fbpx
Twin Cities Mom Collective

Just You Wait

Just You Wait | Twin Cities Moms Blog

When I was in my 20s, I worked with new parents who entertained the office with their parenting stories. Their tales of baby antics, food mishaps, and diaper fiascos brought laughter to the office. And at the end of the day, I was able to return home to my quiet, obligation-free apartment. I loved it.

As an outsider looking in on the parenting world, I noticed that many of these kid stories ended with statements like: “See what you have to look forward to?” or “Just you wait.” As someone who wanted to start a family one day, these words felt ominous. 

Fast forward more than 10 years, and I know firsthand that parenting is even harder than these stories implied. Being a mom is exhausting and all-consuming. Too often the mom conversation focuses on the hard parts of parenting, but there’s more to the story. The untold tales of being a mom are often the most amazing parts that make all the obstacles of parenthood 100% worthwhile.

Just you wait

I wish I could go back and give my 22-year-old self a peek into the heart-warming, soul-satisfying parts of motherhood. 

I’d tell myself to wait with anticipation for the moment the mom transformation occurs. That instant when life becomes so much bigger than yourself, and you realize selflessness isn’t always a sacrifice. This is just the beginning of the priceless firsts of parenthood. There are the milestones you anticipate: the first kick, the first cuddle, the first step. But there are also the ones less spoken of-  the first time you find your momma mojo, the first glimpse of yourself in your child. 

Mom days are filled with sights that make our eyes and hearts dance. Dirty hands and feet after a day of play, crazy morning hair, homemade artwork, silly faces. There’s the joy of seeing your child’s impact on the world: the way they bring out your partner’s inner child, the joy they bring to your parents’ lives, their ability to brighten a stranger’s day. 

The soundtrack of motherhood brings equal joy. Kid laughter, I love yous, small singing voices, squeals of excitement and tales of daily adventures all hold a special place in a mom’s heart. Not to mention the unexpected words that brighten our days – the sweet, the insightful, the utterly hilarious.

Elizabeth Stone summarized motherhood best when she said that being a mom is to “forever have your heart go walking around outside your body.” Motherhood makes us vulnerable and exposes us to the full gamut of emotions. But not all emotions are measured equally. Pride outweighs frustration, contentment outweighs worry, love outweighs exhaustion. 

A mom’s life is filled with precious moments that we store up in our hearts and use to fuel us during long days and sleepless nights. Being a mom turns you into a mentor, an inspiration, a superhero.

So 22-year-old self, see what you have to look forward to?

Related posts

To the Kid Who Told My Son the Truth About Santa

Erin Statz

To My Spirited Child: I Am Sorry

Melanie Lowin

Cholestasis: A Dangerous Itch

Kim

Leave a Comment