I have never liked kids. Children were annoying and none was the answer when asked how many children I wanted in the future. I was that person in the restaurant who gave noisy kids and their parents the stink eye.
So when I became pregnant a year after the wedding, my friends were shocked. I was the last person they had expected to have a baby. But to me, it seemed like a natural progression after marriage, not to mention the immense pressure we were getting from both sides of the family that had prompted us to make the decision.
Honestly, I had no idea how motherhood would change my life. Sure, there would be the added responsibility of nurturing and bringing up a child. But little did I know what a humbling and extraordinary experience it would turn out to be.
Credit: SayNoToStigma.com
From the moment I became a mother, I had stopped viewing myself as an individual. Instead, I saw my son as a physical extension of my husband and I. And every decision we made, we had to consider how it would affect him. His well-being will always be a top priority. During the first year following his birth, I gave up my social life and eventually my job to concentrate on taking care of him.
Life became more purposeful after I had a baby. I could not wait to spend time with my son each day. Watching him grow and witnessing the different milestones gave new meaning to my otherwise routine lifestyle. Before the baby, I had spent most of my time on my work and blog, oblivious to the void that was in my life.
Needless to say, motherhood has also changed my perspective on children and taught me to empathize with other parents. I no longer see kids as pesky monsters but tiny people that needed love, care and attention. I saw a child as someone’s child. I no longer judge when I see out of control kids in public places. After all, there have been days where I am that mother with the fussy and screaming toddler in the restaurant.
Credit: The Parent Resources
Two years on and motherhood still is a learning journey for me. Each day presents a new challenge and you just got to do your best while learning as you go along. You are forced to grow up because of this great responsibility you are shouldering now. You also are more appreciative of your parents because you know how difficult it is to raise a child.
Becoming a mother was also a period of self-discovery for me, where I learnt so much about myself. I never knew I could love so deeply and unconditionally. Or that I was capable of 2-minute showers and finishing up my meals in 5 minutes because time is a luxury when you have a young child in tow.
Sure, there have been tough times where I felt like throwing in the towel. But the experience has been far more rewarding than depressing. Having witnessed his first smile, first word and first steps; all these are precious moments which money cannot buy. I would say that being a mother is still one of the best things that could have happened to me. Now my world revolves around him and I would not have it any other way.