I am the mother of 4 children. After almost 2 years of saying this, it still feels a little surreal. I have always wanted to be a mom, though. When I was very young I sang a song that goes like this:
When I grow up I want to be a moth-er and have a fam-i-ly. One little, two little, three little babies I can love.
This is what I was meant to be. I have short-comings, to be sure, but I've always thought of myself, on the whole, to be a pretty good mother.
So, imagine the horror when my dear, strong, independent three-year-old girl announced last week that she does NOT want to be a mother. After observing her happily playing with her dolls and taking very good care of them, I told her that I thought she was going to make a great mother.
"But mom, I'm not going to be a mother. I don't want to be a mother."
Stunned, I couldn't help but think this was a reflection of my mothering. My six-year-old daughter tells every one that she wants to be a mom when she grows up. What will people think when my three-year-old tells them she doesn't want to be a mom at all! I hesitated a little before asking questions.
"That's okay sweetie. Not everyone wants to be a mother." More hesitation. "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"I zoo keeper."
I had to chuckle. How often I've felt like zoo keeper--being a mom. She went on to say:
"Zoo keepers don't have to have babies in their tummies."
Oh, so that's it. She's worried about the whole baby growing inside your body thing. I have to admit, that probably sounds pretty freaky to a three-year-old.
"Also, zoo keepers don't have to get married and move away from their mommies. I don't want to get married and move away. I want to stay with you and be your girl."
My heart melted like butter on a hot potato. Yep, I'm glad I'm a mom.
"Sure sweetie, you can be my girl forever."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Love the new blog! Isn't being a mother the most incredible experience in the world! I love it!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....that is so sweet! What a sweet thing to hear from your little one. :)
what a sweet story. don't worry. she's got plenty of time to decide if she wants to be a mother. and with your example, she definitely will.
Don't worry, I was looking through an old school days journal and I saw that I had put a check mark on "Mother" as something I did NOT want to become. This was during my first grade year. Now I have three children and that's exactly what I am. A mommy, and I love it.
My oldest told me she was going to work at IHOP when she was older and that her husband would watch the kids while she worked. I asked, "What if your husband wants to work too?"
"Oh, he can work in the evening and I can work during the day."
"But then you will never see each other."
"We'll go on a date."
"When will you see your kids. Won't you be tired after you come home from work?"
"I will say hi to them and they can play with their daddy when he is home."
I melt for comments like that too :)
I always felt a little possessed when I was pregnant, so I can't say I blame her, lol.
What a sweet story.
Love the new blog!
Awwww! This is one of the sweetest posts ever:) So cute!
Post a Comment