The Top 10 Things I wish I had know about Motherhood

There are some things women just opt not to tell you when you’re younger in life. Maybe it’s because each of our journeys into Motherhood look a little bit different or maybe some people ease into their role as a Mom better than others. I just would have loved for someone to be honest with me. I mean it would have been nice to have the real scoop on the matter, so I could have been better prepared.

As a little girl, all I really wanted to be when I grew up was a Mom. I had such high hopes for what it would be like. Pregnancy would not be a problem, I would have lots of kids, and most of all, I would love every minute of Motherhood. Don’t get me wrong; being a Mom is the hardest job you will ever love, but there is nothing that will test your faith and grow you up more than walking the road of Motherhood. So I’m going to try my best to prepare you. Please learn from my mistakes and from some of my successes. Most of all, try to savor every season in your role as a Mom. It will go all too fast, so learn to embrace the journey!

Here are the TOP 10 Things I wish I had known…

1. Just because you want to be a Mom doesn’t mean it will come easy. The process of getting pregnant will teach one of life’s most important lessons, you aren’t in control, but God definitely is.
2. Children are miracles from up above and come to us in many ways. I have had the opportunity to experience both adoption and pregnancy. From my experience, when it’s not easy to get pregnant or if you have a miscarriage(s), you definitely won’t take having children for granted. If having children comes easy for you, please don’t take them for granted. They really are a gift from God!
3. Your kids will do things that embarrass you and humble you beyond belief, but you begin to learn that it’s not about your pride. It is about building and shaping their character to be more like Christ, so love them through their mistakes and celebrate their successes.
4. When your kids hurt, you hurt. There’s a little saying that as a Mom, you are only as happy as your saddest child. You might have to navigate mean girl drama and possibly bullying, too. You’re more than likely going to have to help them through all that stuff.  Keep your faith in God and believe in them through the process.
5. Just because your kids go to church with you doesn’t mean their faith is their own. They may accept Christ and get baptized (everything can look good on the outside), but the true test is whether they will choose to own their faith. You can put them in the right situations; ultimately, choosing to follow Christ is their own choice.
6. The Middle school years will take you for a ride. It’s a time when your kids are figuring out who they are, who their true friends are, and what they really believe about life. Hang in there, it gets better, God builds their confidence over time. Keep praying and keep trusting in Him!
7. The Teen Years are tough. There will be friends that come and go, figuring out the opposite sex, and getting their footing on a firm foundation.  There will also be some glimpses of them growing up to be responsible, caring, young adults. These glimpses will refresh your spirit and revive your Hope in this journey that you have taken called Motherhood.
8. When your teens can drive, you don’t see them as much. I was actually preparing myself for the feeling that I would experience when they left for college. I just wasn’t prepared for that feeling to come before they had actually left our home.
9. There could be surprises that happen along the way that change the course that you thought life would take for your children. It could be an injury or it could be a realization that they aren’t as passionate about something as they used to be. When the surprise happens, stick closer to God than you ever have before and trust that there is a purpose in the unexpected twist.
10. Your kids are going to leave the nest! Expect it, prepare yourself for it, and prepare them for what they will face when they stand on their own! Don’t center your life so much around them, that you don’t have a life of your own. Is your marriage still strong?   Do you have a plan for the extra time that will free up when they’re gone? Start preparing now, but remember to enjoy all the precious moments that you still have left!

So there it is, these are some of the lessons I have learned in my journey through Motherhood. I am praying for you and trusting God to faithfully lead you in wisdom and strength as you walk this path with Him!