It's the most amazing thing I've done!

The role of a Mother is one that is hard, but so very rewarding
I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

Even though my mum doesn't have a blog & doesn't even read mine, I'd like to express my admiration and sincere love to her. She's been my mum, best friend, teacher, shoulder to cry on, she's made me laugh, helped me become a well balanced person, she has many talents like cooking, baking, helping with homework, sewing costumes & normal clothes. She's been a taxi, she's been a referee when my siblings and I used to fight. Above all, she's held this family together, since my late father & her divorced when I was 9, she picked up the pieces, she worked hard to support us all & she became like a lioness towards us. Always looking out for us, especially in all of our times of need.

Since I have become a mother, I understand her so much more than I ever thought. My sister has eye sight problems, and my brother can sometimes be mentally unstable, but my mum continues to look after us, and continues to do her regular job too. Although we're 31,29 & 22 mum still asks us if we need anything & often has us round the house - be it helping her tidy, or just for company - we love her Sunday dinner, it became a serious tradition. I had no idea of the stress and unseen stress being a parent can have on you. When I look at my 3 month old I can't imagine her in pain or unwell or have a condition we couldn't 'fix'. I don't know how I would cope, that being said, I have no idea how my mum has coped - but I guess you must cope, because if mums fall apart the whole family does too.

Being a mum makes us strong, it doesn't even matter how you got this role, naturally or not, c-section or not, ivf or having lost babies. While we are sympathetic to others feelings and we take on too many 'jobs' it is completely necessary to also pull our shit together and be brave, to take control and sort things out ourselves. We didn't grow a baby for 9 months and decide we don't care or that we feel we need validation, we just can't believe we're the one a baby, toddler & child look up to.

I wish I could grow old to be as amazing as my mum. When Quinn is finally my age & she'll say a similar thing to me - my mum is completely perfect, to me! She's mine, I feel so blessed.

I owe everything to my mum, out of us 3 kids, I am the most like her. I hope she knows that is a compliment. She never pushed me too far or held me down, she let me make my own choices, she'd hold me hand all the way if I needed & she was incredible about my news of becoming a mother. I was worried, but I didn't really understand why I was so worried to tell her, she wouldn't have told me off or told me to sort my life out, she simply wanted my happiness to be real.

Until you become a mother you never knew how many things you took for granted like;

free time,
headache free,
clean clothes,
clean house,
soft moisturized hands & skin,
going to the hair dressers without needing someone to babysit,
the get-up-and-go ease of everyday life,
socializing and talking about interests instead of baby or kids stuff,
time with pets,
lie-ins,
going to the cinema
using distractions like TV to stop a inconsolable crying child
& a shower that is longer than 10 minutes ...

The list isn't endless.. That's it.

There's so many good parts about being a mum though...

Having a mini me,
Having endless kisses & cuddles,
Teaching the children important life skills,
Reading and singing to them before bed,
Getting soaked while giving them a bath,
experimenting with different foods,
Figuring out what nappies are best - trial and error - you have to lighten up and enjoy the experience..
Smiling so much your cheeks hurt because your baby held your finger or smiled in her sleep.
Crying because your child is yours, and s/he is beautiful
Imagining your child in the future - the possibilities are endless
Passing down your books & toys from your childhood
Cuddling them to sleep
The moment the house is quiet after a heavy day
Waking up to a babbling baby
Watching your baby do something for the 1st time
Watching your baby hit some serious milestones
Christmas & birthdays - they are SO much better when your little one understand the concept!
Baby & toddler classes - everyone is there to learn & make friends
When baby finally does a poo - Yes really!!
When baby finishes all her milk/food - such an achievement!
When baby smiles/giggles for the 1st time (I fall hopelessly in love every time when my baby smiles)

There is so many more good reasons, but I'm not going to bore you all to death!

I would like to hope my little girl grows up to be balanced, caring, funny & adventurous. As well as outgoing and daring, a motivator and grows up to be able to feel like she can rise to a challenge! There's a lot of traits I don't want to have of mine ; time waster, procrastinator, light headed (sometimes) & a slow learner. She definitely needs her some of her Dads traits to get far in life; motivation, daring/adventurous & outgoing.

Point is, no matter your upbringing, it's the mothers love & dedication that stands the test of time. I would do anything to be able to see into the future to see Quinn & I have the same bond that my mum, sister & I have - my brother's love and friendship is different to theirs for many reasons but love is love!
I can't possibly imagine what it would be like if I lived a different life, in a poorer household or in a war stricken country - the women and kids are fighting to keep alive and the men & boys are fighting to keep the peace - whatever their concept of peace is. I really hope that one day we'll look back on all these recent wars and think of all the lives lost - suicidal, intentional, in vain or not. Many are/were innocent people and only a few were leading their people into a bloody battle. I often think about the mothers, when you see them on TV going to a refuge camp in the neighbouring country and the women are crying. They've lost their home, but nothing is as painful as seeing your family killed. My heart breaks for them - so even though we've got "the good life" please spare a thought to others at this time. Even if you know someone who's lose their loved one to illnesses or losses of any kind, keep praying for them as well.

Mother's day might be a public holiday - but you don't need a holiday to tell someone you love them - it should be an all day, everyday experience! Share the love!