Do you love being a mother?

Do I love being a mother?

Well that’s a very loaded question with lots of possibilities depending on which part of being a mother I am focusing on.

Let’s break it down.

Do I love changing nappies? No, definitely not. But I do love chatting to my baby whilst changing her nappy and getting all of her gorgeous smiles and giggles.

Do I love cleaning up wee, poo or sick. Hmm, tough one…NO. Not one bit.

Do I love the responsibility of having to pack everything that we may need in the changing bag? Nope, can’t say I do.

Do I love spending ages cooking healthy, home cooked meals that I know won’t be eaten? No.

Do I love the never ending battle to attempt to keep my house clean and tidy whilst little people run around trashing it? No. I can quite honestly say this is one of the worse jobs for me.

Do I love the fact that I am often covered in child related stains and food most of the time? No.

Do I love losing my identity and stopping to exist as a person in my own right? No and this one I really struggled with for a while.

Do I love my new mum wardrobe? Actually parts of it I do. Although, I am still coming to terms with the fact that there are some clothes that I don’t feel are appropriate for my age/ role. Especially, when I stop and think would I want to be seen out with my own mother if she was wearing that garment?

Do I love the time it now takes to exit the house? Nope.

Do I like not being able to go for drinks and impromptu dinners after work when someone suggests a last minute arrangement as I have to arrange childcare in advance? No. I really don’t.

If you are judging my love of being a mother on any of the above criteria then it’s a no.

However, if you are asking if I love getting to spend time with two of the most amazing people that I know. It’ a yes.

Do I love seeing their little faces light up from exploring the world around them. Yes.

Do I love the excitement and wonder and amazement that they reignite in me when I look at the world through their eyes? Yes.

Do I love watching them grow and develop and achieve mile stones? Yes.

Do I love listening to them doing role play – surprised at how much they know about the world around them? Yes.

Do I love snuggly cuddles knowing that in their eyes I have incredible healing powers? Yes.

Do I still marvel at how incredible my body was to make little people that are capable of thinking and feeling? I never stop.

Do I love sitting in the garden, feeling the sun warm my skin while sipping on a cold drink watching them play and take turns so beautifully together? Definitely.

When I stop and think about all of the good bits and the bad there is no doubt in my mind that knowing what I do now, if I was at the beginning again deciding if I wanted to have children or not the answer is a resounding YES. I love my children and am so very grateful that I have them. Even though, there are definitely parts of motherhood I would rather not do. Sadly, it is a package deal. If I want all of the good bits I have to also do the ‘bad’ bits too.

What are your best and worst bits about parenting?