{link-up} MAY IS FOR MOMS

Q // Before you ever even had children, how did you feel about being a mother?

A // I was such a tomboy growing up. And while I wasn’t necessarily in touch with my femininity, I always knew in my heart that I would be a mother. Not in the ohmygosh babies are soooo cute kind of way. Not in the OK I'm so old now it's time for kids. Not in the OK we've dated, I have a degree, I have a job, kids are the next natural step. But in a deep maternal kind of way. I don't think there was any specific point that it really solidified it for me -- I've just always known. And from the very moment I knew of my children's’ existence, I couldn’t imagine life without them.

Q // Since becoming a mother, what is something that has happened that you never thought would?

A // I am (more) humble. I know! Humble people aren’t allowed to say they’re humble! But it only takes a few times getting something very important completely wrong to realize that you don’t know nearly as much as you thought you did.

Q // Is being a mother less difficult, more difficult or exactly how difficult you imagined?

A // Raising children ebbs and flows -- some days are easier than others. Really, motherhood has delivered challenges to me that shaped me into the person I am today. I know what it’s like to love someone more than I love myself – a love so intense, I never believed possible. You make sacrifices you may not have in your former life. And while no mother is perfect, the key is providing the best life for your child and putting his/her happiness before your own.

Q // What is your fondest memory of being a mother (so far)?

A // There are far too many to name, but it sure is remarkable to see my kids discover their way through sticky situations. Like my dad always says, “It’s not how you handle the ups, it’s how you handle the downs.”

Q // If your children only learn one life lesson from you, what do you hope it is?

A // When my children grow up, they will realize that I wasn't as perfect as they believed. They will realize I wasn't the best at doing the laundry (and that my best cleaning happened right before having company). They will realize there are better chefs than me. That sometimes I wasn't really using the restroom; I was faking it for some alone time. But I hope they will see that I was really great at one thing: loving them. It's one of the things people will remember most about you: the way you treated them, the way you valued them, and the way you loved them.

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