The Ups and Downs

Mommy arms.
I believe that mother's have the strongest arms in the world.
Carrying a two year old and my infant (in his carrier) from the parking lot, up a flight of stairs, and into our home all the while unlocking two doors is a feat! I can say that I have accomplished something today. :)

After a long day, the last thing you want is to wake those (finally!) sleeping children. Slowly, flexing your mommy muscles as to not jostle them. It's hard to fight the urge to just make the older one walk, as your arms burn with the desire to let go...but you don't. It makes you stronger, apparently...or it's the shear passion of a couple hours of quiet time at the end of the day. A day where you don't have to lie down with the babies for them to go to sleep, inevitably falling asleep yourself.

During this couple of hours that I have to myself, I will again try and be supermom/wife/woman. I should just take a minute and relax, pour myself a glass of wine, enjoy a hot shower or bath...nope. Instead I find my mind racing with the idea of getting my house clean (not just kid-clean, but real clean!) and doing homework.
Why do we women do that?!!?! Is it not enough for us to be run ragged by our children, be covered in only God knows what by the end of the day, to still smile at our husbands (because they probably didn't actually do anything wrong) clean the house, make food let alone eat any of it, and still find time for our friends and hobbies (maybe)
Why??

I'll tell you why.
Mom's have it hard but we love it.
The end result is more gratifying than anything else...when your children are wiped out because they had so much fun throughout the day it feels nice. When your family enjoys a meal that isn't frozen first or from a restaurant, it feels nice. When your husband kisses you goodnight or goodbye and you see the appreciation in his eyes, it's nice.

As my brother in law has said, "pain is weakness leaving the body"
We get stronger with everyday...each time our little ones poop, pee, or puke on us. Each time a tantrum has an end in sight. Each time we accomplish our goals for the day or see our babies smile. We don't look back, we just bear the bad moments and move on, because the good ones are right around the corner.

Full Day of Fun...Yea Right!

Having a family is great. Most of the time.
A couple things that might prepare someone for the rough days before having the fifth panic attack should include...

1.) Terrible Twos Awareness Day.
When teaching sex-ed to students, toddlers should be assigned to each one for the whole day...it's a great form of birth control.
2.) Bouncing Burping Babies.
A baby is so much fun until he pukes on your shirt for the eighth time today...officially depleting your wardrobe by half...
3.) You're not the first woman to be exposed in the ladies room.
Anything involving privacy, including the bathroom, is now open to the public...wide open.
4.) Crossing the finish line.
Watching your husband reach the breaking point of stress, when you've already finished the race and are celebrating your insanity.
5.) Whiny child = whiny mommy
...and you thought PMS was enough to send you running!


I have a moment to myself. What do I do? I discover that writing about my day makes it seem funnier than it felt while I pulled my hair out.
Being a mama to two babies is the greatest thing I have ever done in my life, but there are moments everyday that I think to myself, "you love your kids, you love your life, you love being a wife. and repeat."
Seeing the humor in it all might just add a smile to someone's face...including mine.