women, so badly, want motherhood to be glamourous. we (including myself!) post pictures of everything: adorable children (see photo to the right...), neatly thought out crafted projects, meals that we made with or for our children or husband, nursery decorations, redesigning rooms, our newest organization projects. NONE of which are wrong, or bad to do, nor am i criticizing posting pictures of those activities. (in fact, i think it gives inspiration, hope, and ideas...at least it does to me, so keep posting, please.)
BUT...still. we want life to feel or be glamorous. "glamour," defined by good ole webster himself, "a very exciting and attractive quality." now really, moms, is anything about our job glamourous?
when i was single, everything about being married and a mom seemed very exciting and attractive. husband beside you laughing and dancing your way through life while bringing children into the world and along your path with you. now, don't get me wrong. before i was married, i knew there would be challenges, hard times, and struggles.
but, i never thought through the details of what those challenges may be.
i never knew that almost daily i would get poop on my fingers while changing countless diapers. i never knew that i would go years without sleeping through the night once (and many nights never sleeping more than an hour consecutively). i never thought through the fact that my body would be completely stretched and pulled from the inside and outside. i never thought i would hear audible gasps when i walked through a public place as people counted my 5 children (that we chose to have) and would then walk over to us and ask "are they all yours??" (ps-the other day, the oldest said the me "mom, i wish people would stop commenting on how many children are in our family. why do they do that?")
the things i never knew...
and, that was on purpose, i'm sure. tricked into a life that isn't glamourous.
i could have had a "glamourous" life. but, instead, i decided to be a mom.
but, truthfully, between you and me...glamour is overrated. its an illusion. i'm reminded of the recent tragedy of philip seymour hoffman. someone who seemingly had a "glamorous" life--numerous acting awards, beautiful girlfriend, children, money. and, it ended alone overdosed with a needle still in his arm. so, so tragic.
nothing about motherhood is glamourous.
EXCEPT one thing: we are shaping little lives that will impact many, maybe even thousands, hundreds of thousands, or millions. nelson mandela's mom probably didn't know what raising lil nelson would mean for the nation or for the world.
if "glamour" is defined as "a very exciting" quality, then, honestly, i have a lot of glamour. what could be more exciting than shaping and influencing 5 lives that will literally change their world?
