A Mother's Epiphany: An Essay on Recapturing the Magic of Motherhood
28997
Home & Family > Toddlers
Jun 19, 2007
momscape
A Mother's Epiphany: An Essay on Recapturing the Magic of Motherhood
A few of my childhood friends are radiating love, joy, and nervousness like never before, which could only mean one thing: they are pregnant for the first time. In my conversations with these friends, it is all I can do not to get teary when they talk about how excited they are for the babys birth. Because, as all moms know, no matter how prepared they say they are, they have no idea what is about to hit them. Sure, I could tell them, but it would not make a difference. No one can put into words how profoundly your life changes when your children are born. It is such a common thing to say that it has become a cliche: "Your first child will change your life more than you could have ever thought possible." And then the second you lay eyes on that baby, you get it. The understanding is instantaneous and overwhelming. You realize that what everyone has been trying to tell you is true, times a thousand. No longer do we live for ourselves. We live for a seven pound, wrinkly bundle. Our worldview widens. We understand the true definition of "tired." Bodily fluids cease to make us gag. And, suddenly, the only thing we want to do on a Saturday night is to watch the baby sleep until we drift off ourselves. The biology of motherhood I more or less understand, but the emotion of motherhood is incomprehensible. Still, amid playgroups, carpools, and endless vacuuming, even the best moms sometimes lose touch with the surge of emotion that entered our lives the same time our children did. My little miracle is in the exasperating "no" stage. She hates the word when it is directed at her but is rather fond of saying it herself. On a particularly frustrating day last week when she had me checking the clock every 15 minutes waiting for the little hand to reach the 6 (the hour my husband typically comes home), I finally put her in the bathtub (the one place she is nearly always content). I sat on the stool near the tub and flipped through a magazine, preparing myself for the remaining hours in the day. After a few minutes, I whisked a towel around her and relied on the Teletubbies to entertain her while I rounded up her new outfit. When I returned, Cassie was standing in the middle of the living room floor, mouth wide open, staring at the TV, her pronounced toddler belly balancing atop two bowed legs. She was playing with her belly button. What I experienced then can only be called a parental epiphany. Perhaps it was her nakedness that made me realize that my toddler, resolute on exerting her independence, was just as vulnerable and dependent as ever. And the indescribable rush of love, responsibility, and sheer joy hit me square in the face with as much force as it had the day she was born. I would like us all to remind one another how much our babies need us, no matter how tall they have grown. So during those inevitable days they spend attached to your left leg, or drawing on the wallpaper, or spending time in the principals office, we will reflect on the day of their birth, when two new spirits entered the world: a child and a mother.
Susie Cortright is the founder of several popular websites, including Susies-Coupons.com, BestSelfHelp.com and Momscape.com, where you can register to win gift cards from top online merchants.
send email to momscape
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
Choosing a scrapbooking theme can help you stay focused and reduce the tendency to buy more products than you'll use. Here's help for choosing the scrapbook theme that's right for you.
Category:
Focusing on gratitude keeps us centered and helps ward off negativity. Here are five little things we can do each day to nourish our sense of gratitude:
Category:
Nurture your mind, body and soul with these simple warm weather treats.
Category:
There is just something about a Daddy. Here, we salute the fathers and grandfathers of the world.
Category:
A reminder of just how much our babies need us, no matter how tall they have grown.
Category:
Ideas for starting new family traditions, and for revering the old ones.
Category:
Preschool birthday parties are joyous, but, the truth is, when my kids were younger, I tended to lose sight of what a successful birthday party really is: a memorable event that makes your child feel treasured. Now that my kids are a little older, and I h
Category:
The purpose of a present is to make the recipient feel treasured, and with a little special care in the gift wrap, you can do just that. Here are 24 creative gift wrap ideas.
Category:
Here are seven ways you can refocus on the needs of your family and create lasting memories for your kids, all while remaining attentive to your own needs as a parent. And each is designed to take 15 minutes or less.
Category:
Here is a meal by meal guide to eating for energy and managing your mood with food.
Category:
An essay on slowing down and savoring the summer season with your family.
Category:
Is there a subject more charged than that of time, especially among parents? It is the source of many of our conversations ("How are you?" "Busy!") and much of our guilt. Here are some thoughts on taming our own perception of time.
Category:
Few things are as rewarding as seeing your child glow from the inside out. Here are twelve family activities that can help boost self esteem in children.
Category:
Change your attitude by changing your living space. Here are eight quick tips you can use today.
Category:
I confess that holiday shopping once felt like an enormous, energy draining chore, and it was one that I dreaded all year. Now I have found a way to really enjoy it. Here are some tips to help you take pleasure in it, too.
Category:
Decking the halls and spreading good cheer can be stressful. Here are some tips to make sure you enjoy every last fa la la.
Category:
The abundance in your life is in your mind and your soul. It is there today. It was there yesterday. It will be there tomorrow. And it is entirely independent of your bank balance. Here are some ideas for recognizing aboundance and bringing it into your e
Category:
Anyone can splurge on a formal dinner or a pricey bottle of perfume, but it takes creativity, forethought, and time to be truly romantic. Here are 10 ideas to get you started.
Category:
You can stay at home with your children while still advancing in your career. So how do you make it work? Here are seven tips.
Category:
Other links at Home & Family > Toddlers
Five simple play time activities you can use to help your children develop their creative faculties and other senses
Category:
Indian baby names and deeply rooted in tradition and religion. This article explores the history of indian baby names and how things are changing in the modern world.
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68285
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
