I was sent this poem by email (thanks Heather!) and rather than pass it on through email, I wanted to permanently place it on Hailey’s blog. It will always be here as a reminder of how becoming a mom affected my life in so many ways I never thought imaginable (and my husband’s too). For those of you who are mothers, doesn’t this just hit you? For those of you who aren’t parents yet…keep this poem in mind because it really points out the facts of parenthood and how wonderful and heartbreaking it is at the same time. Of course, I had to interject my own comments here. Each one of them have been said or thought over the past year and a half. Enjoy!

Before I was a Mom:

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. (this is where humming comes in handy)

I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. (move this upstairs, would you?)

I never thought about immunizations. (should we get her the chicken pox vaccination?)

Before I was a Mom:

I had never been puked on. (yuck, baby yogurt puke really stinks)

Pooped on. (rotavirus, gaaaahhh!)

Chewed on. (those little suckers are sharp)

Peed on. (Hailey! Couldn’t you have waited until the diaper was closed?)

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. (Where did I put my keys?)

I slept all night. (well, sometimes)

Before I was a Mom:

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests or give shots. (heart breaker)

I never looked into teary eyes and cried. (No tears! Please!)

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. (You’ve made my year, kiddo)

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. (She’s so precious, I can’t take my eyes off of her)

Before I was a Mom:

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put him down. (She’s sooo cuddly and warm)

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt. (I wish it were me instead of you)

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. (She just makes our hearts explode)

I never knew that I could love someone so much. (I’m overflowing)

I never knew I would love being a Mom. (This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me)

Before I was a Mom:

I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. (I would take a bullet for her)

I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. (You are so needed)

I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child. (I can feel it when she looks at me)

I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy. (Just say “mama” one more time, please)

Before I was a Mom:

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. (Is she breathing?)

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. (This was my calling all along)

I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom. (I am now complete)