I’ve been reading Instant Mom by Nia Vardalos. It is an interesting read on her struggles through infertility and adoption before finally meeting her daughter–a spunky, 3-year-old girl who Nia instantly knew she was destined to mother. On one hand, the book is a fascinating (and at times heartbreaking) tale of adopting through the foster system. On the other hand, it’s the story of becoming a mom. But what I’ve discovered while reading this book is that regardless of whether we meet our children when they are first born or if we meet a few years down the road, this business of motherhood is universal. Who can’t relate to this?
“Another thing I realize is I am sticky all the time. In fact, that’s how I would describe motherhood. It’s dirtier than I thought…. I never imagined my bra would be filled with so many crumbs. I never thought I would find a Tootsie Pop stick stuck to my arm hair as I walked into a studio meeting. There are other adjustments. The most appalling transgression being my TiVo didn’t record Mad Men because it is filled with ten million episodes of Willa’s Wild Life.” (Instant Mom, page 153)
I can’t even begin to count (nor do I want to) how many of these I-never-thought moments I have had. Motherhood is full of moments when our preconceptions must be adjusted. And, yes, it is dirtier than you ever thought. Don’t get me started on my constantly stained shirts or the finger-smudged windows. I choose to see those smudges as extra UV protection.
What about you? What have been some of those times when you’ve found yourself with a bra full of crumbs or a house messier than you ever thought imaginable? What sorts of realities has being a mom brought to you that you never imagined possible? How is motherhood dirtier than you thought?
