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I Was Changed By Motherhood

It was 22 years ago today that I first became a mom. Yep my oldest turned 22 today and I can still remember the day he was born. Its hard to believe that it was that long ago, when I look back I wonder where all the years have gone. Sometimes I wish they can stay babies, but its also exciting to watch them grow into the person they are and who they become as they grow up. I had my first child at 20 years old and my last before I was 30.

I found a little story I wrote, about two years ago and thought I would share it here. I found it in my memories page from a Facebook post I shared in 2015...about motherhood.

I never imagined 20 years ago today when I first became a brand new mom to a healthy baby boy weighing in at 8 lbs 6.8 oz and 19 3/4 inches long that he would grow into a boy taller and bigger than, me with all his success and life achievements.

I was 20 when I had him and now I am 40 (42 now but I wrote this when I was 40). In the last 20 years my greatest achievement was becoming a mom and in those 20 years I have experienced so much from growth, pleasure, joy, heartbreak and pain while raising and bringing each one of my children into this world. I never pictured my life then to where I am now. I learned how to be a mom at a somewhat early age and becoming that monumental caretaker, being the provider, the teacher, the watcher and learner too.
Being mom to another little person's life simply became my greatest joy and biggest success in this world. From the time of having my first born to my last I continued on to be the best parent that I could be to them and will continue to do so each and everyday until the last breath I take. I am not a perfect mom and made some mistakes along the way, but as a parent we are often reminded that parenthood does not come with an instruction book. Its a learning experience for us all. As a mom, I was given a beautiful gift, not once not twice or three but four times, I have been blessed.
I am a proud mom to four children to two boys and two girls and what a blessing it has been for me.
There is nothing in this world that can take away God's given gift between a mother and a child and the bond I share with each of my children. I carried them under my heart as I birthed them through the womb. I was first to see each of them into this world with the very first breath they took. My children are blessings from God and they are the most treasured blessings the good Lord has given me.

Raising a child is one of the most challenging and most fulfilling experiences in life. Its rewarding and joyful, painful, un-expecting, wonderful and joyous and scary too. Its everything and all wrapped up together plus more.

Life is evolving all around us from childhood, to adolescence to adulthood into middle age until we become elders of the previous generation. Don't ever forget the memories while we still have them, no matter what age you are because at any age, every momento of growth are to be treasured through life. We never know if we have only tomorrow or a few years or another 20 still to go. Enjoy it now while we still have it, cherish the little things and don't take it for granted because it could be gone in just the blink of an eye. Just enjoy the journey, hold on to memories and don't let a day be wasted. Life is a gift and can be treasured as a gem, if one appreciates it enough to see it.
Love and God Bless.
-MamaButterfly 🦋

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SW-User

It's a very good story, L. It resonates with me. I am also 42 now. And our only son is now 22. I was 20 when I gave birth to him. (See, we have a lot in common.)

One time, I visited him. He was getting ready for school. Out of the blue I said to him, "Don't get married, yet. You are still young, with a lot of potential. Make the best of your youth." He looked at me and said, "Why are you thinking of that, whereas I've never thought about it yet." It made me smile.🙂

Mugin16 · 46-50, M

Congratulations for finding a good man so early (i hope you are still together and married). Congratulations for having your children so early. So many women wait until they are almost too old to have children nowadays. Young women are healthier and have more energy to look after their children and deal with all those sleepless nights. There is also far less risk for miscarriages and deformed/handicapped babies.

And congrats for being a good mom (I am assuimg here but I guess that is a pretty safe assumption). :-)

MamaButterfly · F

@Mugin16: Thank you your assumption was about right, but no congrats to me, because we are now divorced. We met when we were young I was 19 he was 20, had our children when we were in our 20's but separated and divorced in our 30's. No matter the differences between us though, he is still their father and I their mother, he eventually re-married but divorced shortly afterward. Either way though I think we did something right together. Its been 10 years now since we separated but our children love us both mutually.

I never wanted the differences between us, to affect our children and what some parents don't understand is that divorce does affect the children, tremendously. I hate it when two people who are divorcing each other and have children together, say to their children....it doesn't affect you. That is so wrong, because it does, it really does. That's why I say, I made mistakes along the way, but neither of us were perfect parents. Nobody really is. Most of us try our best to be good parents but sometimes I don't think parents realize that whatever is going on in the home between mom and dad, the kids know it. No matter how they try to hide it, or not let the children to be affected by it. We try and shield our kids from adult issues, thinking the kids wont know it but they do. They are more aware than we think they are.

Thank you too for the response, Its been over twenty years now since I first became a mom, and now approaching the age of being a grandma....I am looking forward to that, but no rush on it...haha.
Your right though on what you said but also kids these days seem to be having them younger and younger too.

Livingwell · 61-69, M

As a dad I felt the same way. It was so hard when they moved away. But I'm so proud today of both of my daughters - strong and capable!

MamaButterfly · F

@Livingwell: Oh yeah I hear ya there. My son the one who's birthday I mentioned is in the Air Force now, he signed in at 18 right after he graduated. Now 22 and my second son turned 20 last month. For them to both go out into the world on their own was frightening but I also had to remind myself that they are not little boys anymore. They are both high school graduates and I only two more to go before they are officially adults too now. My younger two (my girls) are going on 18 and 14. My youngest is 14, my baby girl. Sad really, that's why I wish they can just stay babies.

Great job for you as dad and being proud to have strong capable daughters. Good job dad for raising your girls to be such.

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