I don’t even know how to explain what being a mom is like, but I feel like this picture is a pretty good description.
This was my view this morning as I tried to go to the bathroom. We’re talking a quick trip to the bathroom to use the toilet. Nothing else. No shower. Not washing my face or doing my makeup. This is the setup that happened in the minute or two it took me to sit down and do my business. Yes, of course, and wash my hands afterwards. And then I had to run grab my phone to take this picture.
I was sitting in the living room with the boys. I didn’t announce I was leaving the room. I didn’t tell them what I was doing. I just got up and walked away to quickly use the toilet and return. No sooner than I had taken 3 steps toward the bathroom I heard the noise level behind me change. I heard little steps following behind, making sure to grab things they would need for our bathroom adventure on their way.
T’s choice was a chair and a book. He sat and read (with his backpack!) while I peed. B, however, went all out. He grabbed a pallet, a book, a blanket, and his bear and literally took a fake 10 second nap -that’s all the time he had left by the time he got himself situated- while I was in the bathroom.
This is my life! This is a Mom. A boymom. A twinmom. Every mom. I walk away and they follow. I open a bag of bread to make toast for breakfast and I immediately have two scientists observing and questioning my every move. I take a deep breath and they ask “are you ok, Mommy?” I take a step toward the kitchen and they ask “what are you making, Mom?”
My children never stop moving, never stop talking, don’t like to be alone – unless they’re trying to get away with something – and they even follow me to the bathroom. I’m not even a true introvert, but this all-the-time leaves no time for a quiet moment. That’s what it’s like being a mom.
Some days the constant is really hard. The everywhere, all the time wears on me. I often must purposefully remind myself that this is good. This is normal. All the questions are because they are learning. The following me everywhere is because they love me and want to be with me. And if I take pause and really look at this moment – it makes me laugh. Two little boys, setting up camp with their mama in the bathroom.
Last night, I was really tired. The boys were eating a yogurt snack before bed and I was getting ready for bedtime. They starting covering each other with the yogurt. It was all over their faces and hands, and in their hair. I wanted to be mad, but I couldn’t help laughing at them. And they laughed and laughed and laughed with me. I even tried to say “I am upset at you guys” but B told me, “You can’t be mad! You are like this” and showed me the funniest laughing face ever. It felt good to laugh and not be upset. It made cleanup easier, too!
I guess what I’m trying to say is that the round the clock, the all the time can be tiring. There’s good, there’s bad, there’s fun, there’s difficult, there’s excitement, there’s exhaustion, there’s constant. So remember to laugh a little- like my boys reminded me last night. And like this picture reminds me as well. Next time you’re asked what it’s like being a mom, just show them this picture. And then laugh. There’s just no other way to describe it.
All day, every day.
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