I'm a Mom?!!

The first bike! It’s truly a momentous event in a child’s life. And cold, crisp days are hardly a reason to stay indoors, especially when the sky is brilliantly blue and swathed in white, wispy clouds. So in 35-degree weather I followed my son around our apartment building as he learned to ride his first bike.

Watching my son push his little legs round and around, I was astonished by how quickly he was growing up. Only three years ago he was dependent on my legs to get anywhere, and now here he was using his legs to not only get himself around, but also to propel himself forward at speeds his momma felt might be too fast. But there he was: going, going, going. Trotting behind him, listening to his pleasure and satisfaction with his new bicycling skills, I couldn’t help but smile and share in his delight. Then, with the utterance of one simple sentence, my world stumbled for a moment.

“I did it mom!” Ok, so I have heard this sentence many (MANY) times in my five-and-a-half years of motherhood, but, for some reason, this time it was different. Perhaps because I was seeing my son from behind, and when he spoke I wasn’t even looking at his face, or because the cold seeping through my jeans and sweater was making every thought more acute. Whatever the reason, at that moment I was startled at the idea that, yes, I am a mom. I AM A MOM! Well, of course I am a mom. I have three amazing children who can vouch for that fact. But this was different.

I enjoy being with my children, and I cherish the moments I have with them. But having three young children can be a bit chaotic at times, and sometimes our daily routine is done without much deliberation. Going through the motions often leads me to forget about the simple fact that I am a mom, and these three little people following me around are MY children. They came from me, and I am responsible for their wellbeing. They are mine, and I am theirs.

It wasn’t like motherhood came as a surprise for me. My first daughter and son were planned, and being a mother was something I had always wanted to be. Yet the fact that I AM a mother catches me off guard.

Motherhood truly is amazing.