thoughts on motherhood

People are always asking me questions. Questions like “How do I toilet train my toddler?”

“Which pram should I buy?”

Or “What should I pack for school lunches?”

“Gosh, I don’t know” is my answer a lot of the time. “Why are you asking me?”

“Um.. because you have six kids”.

“Oh yeah”.

Good point.

Which gets me thinking about the role of being a mum. A mum to six kids really is the same as being a mum to one. Just with a slightly bigger washing pile.

You still give everything you’ve got to this tiny human being in your care.

There are meals to cook, clothes to wash and beds to be made; endless noses to wipe, nappies to change, shoes to be tied and parties to plan.

The question is – do I get more kudos because of the large number of my brood?

I don’t think so. I know just as much about toilet training as the next.

You just have to wing it. Go with the flow. Make it up as you go. What works for one doesn’t always work for another.

There are days when you feel like you’re killing it – like you have this whole motherhood gig stitched up. Then there’ll be days where you’ll wonder if you’re cut out for the constant demands on your time – 24/7, rain, hail or shine. Mum guilt will creep in, you’ll be overwhelmed with the endless and often thankless tasks that motherhood inevitably involves.

But after an hour or two of sleep, a good cup of coffee and a child free stroll around the block, you’ll walk into a scene like this morning – all six of them sitting around in jarmies, watching Bluey in front of the fire; colouring in and eating Vegemite on toast and you’ll get that pang in your chest.

You know the one.

The strongest feeling imaginable.

Of love. Of pride. Of a fierce protectiveness. Of a gratefulness so real. So incredibly lucky you are to have this band of little people to care for.

You’ll head off to the laundry with a new found spring in your step.

One or six. The number doesn’t matter.

You’re a mum.

It’s the greatest job in the world.

This post is dedicated to one very special mum that I know – one of my oldest friends’ mum. Moya, what a role model you are.