Mark of Motherhood

A little while ago, I wrote a post describing the personality/character quirks I have that identify me as a scientist.  I realized that there are also several traits I have that are the mark of motherhood (at least I think so).

I have motherhood-induced attention deficit disorder.  Before I had kids I sometimes got frustrated with mothers that I talked to that didn’t really seem to be paying attention to our conversation.  I understand this completely now. Although I really do want to pay attention to what others are saying to me, I find it hard to concentrate for long periods of time.   If my kids are with me, I am constantly keeping tabs on their whereabouts.  Even when they aren’t with me, there is a constant ticker-tape running through my mind:  Number 1 needs new sneakers, don’t forget to pick up Number 4 from after school art, Number 3 might be cold – he forgot his sweater, etc.  I am hoping this MIADD will get better as they get older; preferably before age-induced dementia sets in.

I reprimand all kids at the playground.  Yup, I have officially become a playground monitor.  Before becoming a mom, I didn’t think it was my part to correct other people’s children.  For the safety of everyone however, I now freely “guide” children in the proper use of the equipment.  It takes a community, right?

Ok, I admit it, I am a bit slovenly (in appearance).  I don’t wear yoga pants, but I do find it exceedingly challenging to get my hair done every day.  I also don’t have time to shop and try on clothes, so my wardrobe has been whittled down to a few comfortable jeans, short and shirts.

Whine=wine. The amount of wine I consume in the evening is directly proportional to the amount of whining and fighting I listen to during the day.  This is a huge change for me!  I was never a drinker – the first time I drank enough to be tipsy beyond tipsy drunk was when I was 27 years old (freakish, I know).  But over the years I have developed a taste for good wine in the evenings to settle down after a hard day.

PMS symptoms are nothing compared to motherhood emotions.  When it comes to my kids, my emotions can swing from feeling like my heart will burst with love to being completely irritated and fed-up in the span of one hour.  I have also discovered a mama bear-like protectiveness that washes over me when I think my child is being injured by someone. And infomercials for starving children in Africa? – forget it.  They leave me an emotional wreck.

I can never get enough sleep.  I always thought that my tired years would be during the baby years, due to acute sleep deprivation.  However, that doesn’t seem to be the case.  My children are getting older now, and I just get more tired with each passing year.  Probably some of it has to do with my age, but I don’t think that accounts for it all.  Good news – I can fall asleep any time I want.  No insomnia here!

I am looking over what I have written here, and realize that I have not written about the great traits I have acquired, such as the ability to slow down and enjoy things from a kid’s perspective.  I think those will need a whole other post!