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Momma Kiss: "Just" a mom?

Momma Kiss

If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

"Just" a mom?

I've been working away, telling people that 2 + 2 doesn't always = 4. Also trying to log miles like my life depended on it...and so my space here has been so lonely.

Who's helping me? Natalie, that's who. Nat is a gorgeous mother of one + twins. The girl who bowls like a rock star. The girl who's birthday is this weekend and hasn't said shit about it. Yes. Natalie. She wanted to share some words, and I needed some words and so here are Nat's words:

*******

I am a diaper changer.
I am a boo-boo kisser and a tear wiper.
I brush hair and teeth, and comfort crying babies.

I am a referee.
I am a judge and jury. A negotiator and mediator.
I call time outs and naps, and discipline even when I'm too tired to.

I am severely underpaid servant.
I am a chef and a chauffeur. A personal assistant and maid.
I cook and clean, and do laundry...a lot of it.

I am a jungle gym.
I am a dancer and a singer. A story teller and a clown.
I play, laugh, remember songs and games of my childhood and teach them to my children.

I am a yeller.
I am occasionally a tyrant and a maniac. A child myself and a tantrum thrower.
I scream too often. I love even more often. I doubt myself even more often than that.

I am a mother.
I am continually being challenged and learning how to be one. I continually hope that I am doing it right.
I gratefully thank God each day that my kids are happy, healthy, and resilient.

The other day, as Ethan climbed back and forth over my legs as I tried to relax on the couch, it occurred
to me that I was so much more than just "mom". I started to think about all of the things that I do every
day without even realizing it or giving myself credit for. How many hats I wear; how many different faces
I put on. I had to write this, and although it's short, it means more to me than any other post I've done in
a long time.

*******

Thank you friend. Love to you and good luck this weekend. Happy Birthday. Wish I could be there when you roll a spare. Or strike. Hell, I just want to wear the bowling shirt.

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33 Comments:

Anonymous Jessica said...

Great post Natalie! We are more than just a mom. We play many roles in our lives and sometimes we don't give ourselves enough credit for all of them.

3/16/11, 11:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love it! Its amazing what all of us moms do in one day!

3/17/11, 12:07 AM  
Anonymous Ilana @ mommyshorts said...

This is perfect. The job doesn't pay because you couldn't possibly pay enough.

And happy birthday, Natalie!

3/17/11, 12:19 AM  
Blogger Natalie said...

Thank you for letting me put my words in you, ahem, I mean in your space. Tee hee hee. You know how much you mean to me, and I am glad that we could help each other out. Much love to you my friend!

3/17/11, 12:29 AM  
Blogger Adrienne said...

I love this. Thanks for sharing!

3/17/11, 12:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love this!! Perfect... Moms, it is what we are.

3/17/11, 12:54 AM  
Blogger Sandra said...

I especially associate with the "I'm a yeller" portion of her description...sigh..

3/17/11, 1:16 AM  
Anonymous Morgan B. said...

Happy birthday Natalie! You are all those things and so much more. xo

3/17/11, 1:22 AM  
Blogger Alexandra said...

Happy Birthday, Nat!!

3/17/11, 1:40 AM  
Blogger The mad woman behind the blog said...

Happy Birthday Nat and yes, mom's are completely underpaid but those hugs, smiles and snuggles sure don't hurt!

3/17/11, 2:32 AM  
Blogger Jen said...

Nat is beautiful and I so love her. :)

Happy Birthday.

3/17/11, 8:37 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Happy Birthday to a multi-tasking wonderful mom!

3/17/11, 8:53 AM  
Blogger John said...

I, for one, think you should be able to cash in stored hugs, smiles, wiped noses, kissed away tears, and snuggles for massages. But maybe that's just me.

3/17/11, 8:56 AM  
Blogger Jessica said...

Love those posts that just have to come out and so glad that this one did. Somedays we forget that being just the mom is so much more than that. Happy Birthday Natalie!

3/17/11, 9:47 AM  
Blogger Sherri said...

Two of my favorite tweeps in one place! Great post Natalie...we sure are WAY more than "just a mom".

Hang in there counting all those damn beans, Momma!

3/17/11, 10:13 AM  
Blogger Kim said...

This is amazing. I love this so completely. And after I'm done being a jungle gym I'm going to go check Natalie out. For reals!

3/17/11, 12:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is right up my alley! Exactly what I've working to remind myself of. I'm going to print it out.
It's not what we don't do- it's what we do.

3/17/11, 1:16 PM  
Blogger KLZ said...

Soon you will be a woman who hoists a bowling trophy above her head too!

3/17/11, 1:23 PM  
Blogger Shell said...

We do so much, don't we? Love this post!

3/17/11, 3:00 PM  
Blogger Kir said...

oh Natalie, you are all those things and more. It's nice for all of us to read posts like this once in a while and know we are all more alike than different and we have a 'friend" and "support" in each other.

I like Kristen's comment..that "it's not what we don't do, it's what we do" AMEN!!!

3/17/11, 3:44 PM  
Blogger Heather H said...

Great list, Natalie! We all know you do so much more than that though! Thanks for sharing, and happy birthday!

3/17/11, 4:32 PM  
Anonymous Jennie @ Modern Mamaz said...

Being a mother is the hardest job in the world. It's also 24/7 and a volunteer position. I think we deserve a "Mother's Day" at LEAST once a month. What is this once a year BS, anyway?

3/17/11, 4:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love it. (You guys should do this more often, it cuts down on my daily commute in the blogisphere)

3/17/11, 7:51 PM  
Anonymous Kimberly said...

You nailed it. Love.

3/17/11, 8:58 PM  
Anonymous Mom Went Crazy said...

Natalie rocks! This is such a great post. I think we can all relate.

3/18/11, 10:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fantastic post!

3/18/11, 11:05 AM  
Anonymous Yuliya said...

So sweet. And true. Man we do a LOT!

3/18/11, 2:13 PM  
Blogger Lana D said...

Awesome! Love it! Gonna print it out and post it on my fridge!

3/18/11, 3:12 PM  
Anonymous Erin I'm Gonna Kill Him said...

Throwing consecutive strikes is way harder than raising good humans. :)

Great post. Really nice.

Smooth move, MommaKiss, making Natalie post for YOU on HER birthday.
Mine is in November - so get ready.

3/19/11, 8:55 AM  
Blogger mypixieblog said...

A very happy birthday to Natalie! What a beautiful post~thanks for sharing with us.

3/19/11, 9:08 PM  
Blogger Truthful Mommy said...

Happy Birthday Nat! This post is perfect but you forgot one thin off your list...we are monkies, as in "dance monkey dance" at least I know I am and I'm pretty sure that I;m not the only one. Jeez,I;m tired being a dancing monkey is damn hard work:)

3/20/11, 12:16 AM  
Blogger Mrs. Tuna said...

If you wear a bowling shirt will it make Charlie Sheen like you better? Winning.

3/20/11, 9:35 PM  
Blogger Booyah's Momma said...

So simply put... but so true. It sounds cliche to say that being a mom is the toughest job ever... but it's true. Well said, Miss Natalie.

3/23/11, 12:46 AM  

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