What my day is really like as a mother..

For all the Mum’s out there, did you have a (rose tinted or other) vision of how mother-hood would be or were you REALLY prepared?

Can anyone ever really be truly prepared??

I had visions of me as a chilled out Earth Mama, with smiling happy adorable children, free with nature, walking through fields of flowers, admiring the beauty around us. I am quite bohemian natured.

I had visions of me sharing my love of arts and crafts with them, spending hours painting, making cards, learning from one another, learning new skills.

I had visions of a happy joyful house, the smell of home cooked food and baking filling the air every day, children’s laughter everywhere.

I had visions of friends calling over with their equally well behaved children and we could sit and chat and drink tea for hours while the children all played happily together and us calling to my friends houses. Again, us drinking tea and catching up while the children all play happily together.

I had visions of family outings, taking children to shows and concerts where the children would sit happily with us, for the entire performance, enthralled by the stage.

I had visions of full night sleeps after the first year. (surely one year is realistic?)

So fast forward almost six years and here is what a typical day as a Mother for me REALLY is with a 4 and almost 6 year old :-)

Let’s start from early in the morning,
Or more like the middle of the night,
The familiar sound of ‘MOMMMMMMMMMMY’,
It’s my little man, that’s right.

Bleary eyed and half asleep,
I trundle down the hall,
Afraid he’ll wake the whole house up,
I sprint and nearly fall.

He is a child that doesn’t need much sleep,
Rarely since he was born,
Has he gone to bed in the evening time,
And slept right through until morn.

But sure sleep is over-rated,
That’s what I tell myself at least.
These circles under my eyes are tiger stripes,
I’m a tired sleep deprived beast.

Morning times used to be chaos here,
I used to rush and rant and shout,
But sure what’s the point, it only slows us down,
Now we are like the army and plan it out.

Lunch is made the night before,
Clothes are ready, ironed and all,
Breakfast eaten, teeth get brushed,
We get dressed and assemble in the hall.

Umbrella’s up, we dodge the raindrops,
My son scooters down the hill,
Me screaming for him to “BRAKE RIGHT NOW”,
Like a scene from Jack and Jill.

My daughter holds my hand and skips,
Singing sweetly her favourite song.
While I constantly remind my son to BRAKE,
We chat and skip along.

With the kids in school,
I clean the house, before I get time to sit and write.
Alone at last, I gather my thoughts,
Making plans for my writing that night.

Afternoon is where all the fun begins,
From the minute we get in the door.
I am hungry! Mommy, I am STARVING! Mommy,
As they exaggerate and hit the floor.

You’d swear they were never fed at all,
As they scavenge in the fridge for food.
I don’t want this and I don’t want that.
I watch their changing mood.

Sure we’ll sit and paint and get creative.
We’ll chill out and do some art.
Aprons on and paper out.
“Eurgh Mommy he’s done a fart!”

The bickering starts, so I referee,
Until giggles fill the air,
Hands are painted, often noses too.
If I turn around in the chair.

If a friend calls in, I’ll make us tea,
As the kids play in the other room,
But as soon as I get comfy on the kitchen chair,
Chaos begins and then it’s BOOM.

Mommy, Mom, Mam, Mum…
“I am thirsty can I have a drink”
I chat away as best I can,
Multi-tasking from the kitchen sink.

Mum, Mam, Mom, Mammy…
I hear between every second line.
More often than not, when a friend calls over,
They decide to whinge and whine.

My friend looks on, with that knowing look,
She’s been there, of course with her own,
It’s the same scenario if I visit her,
Is it the same in every home?

It’s like when I go to the toilet,
I have an audience 9 times out of 10.
They have a built in sensor, I’m convinced of it,
The bathroom’s no hideaway den.

My vision of being the perfect Mother?
I am not sure it even exists.
At times I get it wrong and often will,
Despite my plans and all my lists.

Though even with the chaos and tantrums,
Amid my ever increasing grey hair,
I wouldn’t swap either of them for all the world,
My adorable beautiful pair.

As I look at their beautiful faces,
My heart swells with pride and love,
They fill my world with laughter and meaning,
And a mixture of all the above :-)

© Denise Kenny
http://www.itbeginswithaverse.com

Every day is different in this house, so whether they are making me laugh or making me cringe, like today;
“Look Mommy,” shouts my 4 yr old excitedly “that lady has a baby in her belly,” as I look up to see him smiling at a 65 year old lady.. “Her belly is HUGE” Yep, I kid you not.

But despite even the most awkward moments, every day is a blessing. Motherhood truly is a precious gift, one which I am very thankful for. I love seeing the love for me on my children’s faces when they kiss me or cuddle me.
“I love you more then my heart” is what my daughter says to me when she kisses me or gives me a hug or cuddles up to me. She makes me cards with “I luv you Mommy” written all over it. We make the shape of a heart with our fingers and blow kisses through it very night when I am about to leave the room after tucking her in and reading her a story.

I love looking at my son’s cheeky but adorable smile and the love shining from his face when he says “I wuv you Mommy” and wraps his little arms around me, squeezing me tight. I love when he snuggles in tight to me and even after 4 years he still goes for his familiar spot nuzzled between my chin and shoulder.

It’s not always easy being a parent but I love being a Mum :-)

Happy Mother’s day to all the Mum’s out there. Enjoy being spoiled on Sunday xx

I am being spoiled already. Here is what they made at school and couldn’t wait to give to me :-)