Why did no one ever tell me this?

things you don’t know when you become a mom

While skimming through The Daily Lady, a fun site about everything female related, I set my eyes on an article about things you don’t know when you become a mother. It inspired me to make the following list for you guys, because there are a dozen of things people didn’t tell me before I became a mom.

The diaper

I recall happily unpacking a package full of baby shower goodies a week or eight before my due date. I was expecting a box full of super cute wipes, bibs and pacifiers but all I found were packs of diapers wrapped in plastic for the baby and the most uncharming pads. Those were meant for me.

I was very aware that giving birth wasn’t going to be a fun walk in the park, but the period that comes right after that, why did no one warn me?

No more sleeping in

Unless your kids spend the night at their grandparents (who you will learn to appreciate even more and deserve a medal for all the work they do for you). Finally another 8 hour of uninterrupted sleep and no one waking you up at 4 AM because they felt like playing with daddy’s drum set or because they had a nightmare.

getting home is the best part of your day

Of course I have a set of keys for my own front door, but I still ring the doorbell anyway. My girls are either at home with our nanny Stella (aka super nanny) or with my parents and as soon as they hear the door bell, they sprint to the front door and fight about who gets to open it. Seriously though, that moment. Golden.

School is a job

I always thought I would be able to save a ton of money as soon as my kids would be going to school and that I would have an ocean of free time on my hands. Saving money was indeed true, but the latter… I have no idea why I ever thought that would be possible. School starts early and there are a bunch of home room activities you have to take part in. Like cleaning for example. Or taking part in the annual meetings about who will take care of this years school Christmas decorations, if you would be willing to spend one morning teaching the kids a computer course, and so on, and so on.

you suddenly have a fear of flying

I used to love flying. Offline, in the air and off the air. Watching movies, catching up on some reading and the occasional conversation with the stewardesses. I still do those things when I fly, but each time during take off and landing the following thought crosses my mind: how are they going to tell my daughters my plane crashed? Very dramatic, I’ll admit, but the thought is there and it won’t disappear.

and all those tears

Who knew crying would become a daily ritual. Well crying not per se and technically not everyday, but becoming an emotional wreck more often than not during the most unexpected moments. During commercials, cute videos, books, when my daughters write me sweet notes. Floods of tears.