Before I had kids I thought a lot about what kind of mother I wanted to be. It's funny how different I am than what I planned. These are just a few of the things that just aren't like I thought they would be...
What I Thought: My kids will be really healthy eaters. They will eat fresh fruits and veggies, very few processed foods, and low fat healthy snacks.
The Reality: Bwaaahhaaahahaha. I would feed them hot dogs and ice cream for every meal if they would eat it! Kool-Aid is better than water because it has more calories. And BUTTER! Butter on everything!
What I Thought: I will NOT have a picky kid. They will eat what I put on the table, and they will LIKE it. If they don't eat what I make, they will just have to wait until the next meal. I mean, it's not like they will STARVE.The Reality: They are extremely picky and if they don't like what I serve them they throw it on the floor with a look of pure attitude! I offer as many as five different foods at a meal hoping that I will hit on something they might at least TRY.
What I Thought: MY kids will never throw a fit in the middle of the store!The Reality: Pretty much every trip to Meijer ends with Holland tantruming because she wants to ride the horsie. We've gotten pretty good at calmly ignoring her. It's a bummer because I sometimes WANT to let her, but I can't because I know how it will end.
What I Thought: No bottles or pacis after age 2.The Reality: As long as they are drinking them, I'll be giving them. Luckily Holland doesn't take a paci. Eden still uses hers, but on a really limited basis (only at bedtime, and not even every night). But if they wanted it, I'd still let them have it.
What I Thought: I'll never let my kids watch videos (especially Barney) for more than a half hour a day.The Reality: How the heck else am I supposed to get anything done????
What I Thought: I will keep my house clean, and free of dust and dog hair that might aggravate allergies.
The Reality: IT'S NOT!!!
What I Thought: Kids today have too many toys. I won't buy toys for my kids.The Reality: I can't resist. Every time I see something really cool that I think they will like, I HAVE to buy it. It's a obsession. I just love to see their faces when they get something new and intriguing. They play with their new toys, for a minute. The rest of the time they pick the oddest things to spend hours with.
What I Thought: I will not let having kids take over my life. I'll still be able to hang out with my friends and do all of the things that I did before.
The Reality: My world revolves around them. For better or worse.
It's just amazing how much motherhood changes you...
24 comments:
I was the same way, and now I'm the same way you are now. :) Priorities change once reality kicks in!
-Jill
HI Billie, I love this post! Wow, you hit the nail on the head! I hope you guys are stayng warm in Michigan! Liz
Hahahahaha!
Very funny post!
I would love to hear similar thoughts from a guy's point of view. Guest Appearance Time!!!
You are so right - I could have wrote that myself.
Kelly in Canada
Isn't it amazing how it's nothing like you thought but so much better too!
Hahahah, I never thought Darsie would eat cheetos...but if she wants them, she gets them!
I am so envious that you and John waited to have children for a while. I was 21 yrs. old when I entered into motherhood. You sharing your stories totally brings me back to those days. I can relate to what you are talking about. Do Dad's feel the same way? What a roller-coaster ride. Keep going with the flow. You and John are awesome parents!!!! We had some years of peace and now our kids are hitting the teen years. I never imaged or hoped it would be like this. Things are not going as smoothly as an awesome new roller-coaster ride. Some days I feel like I am on the rickety old wooden Gemini. Yes I am getting more and more computer literate- you have to with teens to monitor their activities online:) Kids grow up so fast. Keep enjoying them at this young age. They are sooooo precious!!! Lots of Love, Lisa
Can I just copy your post? LOL! I believe we all must have preconceived ideas of what we'll be like as parents...and I smiled and nodded all the way through your post!
Billie:
Oh, how I love your honesty. I too had preconceived notions about motherhood, and all of them went out the window. For Cooper's birthday I drove to 5 different stores to get him the Bounce and Spin Zebra- how crazy is that? FYI- He doesn't even really play with it. Keep up the great work, and don't feel too guilty about the TV- I'm with you, how else can we do ANYTHING?
Hilarious! And oh so true. The picky eaters, the tantrums, the pacifiers until age 3+, the house full of dust and even more full of toys, the sanity-saving videos... we've done it all. That's life with multiples, some of the time at least. And we don't regret our choices.
There is hope - many of these issues will improve a LOT with time. For now, that's the stage you're in, so just go with it.
Your love for your kids shines out in every post. You're doing a great job - don't apologize for anything!
Best wishes,
SheilaC
It's always different than we imagined isn't it? That's part of the joy I think! Good post!
Billie,
I could not have said it better myself. Everyone warns you about all of these things, but denial is blissful isn't it?!
Kristin
Dear Billie,
I recognize myself in almost all your points. I have to add this one: I thought my daughter would be a good sleeper and that we would train her to sleep in her own room. Instead, at 18 months she is still sleeping with us in our bed (with a bottle and a pacifier, of course), and she usually wakes up once every night!
; )
Ciao Anna
I laughed out loud about the food. I am nanny to my sisters triplets. They are 26 weekers, all were under 2 lbs at birth. They are now almost 4 1/2. Still drinking as much whole milk as we can push on them, we would rather they eat chips, cookies, etc than veggies/fruit because of those precious calories!! Our lives revolve around them, and we are all richer for it! Hang in there!
-Gari
WOW! Did you read my mind? I had all of these wonderful ideals too, until my much waited for twin boys were born at 24.6 weeks of age (just a couple of weeks after your girls). Since then I have learnt that you really have to choose which battles to fight! If the boys insist on yoghurt for breakfast, lunch and tea...well so what! If they insist on wearing their shoes to bed because they love "shooooooes" - then okay.
Like you life sure has changed and I wouldn't swap it for an moment.
Hugs,
Lisa
mum to Mitch & Harry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eON0x7pn0ds
http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/mum2mh/web/mum2MH.html
You said it! I'll just add a hearty "me too!" to your observations and everyone's comments. Too funny. :)
what a great post and soooo true!!
How true!!!! It's amazing how life changes :)
I have a similar post that is half-written in my blog somewhere. Funny how parenthood changes you, your ideals, you perceptions. Crazy what those little munchkins'll do to you!
We too were a "no pacifier past a certain age" pre-parents. What we didn't realize is that even kids that don't need a pacifier that you can take away, can get attached to thumb sucking, something you CAN'T take away!! AHHHHH
3 1/2 years old and our daughter is still a thumb sucker. I am saving now for orthodontist visits.
Absolutely right. My sister does not have children and is always telling me how she will sort my son out if he goes to stay with her for a while. Esp the eating side of it (he is very picky). I am almost tempted to let her have hime for a while but I think one of them (not necessarily my son) will come out of it traumatised!
Billy - what an awesome post! You hit so many things on the heads with that post. The girls look great - I read often, but rarely comment.
Hope the snot fest is over soon!
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