Mom, you were right. I don’t live in a barn, and I now appreciate the importance of closing the door behind me. You were right about turning off the TV, going outside to play, writing thank-you notes, clearing my plate, calling when I got where I was supposed to be going, and being my own person instead of just going along with the crowd. Ten years and three kids later I get it – all of it.
At Fans of Being a Mom we rejoice, commiserate, laugh, and celebrate the common ground and shared experiences of motherhood because we “get it.” We’re all in the club. We strive to capture the essence of what it means have a lifetime ticket to this crazy ride. Each day, we strap ourselves in for the highs and lows and ups and down of motherhood.
Though we don’t start off as experts, we figure it out eventually and relish our hard won expertise that much more. Of course, the game is constantly changing, starting the learning process all over again each time we move on to a new phase. As I head into the unchartered waters of adolescence and bullying and first love with my eleven year-old, I can’t believe how much time has passed since my worries were about diaper rash and giving up naps. But, no matter the stage, we need each other’s support, validation, friendship, advice, and guidance. It’s that sense of community that helps us overcome fears, revel in triumphs, and keep our sanity.
My wonderful, energetic, and unique children are my proudest accomplishments. They challenge my sense of self (gee, I thought I was patient!) and keep my on my toes (you need 100 cupcakes when?). They expose my flaws, my strengths, and my heart, which has become infinitely larger with a love more ferocious than I ever imagined possible. They’ve also enabled me to be a part of the club, and this growing and vibrant online community.
FoBaM Role: Publisher, Contributing Writer, Multi-Tasker
Guilty Pleaure: Entertainment magazines, mani/pedis, movie theater popcorn
If I wasn’t “just” a mom I’d be: cast member of Saturday Night Live, but I’d settle for Tina Fey’s personal assistant
Big Dream: A personal chef who cooks healthy meals that everyone will actually eat (and cleans up the kitchen)
Mommy Mantra: If you get dirty it means you’re having fun.
Best Mom Moment: my children hugging each other, big and little milestones, listening to sweet baby babbling from a crib after naps, watching my kids proudly heading off to their first day of school.
Contact Meredith – mereditht@fansofbeingamom.com
