Guest Post: A New Mom…Month 7 and going strong!

This is a guest post from Emily Martin.  Enjoy!

False teeth, diesel engines, and poop
Thoughts on Month 7 of Being a New Mom

I always thought that once I became a mom I’d be an immediate part of an exclusive club.  Anyone else with me?  I thought that after giving birth – this huge rite of passage – that I’d learn some top-secret, guard-it-with-your-life password and be escorted into a new society of amazing women who’d reveal to me the path of Womenlightenment!  Well, I either got the password wrong (purplemonkeydishwasher, right?), or the Supermom Club doesn’t exist, because I have days where I feel like I’m barely holding it together!  You know it’s bad when you reach into your purse for your wallet and instead pull out an extra Medela bottle for pumping.  Or you reach for your car keys and find the plastic Fisher Price teething keys instead.  My favorite was when I spilled a drink in the car.  I didn’t have any napkins, but I found out that day just how absorbent nursing pads can really be!

So, how do you order your day?  Really – share!  How do you choose between a shower and a nap?  The dishes and the library?  The time with your husband and the time to yourself? Do you ever feel that if we added just one more day to the week or just two more hours to the day, our lives would be better?  That we would be better people?  Better moms, better wives, better daughters, better employees, better church-goers, better do-gooders, better housekeepers?

There’s a new soap that I use called Charlie’s Soap.  It’s a safe, non-toxic, biodegradable all-purpose soap that cleans pretty much everything.  To quote the packaging:  “Charlie’s Soap cleans everything from False Teeth to Diesel Engines.  All Purpose Cleaner removes grease, grass, blood, red clay, mildew stains, mustard, tar, catsup, pine sap, and poop.“

Man, do I wish I had the versatility of that soap!  Then maybe I could be that better mom, that better friend, or that better daughter.  I could be a better teacher, a more effective church worship leader.  Maybe I could manage all the little details of opening a store (that sells Charlie’s Soap, by the way!) Maybe I could do all that and more and show my husband, my son, my family and friends the love they deserve!  Maybe I’d even have time to watch Project Runway!  But you know what?  It ain’t gonna happen.  I can’t do it all.  And as much as I want to be a Supermom and a Superwife and a Super-everything, life is dirty.  And mud can be fun! 

Sometimes I will watch my 7-month old sleep instead of taking a shower.  I will call a friend instead of clean the dishes.  I will study my Bible instead of hanging out in a chatroom.  I’ll eat an ice cream sandwich (or three) with my husband instead watching Grey’s.  I’ll get to the important stuff and all the rest will take care of itself.  A little dirt never hurt anyone now, did it? 

Emily Martin

***Well put Emily!  I hear ya.  I remember the days of choosing between a shower and a nap.  I will admit, sleep always won out.  I was worthless without sleep.  Still am.  I will say that I think there is a “Moms Club.“  We may not be SuperMoms, but we’re darn close.  We work hard, play hard, and love our families to death.  I love the “club.“  It’s a mommy bond and I love knowing other moms out there know just how I feel when I watch my daughter sleep, or when her giggle gives me chills, or when her soft hair makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.  Yup—you know what I mean.  Welcome to the club.

Ellie

Hi Emily!
Welcome to the wonderful club of Mommyhood.  The good news is that you are still pretty new at this and you still have an excuse so be sure to use that excuse for as long as you can (lol).  My little boy is due to turn 2 in January and there are some days on the weekend when I don’t leave the house.  I still to this day try to decide whether or not to take a nap with my son or stay up and enjoy some “me” time.  Well, the nap with my son wins over every single time.  I guess perhaps it is just the snuggling that I love or perhaps just laying there and watching him sleep.  Life may be crazy, but I can guarantee that this will be THE BEST PART of your life right now so enjoy every single minute of it.  They grow so fast and before you know it… you will be thinking back on these crazy times and laughing. 

Congrats on becoming a part of the best club that I have ever been a member of (The Mommyhood Club).

When I was on my maternity leave, I tried to do way too much. I’d exercise while she slept, and do laundry and cook, rather than take the nap that I needed. If I could do it over again, you can bet your bottom dollar I’d be napping too!

Hey Lisa do the excuses still hold for a mom of a 14 yr old?? anyway Welcome to the Motherhood Jungle, (something like Lipstick Jungle) but less makeup and cute outfits, and more like comfy sweats, and oh yeah dont forget about the spit-up shirts and such. Oh the 7 month olds gotta love the lil Houdini’s huh you turn you head for one second and they are across the room on their back eating their little piggies, or have thier hands out of the straps of the carseat, still after 3 children ranging from 14yr old 3 yr old and 7 month I never quite grasp how is it possible they get those little arms out and piggies in mouth within seconds. Oh the fun times are just ahead huh? will admit though when your having a bad day or just exhausted beyond belief, you can always leave it to a child to make you laugh. Welcome to this amazing lovely life, there will laughter,tears and a couple of strans of hair pulled out but it’s all worth it.