The other morning, as I went to wash the dishes after the boys’ breakfast, I noticed a Christmas sticker expertly adhered to the side of Rhett’s bowl. Thanks to my always-increasing arsenal of mom products (in this case, Goo-Gone), the sticker went away quickly but I was left laughing about some of the unexpected “gems” of motherhood that pop up in my day-to-day life. As I thought more about this list, it grew and grew and I figured it might make a semi-entertaining blog post to share with the parents, caregivers and grandparents out there who find their lives blessed by little “gifts” from children that pop up all day every day.
You know the saying, “You’ll miss this one day?” I think that likely applies to every single thing mentioned below… except for maybe watching my kids grip the sides of a toilet seat in a public restroom. I don’t think I’m going to miss that one.
Unexpected Motherhood “Gems”
Have you ever been bored in the bathroom? Because you won’t be anymore! A new little BFF will be with you at all times to keep you company.
Your ability to do things one-handed will reach new heights. So much unlocked potential.
Your child will express gratitude on Thanksgiving for many, many things. You may or may not be one of them.
Wasn’t it adorable when your baby first said, “Mama?” Good news! You get to hear it 5,000 times a day!
Stickers will be found in the most unexpected places and, if you’re lucky, you’ll find them on your clothes after you wash them and they’ll be with you forever! What a way to bring more color into your life!
Did you know you can color on more than just paper? The possibilities are endless!
You probably already knew this but teachers make the world go ‘round. Bless them, bless them, bless them. And bless them some more for the discernment they use after listening to the stories they hear about your family.
You will discover a plethora of surprises from nature in your laundry — rocks, acorns, special sticks! Who knew unintentionally cleaning random items from the wilderness would be in your repertoire?
Ever been curious about what it might be like to live in a nudist colony? Good news, you’ll get a front row seat to more nakedness than you ever could’ve imagined!
Does owning a reptile or a fish or a small rodent sound exciting to you? Because it is!
You will become immensely familiar with the toilet seats in public bathrooms. Watching your child grip onto them for dear life will make you appreciate the toilets in your own home on a whole new level. Bless the home potty.
Great news! Your hair and/or jewelry makes an awesome toy for your baby.
Remember the crust you never ate off your sandwiches as a child? You have the opportunity to make up for it now when you ravenously unpack your child’s lunch. Eat up, buttercup!
Did you know your purse can double as a snack factory or mini toy store? So many purposes.
Oh and your coffee table has multiple purposes, too! A craft studio! The perfect race track for a million cars and trains! A performance stage! And the sharp corners are a wonderful way to sprinkle a little anxiety into your life.
All that memorization you practiced in school will really come in handy as your eyes start to close during story time. “Horn went beep, engine purred. The friendliest sounds you ever heard.”
If you thought you and Google were tight before, your everlasting bond will only strengthen over queries about the “fastest shark” or “no fever but won’t stop crying.”
Additional Motherhood Blog Posts
Question of the Day
I’d love to read about some of the unexpected “gems” children have brought into your life. Please share below!
