Motherhood

Whether you have just started to read our story, or have been with me from the beginning (hi mom, hi dad!) you know that I pretty much tell it like it is.  I want our family story to be authentic.  I’m not going to paint a perfect picture of our family – I’m going to paint a picture of a real family.  Sure, I think we are perfect.  But I’m biased.  However, I have this funny feeling that sharing our story in an honest and straightforward way will have more of an impact.  And it will be more entertaining.

Speaking of entertaining, I have found motherhood to be the most entertaining gig I have ever held in my life.

In what other occupation would you have moments like this?

I went to quickly answer the phone and discovered that Henry had taken off – riding his bike wearing only his underwear, no shoes or helmet – as fast as he could go down the street.  (Now, before you worry too much, please note that our street is a dead-end and doesn’t have much traffic.)  But really?!?

I think it was my brother who asked me to describe what kind of mother I am.  Here is my best description of myself as “mom”:

I’m a husband honoring, family-loving, Jesus believing, stay-at-home, truth-seeking, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, tennis playing, skiing, gardening, hiking, Bible reading, baby food making, organic eating, recipe trying, soy latte drinking, chocolate-chip cookie baking, play-date loving, on-going stack of books reading, worship music listening, always researching, small government supporting, closet People reading, pro-life advocating, always learning, trying my hand at writing, expensive jean and plain ‘ol t-shirt wearing, Down syndrome awareness raising, every eight-weeks cut and foiling, church going, recycling, SUV driving, baby-signing, volunteering, cooking, housekeeping, errand running, sending my oldest to Montessori, and always doing laundry kind of momma.

Am I confused?  No.  Opinionated?  Yes.  I’ve got a few things going on.  But I love it.  And you know what?  The funny thing is that no matter how many words I use to describe my role as mom, it just doesn’t seem like the description is accurate.  It seems as though motherhood is made up of countless moments big and small – all amounting to wonderful memories that make it all worth it.

I mean how could you not love daily conversations like this:

“Mom, I’m done.  I don’t want anymore dinner.”

“Henry, you still have a few more bites.”

“No, my belly is full, I can’t eat anymore.  Pause. Can I have some ice cream?”

“I thought you said you were full.”

“My belly is, but I still have room up here on top” (patting his head.)

Are you kidding me?  I had to take some pictures of him explaining this to me.

And then just the other night, Henry and I spent some time reading from his preschool bible.  He was in the bath and I sat down on the floor next to him.  We covered Noah.  Jonah.  Moses.  Baby Jesus.  He loves listening to the stories.

After he was out of the bath and in his jammies we snuggled on the couch to read just two more stories.  But this time Henry was going to do the “reading” to me.

He carefully opened up his bible and began to read.

“This is God.  He is a good little monkey.”

I could barely hold in my laughter.  I guess it’s pretty obvious that Henry loves his Curious George.  And I love this motherhood gig.