Being a mom is the hardest, toughest, most stressful & exhausting thing I have EVER done in my entire life. But it is also the most rewarding and fulfilling and beautiful thing I have EVER done in my entire life. Growing up, I never really thought about being a mom. My dream was to be a teacher. I was always told I’d be a good mom, I was good with kids and babysat a ton. But that is nothing compared to when you have your own kids. You can never leave and you don’t get paid at the end of the day.
All stages/ages have their own ups and downs and what works for 1 kid won’t always work for another kid. You feel guilty for working and not being there all the time for your kids (me currently) or you feel guilty for staying home and not contributing financially (me when my older 2 kids were younger).
I have 3 kids, 2 teens and a toddler. It is hard to find the balance between spending time with my teens and doing the things they like to do and taking care of my toddler. Most days, my toddler takes up all my time and energy.
It changes who you are when you become a mom. Your priorities change, your dreams & goals change. Even the little things change, like grocery shopping and what you watch (for the most part).
Being a mom is emotionally, physically, and mentally draining and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love being a mom, it is one of my favorite parts of my life.