I was thinking to myself tonight about a conversation I had with my mom's neighbor at a get together my mom had. It was while I was big and pregnant with Mason. The conversation was about how this woman wasn't sure weather or not she wanted to have children. At the time, not really being a mom yet, all I could tell her was how special it was to be pregnant and how excited I was. It was so wonderful to hear my mom and my sister Jen take turns telling her why it's a good idea to have kids. My mom, having raised 4 kids of her own spoke words of wisdom about how worth it it all is and the good outweighs the bad. And my sister Jen talked excitedly about how she couldn't wait to become a mom and it is her ultimate goal in life. Side note, I'm so grateful for my family. Each member is so wonderful and unique. Back on track... This girl thought out loud about how she was so happy with her current situation and didn't know if she wanted a kid to come in and change her life. She made sure to mention how she had lots of money, a successful job, and I quote "a closet filled with expensive designer shoes". I remember thinking she was nuts, but maybe she didn't have the examples surrounding her growing up that I did. I realize that I have only had one baby so far, and compared to a lot of moms am lacking in experience, but let me just say that I would give up every possession I own (including designer shoes!) just to experience the first day that I had Mason. He was so beautiful, and it didn't matter if he wasn't, I couldn't see him any other way. Now, fast forward to almost two and a half years later, I'm rocking him in his rocking chair and he is resting his sweet head on my chest saying "mommy sing songs, sing songs" Then I ask him what song he wants me to sing, and he says "baby mine". It's that song from the movie Dumbo where the mommy elephant rocks little dumbo through the bars of her cage and sings the song to him. (tears!!!) I have been singing that song to Mason since he was born, and what do you know, he likes it! He actually requests it. Anyways, back on track again, I am so glad I'm a mom. I wouldn't trade it for the world, and I am in awe that God would entrust one of his children to me to raise. It's so neat to realize that being a mother is more valuable to me than all the treasures in the whole world. I wish I could tell that girl that you are changed in a way that you could never dreamed of. It's like living in constant night time and all at once experiencing a bright sunny day. For any readers who made it this far, you probably know how I feel. We are so blessed to have the experience of parenthood, and I now more than ever feel that it is the single most important thing for me to be doing while here on this Earth.
Now, I don't know about anyone else, but I look at the pictures here of mine and my family's kids, and I don't think there are enough shoes in the universe that I would trade for all of these precious moments.
PS- Yes, I know I am a total sap and a slave to my emotions, but... Yeah that's all I've got ;)
