Being a mom changes you in so many ways that you can’t even imagine until you are one. Your perspective on life shifts inevitably, and you are no longer the center your own world. I started wondering how I’ve changed and what I’ve learned since becoming a mom. There are so many things that we learn as moms, and we are always learning and becoming better at parenting every day (most days!). Here is my list of some of the most important things I’ve learned about myself as a mom, in no particular order!
Related: Things I Never Worried About Before Becoming A Mom
What I’ve Learned About Myself as a Mom
I’m Patient
I’ve always thought that I was a very impatient person – actually in some ways, I still am (just ask my husband!). But when it comes to the amount of patience I have with my son, there are days when it’s endless. Anyone who has ever spent every single day with their toddler who is going through the “Why?” stage has to have patience, am I right? Don’t get me wrong, there are days where I lose my patience easily, but they are few and far between.
My Standards Have Lowered
Used to be that I wanted to look my best before I went out… But now that my mornings are spent chasing after my four-year-old, trying to get him out the door three days a week by 8:15 am for preschool? Well, let’s just say that I just don’t have the time anymore, and I don’t care as much about how I look either. When I do have the time to spend on myself getting ready, I am SO grateful!
I’m Funny
I can be silly in a way I’ve never been before in my life, and all just to play with my son. And some of what we do is just so ridiculous that, of course, it’s funny! My son thinks that I’m hilarious, so I must be, right?!?!
I’m Emotional
Since becoming a mom, I have cried at the drop of a hat countless times. The other day I was tucking my son into bed and glimpsed the framed picture of the two of us at the hospital, just hours after he was born… Instantly, my eyes filled with tears at the memory. Before being a mom, I was pretty much the antithesis of an emotional woman (again, just ask my husband!), but motherhood has softened my edges.
My Love Knows No Limits
When I first held my son seconds after he was born, I was super awkward and didn’t know how to feel or act, or even what to say to him. But I’ll tell you what I did know: I was madly in love with him, a different love than the one I have for my husband and family. Maybe my head didn’t know how to act like a mom, but my heart knew instantly.
I Have To Take Care Of Me
A mom’s focus is so often on her children, and I’m no exception. But over the past few years as a mom, I’ve realized just how important it is for me to take care of myself too. There are things that I do that help me feel more rested and rejuvenated, that bring me back to my role as a mom in a better frame of mind: I ask my mom to babysit for a few hours every couple of weeks; I make time to meet friends for coffee or a drink; I exercise daily; I let my husband take care of my son on weekend mornings so I can doze for an extra hour. If I’m feeling good, I know that I’m a much better parent as a result.
Life changes when you become a mom, of this I’m sure. But it has also taught me so much about myself, and I am so grateful to my son for teaching me all that he has.
Being a mom definitely made a difference for me. My first son attended my high school graduation when he was 3 1/2 months old. He has made me a better person and showed me so much. I learned a lot about myself too. I am in the same boat as Fatima. Caring for myself is always a hard one. That is something I started focusing on last year.
Being a mom makes a lot of difference. We explore our other side by taking care of our child as parents and making ourselves better person.
The last one is always tough for me. I think this is the year I give myself a little more me time. We have to care for ourselves before caring for anyone else.