herself in the mirror. On these days I am a bit more productive and can get some cleaning done. But, I have come to realize that I cannot get all things done all the time. And I am ok with that. Just as long as people don't assume that the dishes in the sink are sitting there because I was just too busy eating bonbons.

Disclaimer: Jeff is a wonderful husband and quite possibly the most amazing dad in the world. My musings on motherhood are my own thoughts and are NOT a criticism of my husband or his spectacular fathering abilities. I really could not ask for more, Jeff was born to be a Daddy.