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Contests

Adapting to being a mom

I just found out there was at least one Group Writing Project entry that didn’t go through earlier. If you submitted your post but haven’t seen it listed in the daily-ish round ups, please try again!

Here’s our missed entry:

And here’s my contribution!


Before I was a mom, I had no idea.

I had no concept of having a little person who needs everything from me, and yet couldn’t give anything back.

I couldn’t imagine what it would be like when I couldn’t give a precious baby back to its mother—because I was the mom now.

I had no idea the panic that I’d feel as it set in that I would never go on “vacation,” get a “break,” or spend time alone with my husband.

Before I was a mom, I wanted kids—four of them. Now, I don’t know if I could handle that—some days I don’t know if I can handle the two I have!

I couldn’t fathom what it would be like to hold my child.

I didn’t know how “I love you ‘O MUCH!” or “Yer my fav’it!” or laughter would sound from the mouth of my child.

Before I had two children, I knew I would never be able to give any child the time and attention I’d given Hayden.

I didn’t know how sweet my son could be.

I never imagined how hearing “Becca is my bes’ fwen’ ever” or just “Werbecca” from my son would melt my heart.

Now that I’m a mom, I have no idea how exactly or how much my life will change as my kids grow older, as Rebecca learns to walk and talk, as Hayden goes to preschool and school, as our family grows. I know I’m not ready for it—but I’m finally beginning to believe we’ll all survive.

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Contests

August GWP Day . . . next

I’m good at counting.

This week has been . . . well, on the bright side we got Hayden registered for preschool, though I am a little ambivalent about starting him at 3. He’s very excited, and we found a place that looks just wonderful—field trips and gym and outside play and art (both their own and masters’ masterpieces) and social skills and all that other school stuff. I’m probably more nervous than he is.

Before I was a mom, I had no idea! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one. We have five more great entries today, so be sure to read and comment!
MamaBlogga Group Writing Project badge

Haven’t submitted yours yet? There’s still time! Get a post in before Sunday for a chance to win a $30 Amazon gift card—and be sure to use the submission form! (It helps me keep all the entries in the same place in my email so I can find them when I need to post them.)

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Contests

August GWP: Day 1 (ish)

MamaBlogga Group Writing Project badgeThe GWP is back, baby! This time around, we’re looking at “Before I was a mom.” So far, we have some great entries comparing the seasons of our lives—and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side! Be sure to read, comment and enjoy the first batch of GWP entries.

Haven’t submitted yours yet? There’s still time! Get a post in before Sunday for a chance to win a $30 Amazon gift card—and be sure to use the submission form! (It helps me keep all the entries in the same place in my email so I can find them when I need to post them.)

Categories
Contests

August Group Writing Project

It’s been a really long time—a MamaBlogga Group Writing Project is way overdue. Starting in on your suggestions (with more topics to come from your comments soon!), the theme for the August Group Writing Project is “Before I was a mom.”

MamaBlogga Group Writing Project badgeAs always, feel free to go in any direction that appeals to you. Even if you don’t choose to participate, you can encourage others to participate!

  • Your post can take any form as long as it reflects this theme—this includes anything from serious to sarcastic, about your children, your future children, your pet, etc.
  • You can participate with a blog post, a podcast, a video, a page on your website, etc., etc. If you don’t have a website, contact me and I’ll be happy to publish your entry here on MamaBlogga.
  • Only NEW posts (i.e., posts have not been published prior to 10 August 2009) are eligible. Posts must be submitted through the submission form before Monday, 17 August 2009.

Why participate?
There are lots of reasons to participate! All entries that meet the guidelines will be listed and linked to here on MamaBlogga. This an opportunity for you to discover new blogs (and for others to discover yours!). Also, see how you can get the most out of the GWP.

And, of course, there is one more incentive: one lucky post author, drawn at random, will receive a $30 gift certificate to Amazon.com (to be announced Monday, 17 August 2009).

Finally, we’d appreciate it if you linked to this post or to the guidelines/submission form on your entry post so that others can learn about the project and participate.

Get the badge!
Copy and paste this code to get the MamaBlogga GWP badge above (it includes a link back here, but I’d still appreciate a text link, too).

<a href="http://www.mamablogga.com/august-2009-group-writing-project/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3809317958_29e3f156e4_m.jpg" alt="MamaBlogga Group Writing Project" title="MamaBlogga Group Writing Project" /></a>

Previous Group Writing Projects:

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Kids/Parenting

Happy, happy birthday!

Last week (almost two weeks ago, man), we celebrated Rebecca’s first birthday with my in-laws. She got some fun toys, a couple adorable outfits and a cute towel set (which is doubly good, since she’s never had any towels of “her own.” Poor deprived kid.).

We had angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. She ate almost her entire piece!

july-2009-063

(That’s my hand at the bottom telling Hayden expressly not to blow out the candle. Not that I thought Rebecca would/could, but man, give her a chance! Going through the ~125 photos on the camera to find this one, though, I found enough pictures by Hayden to complete his photographic introspective, The World from Waist-Level.)

July was a crazy-busy month for us. My family was in town for a family reunion and extended visit, and then we rushed down for another family reunion. (10+ hours in the car each way. Have I ever mentioned that the kids don’t sleep in the car for more than 45 minutes a day?) I hope things will get more normal for us now, but as much as I like the new-found quiet, it’s sometimes a little empty.

What are your favorite parts of your family visits? Least favorite?

Categories
Fulfillment

It’s Not All Gravy: Happy Mother’s Day

A couple of months ago, I came across a Mother’s day column reprinted by the author, Maryann Miller, on her blog, It’s Not All Gravy. Though the original was printed decades ago, so much of it really rings true—and still strikes at the heart of what makes moms struggle with nobility and fulfillment in motherhood: ourselves. (The emphasis here is mine.)

While I’ve been trying to sort out all these things associated with motherhood, I keep wondering why there is so much unrest among women today, even those who have had a satisfying career outside the home before deciding to become full-time homemakers. Then I realized the unrest comes out of a loss of pride. Modern thinking has managed to strip us of any glimmer of the kind of pride our mothers could feel for their role.

It’s true that modern ideology still advocates free choice, but somehow the choice of full-time homemaker doesn’t garner the same respect and interest as choosing to be an astronaut. . . .

Under the circumstances, it’s no wonder women are in such turmoil. Society has force-fed us its version of the “modern woman” — exciting, sophisticated, fulfilled, and working outside the home. So when a woman finds her fulfillment at home, she automatically starts questioning and comparing. That is especially true of the women who had a different career first.

I found this fascinating. I often wonder if I’d had more time to “establish” my career before I had children, if I’d had those years to live for myself (and my husband) after college, if maybe I wouldn’t struggle so much to find fulfillment now.

Conversely, though, I can’t help but wonder if that time living for myself would have just made it harder to “give it all up” to become a full-time mom. I mean, I had a hard enough time giving up what little I’d had.

What do you think? Does having a career outside the home before children make it harder or easier to become a full-time mom? How does your career (former or current) interplay with your fulfillment from motherhood?

Photo by Brian Talbot