Mother's Day Reflections

We now have two Mother's Day celebrations under our belts, but this year was completely different from last year. It felt different. It was very special.

Don't misunderstand, last year was pretty special. It was my first year celebrating mom-hood, but Waverly was only a couple of months old. I still didn't quite get what it was to be a mom. Now I have a whole year of baby love experience and, let me tell you, being a mom is the most wonderful blessing in the entire world.

Two months into it, I was having an identity crisis. Waverly was being pulled in a million different directions and didn't know how to ask for her Momma. I was giving her all that I had and she wasn't capable of reciprocating. It was a draining job and I was still trying to figure out what it all meant for me. I did not experience post-partum depression, but, as any new mom will attest, having your first child changes everything. You have to redefine who you are, not your personality, but your role in life. In my case, specifically, I went from being a student and part-time employee to stay-at-home mom. Talk about redefinition.

Now, fourteen months in and I wouldn't trade my new role for anything in the world. It is amazing what a "job" raising a child can be. My stepmom always told me that the best job is a job you love and raising Waverly is a job I L.O.V.E. I stay plenty busy and I get stressed out, but it is so rewarding to watch her grow and know I had a part in it. Just recently, we started a new bedtime routine: Bible story/passage (Psalms at the moment), 3 songs while we rock, and prayer. So, Chandler is leading his family spiritually and we are instilling in Waverly the importance of the Scriptures and prayer. Seeing her fold her little hands and repeat, "ay-meh" is such a blessing.

Having been a daughter and now a mother, I know Waverly won't understand why Chandler and I do the things we do, why we tell her "no", and why we insist she use her manners, but I also know that one day, when she has her own children, she will understand. And it may be that long before she appreciates it. Such is the life of a mother.

Needless to say, Mother's Day was very special for me this year. It helped that Waverly has been a "Momma's girl" the past couple of days. Aside from the gifts, a new phone cover, SHOES!, and Zumba for Wii (if you want to know how uncoordinated you are, Zumba), I soaked up every minute with my little girl, feeling like it should be more her day than mine. I do what I can as a mom, but she is a pretty amazing kid and makes my job pretty easy.

I remember my DaddyPaul singing this song when I was little and it is one of the three songs I sing to Waverly at bedtime...

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

It's true.