being a mom

The last several days, I've really been wanting to change my name. Not from Robyn so much as from Mom. I am in the midst of the fourth cold that Mason has brought home since starting school the end of August. Both my kids are sick too. Also, as it turns out Marissa is a little bit sadistic, and I have a wound on my nipple to prove it. She's grouchy, Mason's grouchy, and I'm grouchy. Grrrrr! At 4 this morning, when Marissa was up and crying for the 6th time, I just really didn't want to be the mom anymore.
So, today I choose to be grateful for being a mom. I am grateful for all the snugs, the kisses, the "Mama, I love you so much!"es, the smiles from my kids while they nurse (not that I nurse Mason anymore), the falling asleep with a baby snuggled into my armpit, the laughing, the sweet clean-baby smells, the playing dress up, the teeny tiny accouterments (cute = small + functional), and the love that fills your heart the first time you meet your brand new little baby. I am grateful that I have been blessed with the ability to have children, without much by way of difficulties. I am grateful for the blessing of getting to stay at home to raise my own children, and for my husband who works so hard every single day so I have that opportunity. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to understand how much my own parents love and cherish me (this is one of the most profound epiphanies parenthood has thus bestowed upon me). I am grateful that I have two healthy, perfect little children with so much personality and intelligence.
Like anything in life, good comes with bad. Sacrifices are necessary for blessings. Being a mom is probably THE most amazing, wonderful, awesome experience of my entire life thus far, even though it comes with a plethora of bodily excretions, often all over the place, a serious lack of sleep, and always having to be the one to take care of things.
Today, I am grateful to be a mom.