10 Great Things About Being A Mom

I spend plenty of time on this blog joking (and sometimes not so much) about the challenges and woes of raising my two "strong willed" boys so I thought I'd take this little opportunity to respond to Mama Kat's writing prompt this week and list ten things I love about being their mom...


1. The unexpected acts of kindness/affection. Devin doesn't do this quite as much anymore now that he is too cool for middle school and all, though sometimes he will allow me to hug him without resistance (occasionally even hugs back) and told me, "Thanks, Mom" when I bought him those new jeans the other day.  Dracen has gone through stages but lately he's taken to opening his arms really wide for hugs, just out of the blue, and sat beside me and held my hand for a little while on the couch last night.  Melts my heart every single time.  


2. Their triumphs.  I can say this honestly and from the bottom of my heart... Seeing one of my boys do good/achieve a goal, whether it be hitting a home run in baseball or finally grasping a complicated math problem does something for my soul that my own successes have never quite touched.  There is no better feeling in this world than seeing them happy and proud of their own accomplishments.  


3. They keep me young.  At heart, anyway.  How else would I know that saying something is "beast" or "sick" is like saying something was "totally awesome" in the 80s? Actually, I think I probably still use the word "awesome" a little too much but I have dropped the "totally".  But if not for them keeping me up to date on the latest lingo, I'd probably have had someone tell me that 1986 called and wants its words back by now!  


4. The things they say.  Because it's true about them saying the darndest things.  When they were younger, it was the cute little way they said things... I will never forget Devin (all of nine months old) saying, "Whoisdat" over and over until we finally realized he was saying, "Who is that?" when he was around someone he didn't know.  Or how Dracen used to get up every single morning and say, "I awnt cancake!" Translation:  "I want pancakes!"   
They know how to pronounce all their words correctly these days of course but they still sometimes floor me or leave me in hysterics with some of the random things they say.   


5. They make me want to leave the world a better place.  I know that may sound cliche or cheesy but it's the truth and I don't know how else to put it.  I didn't give half as much thought to the impact my actions have on others or to the world in general before becoming a mother.  Their future depends so much on the shape we leave the world in.  


6. Seeing myself in them.  Devin has my eyes, my hair, my mouth and my quiet nature (for the most part) while Dracen (who mostly resembles his late father, Darin) has my arms with the extra crease at the fold just as he shares my deep love and compassion for animals. 


7. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy... Devin is 12 and Dracen is 8 so I realize that these days are numbered in my house but the fun I've had with these guys as an adult is almost as magical as it was when I was a kid myself.  


8. The humor.  I like to think I've always had a pretty good sense of humor but I don't know how anyone can be a mother (or a father) without possessing a great one!  It's true that sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying and they have definitely helped me see that.  


9. The way they can turn a piece of construction paper into one of the most cherished treasures on the planet.  I don't think this one needs any explanation.  


10. The bond I feel toward other mothers.  I always knew my mother loved me and understood the importance of having one but not until I became one myself did I fully grasp and understand the depths of the unconditional love one feels for her children.  I'm simply a different...better person and I love being a member of the motherhood club.