This one's for the moms...

Today is the day when mothers all around the country will wake up to burned toast and handmade cards, to extra hugs and kisses and thoughtful gifts by our families. Some will spend the whole day pampering themselves somewhere fancy, others will curl up with a good book in solitude, and still others will choose to spend it with their families or friends doing what they do every day--mothering.

When I was growing up, I was not the type of girl who dreamed of being "a mommy." No, I had future aspirations that ranged from astronaut to private detective (I still think this would be awesome), and those dreams changed almost weekly (and they still do, actually). I did not relate to the girls who sat and planned out their weddings, their future kids' names, and their fantasy life once they found Prince Charming. Sure, all of this would be great one day, but why think about it now? I was busy playing basketball, hanging out at our local swimming pool, and having deep crushes on unattainable boys who were much to old for me at the time!

I went to college and loved my life there and met my future husband. We married and vowed we were not in a rush for children. And, much to the dismay of our families, we held to that and did not have our first child for almost eight years. Our loved ones had all but given up, assuming we were too consumed by our jobs to even think of having kids.

And, then it happened. Our son was born and my life has never been the same. Those who knew me before I had kids and know me now could probably have better words to describe the changes that have taken place over the last six years. Here are some things that come to mind, when I think about motherhood and it's impact on my life.

• I've felt exhaustion (90 percent of the time) and exhilaration, worry and warm fuzzies, frustration and feelings of hopelessness.


• I have had days where I feel like the biggest failure at this job of mothering, and then times when I feel like there is no other job I'd ever want to have.


• I've deeply missed my career and then realized that I will never go back to my job the same person again. After years, I wonder now if I want to ever go back to that career at all now.


• Being a mom has made me a better person, constantly seeing how my flaws and problems can either turn up in one of my children or cause other problems in them as well.


• I have learned patience and problem-solving skills that match no other job I have held in my life.


• I am learning that loving yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can teach a child, and it is also the most challenging goal I will ever personally achieve.


• Being a mother has taught me about helplessness and learning to let go.


• It has made me turn to God like I have never before.


• Every heartache one of my children has felt, I have felt tenfold. Every success, even when it is small to them, feels like a huge mountain climbed in my soul.


• I have felt more love than I have ever known in my life and then only wanted to give and feel more love back from the whole experience.

Even with all of these words, there is no way to describe motherhood fully, except to say that I am changed completely. I am blessed and thankful for being a mom every day.

So, on this Mother's Day, I wanted to wish all the "mommy bloggers" out there the very best. We may get a bad wrap out in cyberspace, but there is no doubt that anyone who is a mother understands a need to reach out, connect, and be heard during this most wonderful and most challenging time in our lives. So, here's to you, moms!