Mama Wants THIS

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Oh hi there, people. I’m slowly but surely wrapping my head around the weekend that was BlogHer. But first, or last, (but not least) I have a guest post for you from Alison at Mama Wants This.

Mama Wants this started her blog less than a year ago and has really jumped in head-first. If you don’t know Alison, you should. She’s maybe one of the most supportive bloggers I’ve ever met.

Some of the lessons she’s writing about today are the same lessons I’ve learned from Joshua. And some of the things she lists about her son are some of the things I missed most about Joshua while I was gone.

Enjoy!

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Before I became a mother, I thought I more or less knew it all. At least, what I needed to know. I was nearly 33, had worked successfully for 10 years and could kick serious ass, if required.

Little did I know, that a child, one of my own making, would be teaching me a few things.

Here are some of the lessons I learnt from my son.

Patience

I’m possibly one of the most impatient people I know. I cannot stand it when people walk a step too slow in front of me; I get annoyed at cars that don’t go immediately when the traffic light turns green; I hate watching wait staff at restaurants take their time to get to me. Yes, I’m THAT impatient.

Patience as defined by Wikipedia: state of endurance under difficult circumstances, persevering in the face of delay without acting on annoyance or anger.

Since I became a mother, I’ve learnt to grin and bear it when he takes 30 minutes to finish his lunch, after 15 minutes of negotiating with him on what he: wants or does not want to eat/ tosses Cheerios all over the carpet/ pees on the floor/ draws on himself and his clothes with a marker/ runs away from me when I try to dress him/ sits on the potty for 20 minutes and nothing to show for it/ changes his mind a hundred times about everything from a TV program to what book he wants to read.

Multitasking

I did think this was one thing I was very good at, before I was a mother. I could juggle 5 tasks at work – return emails while I was in on the phone in a teleconference, drinking coffee, eating a snack and checking Facebook.

What? That’s NOT multitasking?

No, Alison, it is not. It’s called slacking at work. Multitasking is when you rock a baby to sleep on one arm, whilst simultaneously making yourself a cup of tea, and cleaning the kitchen counter tops all at the same time. Then proceeding to do a myriad of chores with one hand and ensuring the baby is safely sleeping on your other arm, and not awakened by your activities.

It also means blogging, Facebooking and tweeting while sitting on the throne in the bathroom, in those precious 5 minutes you manage to get away ALONE.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

It’s true, I don’t get to do my monthly facials. Or get my hair cut every two months. Or my manicures/ pedicures every 3 weeks. I don’t get to shower longer than 2 minutes. Or go to the toilet by myself. I don’t wear my beloved high heels anymore. Or my treasured rings, necklaces and earrings. I barely even remember to wear my wedding band and engagement ring. I don’t get to sleep in. I am mostly in clothes that are comfortable rather than fashionable. I have stretchmarks. And cellulite.

I would have sweated all those things before.

Now? I have better, more important things to focus on.

A child’s laughter.

His bright smile.

Chunky legs that run like the wind.

Small hands clutching crayons.

Toddler-talk and words that only make sense to him and I.

Quiet moments on my lap, his hand holding mine.

Wet baby kisses.

Sleepy cuddles and snuggles.

The most important lessons I’ve learnt from my son?

Be in the moment. Be present. Celebrate all things big or small. Be happy. Be grateful.

Thank you Miranda, for allowing me the privilege to share my words here in your space.