You Know You're a Mom if...

When I was pregnant with Andrew, I read about childhood and motherhood nightly.  I continued to read often after he was born, underlining passages and sharing important points with Jim.  When I was pregnant with Alex, I was too tired to read most nights.  And nowadays, with the two of them on the move and working full time, I’m lucky if I get to read one or two articles in a parenting magazine.  I think moms-on-the-go would appreciate of a book of lists instead of chapters.  If I was to write this book, this would be my first entry.  

            You know you’re a mom (of someone under 5) if

You find yourself throwing in laundry at 5 a.m. or 9 p.m.

You opt to get up at 5:30 because you know that is the only 30 minutes of silent, alone time you will get.

You are the first one up and last to bed.

You heat up your (first) cup of coffee a minimum of two times.

You usually have company while in the bathroom.

You have children’s theme songs running through your head when getting intimate.

You can’t get out the door without some mysterious stain on your clothes.

You get giddy at the opportunity to go grocery shopping – alone!

“It’s just a phase,” is part of your daily vocabulary.

You’ve thought about wearing roller skates during dinner since you rarely sit for very long.

You know the name of way too many planes, trains and automobiles.

You find a way to work your kids into any possible conversation with another adult.

When your child says, “I missed you,” you simultaneously get warm all over and tears in your eyes.

There’s nothing like the feeling when your child tells you, “I love you.”