Some days we all need to be reminded just why it is we wanted to be a Mom in the first place. We all know why being a Mom and having kids can be so humbling, stretching, and exhausting … but what was it again that’s so fun, interesting, and hilarious about being a Mom too? Glad you asked! As I found myself reflecting on the reminder I needed after a hard day with the kids yesterday, I wanted to share the truth I was preaching to my own heart when I needed it most!
These are just a few of the things that came to my mind first. While I have countless reasons I love being a Mom, some days it just helps to mentally refill my love cup with the lighthearted, irreverent highlights that help sustain me when the harder days roll around. So here are a few of the ridiculously awesome things about having kids that make me smile, laugh, and remember not to take life too seriously! 🙂
Being a kid again
When my oldest was younger, she used to like to play a game with me she called, “kid lessons.” Whenever it struck her fancy, she would ask me to join her in something wonderfully childlike and instruct me a bit throughout. She would tell me she was giving me kid lessons, because even as a young child she sensed all adults needed to get in touch with their inner child once in awhile! Couldn’t agree more so I loved it! 🙂
An endless supply of out of the mouths of babes remarks
This week’s cute & fun questions from my kids:
Emma: “Can I have some mementos?” (mentos candy)
“We should stay away from Starbucks. They put probiotics in their meat.” (antibiotics)
Natalie: “So there’s a college for electors? Where is this electoral college anyway?”
Wildly imaginative questions
My youngest child used to LOVE practicing the fine art of “what if” questions – this was at an age just past what’s notoriously known as the why stage. So Emma had already mastered many of the why questions of her youngest years, but she had an insatiable curiosity when it came to imagining what if something totally random and unexpected happened at any given time. We all still laugh about it to this day and tend to teasingly keep it up, just for fun. I’ll still pop a random what if question at her whenever the mood strikes (which is often). Just this morning, I said to Emma, “What if Meeko (our bird) suddenly started talking with only my voice and I could only sing out birdies songs in his voice?” Yep – we’re easily amused like that! 😉
Being inspired and encouraged by our own kids
Every once in awhile my kids unknowingly encourage me to look at something in a whole new way. My eyes are opened to something I’ve never thought of that way before and I’m grateful anew for my kids’ fresh, innocent perspective in the way they look at life! It’s always so fun watching them discover things for the first time and having their own light bulb moments. But when their enthusiasm seeps into my soul and illuminates a concept or idea I’ve long since forgotten about or honestly never considered, I’m always so humbled and happy to do life with them!
While my oldest is cautious and carefully considers all new situations and people, her sister is spontaneous and sensory-oriented like her Mama. So sometimes Emma even inspires both Natalie and me to throw caution to the wind (not so easy for Natalie and not always happening for me as an adult), and quite literally jump headlong into new experiences like the time Emma taught me to flip on the trampoline. Oh the great many lessons I learned that day! Bottom line – we can do hard things!
Belly laughs and giggle fits that go down in history
You know those stories your kids and you love to re-tell of favorite memories you shared together? Yeah, those are my favorite too! That might be at the top of my list of ridiculously awesome things about having kids 😉
One time my girls and I went through a Chick Fil A drive thru and for whatever reason the attendant could hardly hear me on the other side. No biggie, I just kept on repeating myself – but for whatever reason, the more I did so, the more hilarious this became to the kids and me! It got to the point I could hardly talk between fits of giggles that kept coming – our shared laughter really kept it up for all of us. The poor drive thru attendant had to be really struggling to make sense of a thing I said by this point! Then the icing on the cake was when I had to say “cheese please” to complete my order with cheese. Just the sound of those rhyming words that sounded so… well, cheesy had us all in the kind of silent belly laughing that is just the best, ya know? There may have even been a few tears streaming down faces as we tried to pull it together. Good thing I’m not embarrassed easily because I still had to face this person when she gave me our order at the window! HA! Needless to say, this moment went down in Brun family history for us and will undoubtedly continue to be told and re-told … but that’s half the fun, right?! Is this not one of the most FUN parts of parenthood? 🙂
What little things do you delight in as you do life with kids? What sweet things do your kids say & do that help remind you not to take life too seriously?
For more on the sillier side of motherhood, check out this post. To see the rest of all posts for Moms here on the blog, click here and check out the easy pin it button below to share or save this post for later 🙂
My son and I have moments like that. Especially when I am having a hard day and he does his Booty Dance.Whi h males start laughing.
My little one used to do a a booty dance for her sis and me too! Haha!
I didn’t know whether or not to get married and be a mom because I wasn’t confident I’d make a good one. I prefer being alone, and I like my space. But I took the plunge and haven’t regretted a minute, and for all the reasons listed in the post I’m so glad I did.
This was so encouraging to hear – I know someone who needs to read your comment. Thank you for sharing this Susan!
So true 🙂
XOXO
Thank you for sharing this post. My world is so much brighter because of my daughter.
This is wonderful! The “out of the mouths of babes” moments are a favorite around here!