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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Top 10 Ways I Knew I Was A Mom

I kind of want to write my own Top 10 list for why I love Rachel at Life with Baby Donut. Not only is she a prolific commenter, she's also an amazing support person on Twitter. Also? She's not afraid to ask for support when she needs it, something I respect in a woman, especially a mom. Check out this post on blogging insecurities for an example of her honest writing and reaching out to others.

I believe there comes a time when every woman who has a child looks at herself and thinks “Oh my gosh—I am such a mom!” Now you’d think going through a painful labor and birthing a child would be that defining moment. Or perhaps even breastfeeding and ending up sore and in pain. While those moments certainly point to mom-hood, there were actually a few other, subtler ways that I knew I’d arrived.

Here I present the top 10 ways I realized that I was a mama:

1. I picked a giant booger. And it wasn’t mine.

2. I can tell if a diaper is full simply by scent.

3. I let my kid lick my face. I don’t allow anyone, including my dog, to do that.

4. “Ssshhhh” has become the most often used word in our house.

5. I typed up a spreadsheet comparing the price of diapers between different stores. (I realize this also makes me a nerd.)

6. I wear zero makeup. This is a big deal!

7. I googled the words to “Pat-A-Cake.”

8. I can eat, hold a baby, do a load of laundry and unload the dishwasher at the same time! With only 2 hands!

9. I can no longer leave the house in less than 30 minutes.

10. I make sure most everything in my purse can be used as a chew toy in an emergency.

There you have it. What was your defining moment?

30 comments:

Julie @ Pickles and I Scream said...

Ha Ha! I googled pat-a-cake too only I thought it was "Patty Cake" who happens to be the name of a very friendly girl with lots of pictures and videos, not exactly what I expected to find!

Rach (DonutsMama) said...

Thanks for having me over today Steph! I always enjoy the visit and hope you are having a great vacation!

mamamash said...

I googled it too! HAHA! I am laughing so hard about this list, because it's so true!

Stop comparing diaper prices! Just sign up for Amazon Mom Subscribe & Save and have your diapers delivered, for free, at 30% off store prices.

I've never had a problem with them, and I can even cancel deliveries or change sizes or brands or whatever.

Life As Wife said...

Hah Rach this is too funny.

I knew I was a mom when I got over my issues with body fluids.

Theresa said...

I knew I was a mom when the neighbourhood kids starting referring to me as "Lala's Mom" and when there was always always some kind of white gross substance on my left shoulder. On every shirt!!

Natalie said...

Ha ha and I thought I was the only one who didn't know the words to pat-a-cake! And I've got the diaper smell down too LOL!

Kara @ June & Bear said...

Spit cleaning little faces, memorizing Backyardigans tunes, wearing a scarf to work with a Dum-Dum stuck to it, wearing Hello Kitty band-aids and the list goes on and on.

Unknown said...

This post is such fun. I remember comparing diaper priced too.

Di said...

I caught spit up in my hands.

I was happy when he vomited phlegm all over me because that meant he got it out of his chest.

:) - defining moments I tell you!

Jessica said...

I don't remember when I knew I was a mom but the things I do each day remind me that I am.

Fox in the City said...

My moment was when I phoned the daycare to arrange for the final visit before Little Miss started and they called me "Little Miss's mom". Well . . . actually . . . they called her by her given name not her blog one but I think you get the idea.

I was no longer just Jenn . . . I was someone's mom. Whoa!
Jenn

Rach said...

Haha! These are all great! I will be right there with ya someday!

Bees With Honey said...

You pretty much hit every point there Rach! Definitely a Mommmy! Scary isn't it? That all of us moms probably nodded our heads a million times while reading each of your 10 points.

Gotta love our job!
Picking boogers is fun. Ain't it?

Jessica said...

Hahaha I googled the words too!!

I think you hit the nail on the head Rachel!! I still find myself going "I cant believe these kids are mine." So strange to be a mom.

Jen said...

Hahaha! I'm laughing at googling the words to Pat-a-Cake! You are too funny :)

Alison said...

Haha! Great list, Rach. I knew for sure I 'became' a real mom (it didn't feel that real before then) when I had to 'help' the little one poop, and did not scrunch up my nose or go eww. And also, talking about poop all the time.

Missy | Literal Mom said...

I'm not afraid to admit that I LIKE getting boogers out of baby's nostrils - they're much happier to be able to breathe and we moms feel a huge sense of accomplishment!

Erica@PLRH said...

I knew I was a mom when I never had both legs shaved at the same time. Also, when my choice of restaurants was determined by whether or not chicken fingers were on the menu.

Kat said...

I'm not a mommy, so I don't have immediately personal experience with The List.

But #10 cracked me up because I have seen it in action so many times. Hell, I've been tempted to sacrifice my patent leather mini-skinny to the cause for crying out loud!

Shell said...

What a great list!

I think mine had to do with something like this: Being able to change a nasty diaper while thinking what I was going to make for dinner.

Dwija {House Unseen} said...

Awesome list, Rach! I'll add "I can tell what time of day it is by how their whines sound"

Kiddothings said...

Oh yes, a list that definitely confirms you as a mom. Defining moment for me was when I had to help my kid poop - literally, with sound effects as well. I could've been mistaken for a midwife.

Kimberly said...

Not going to lie....I was caught singing my newborn "Wonderwall" by Oasis by a family member and they had asked me if I new any children's songs...and I didn't. So I googled them.
Then one day I remembered that I loved Raffi when I was a child so I decided to burn (illegally) some of his music onto the computer and I ended up downloading a virus.
Ah that's what I get right?
Love this list...also the booger part but I'll save that story to myself.

Amanda @ It's Blogworthy said...

Yes, definitely the smelling a diaper to see if it needs a change. Done that many a time.

Bonnie@TheFragileXFiles said...

I knew I was a "mom" when, during the beginning of my kids' obsession with the Wiggles, I found and printed out a recipe for "Crunchy Munchy Honey Cakes."

Also, I have twin boys, and can not only tell a poopy diaper by scent, but can tell you which one of the two it is.

Not a Perfect Mom said...

you know...everyone sings different words to pat a cake...I think it was genius to look it up...
and I love to pick my kids boogers...

Angie said...

Mine was a booger moment, too! And, when she wouldn't stop crying for anyone but me. Oh man, was that a wake up call!

Good list. I might post one on my own blog now.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Yep, Yep, and Yep!! I knew I was a mom when I stopped getting sleep. When I started worrying about every little thing.

I love to pick boogers out of my babies nose.

I also knew I was a mom when I was no longer nervous about getting a PAP done at the OB's office. After you give birth, there is just no modesty left.

Rach (DonutsMama) said...

I'm loving all these responses! I didn't realize there were so many fellow booger-pickers! Thank you again Steph for having me over!

Dvr Dame said...

Ha ha! Moms are so selfless!