There was a reason I waited ’til 30 to become a mom. I knew I was selfish. I had a lot I wanted to do, places to see and events to attend. When I started to go to bed at 10 PM no matter if it was a Monday or Saturday and I was too tired to go out on a Friday night, I knew that I was getting to the point where having kids wouldn’t change my life too much.

And while having our little man during a pandemic was a WEIRD time to navigate, I still don’t feel like my weekends have changed too much. However, what has changed is my appreciation for moms. Holy cow, was I naive before I ventured into motherhood. I never understood why people’s schedules were centered around naps and why these women couldn’t stop yammering on about their kids. So, let me start by apologizing profusely and continue with sharing my “6 Myths Of Motherhood.”

MYTH: Staying Home With Your Child = Mimosas and Yoga

HA! If only you had time to even think about going to the gym.

I’m still working, but I’m home with my baby. Honestly, my career is easier work than my other job known as mom. My little dude needs my attention 24/7 to make sure he’s fed, changed, entertained and not bonking his head on every corner or sharp edge in my house.

When Declan was about 3 months, he had a blowout 5 mins before I had a Zoom meeting with a client. It literally GOT EVERYWHERE. All over me, his play mat, himself, etc. I immediately took off our clothes and was running around in my bra as I carried my naked (laughing) baby to change him. By the time I attended my call, we were good to go, but I had never experienced ANYTHING like that before prior to having a baby.

Seriously. I’m working 35 hours a week on top of being a mom. I am EXHAUSTED at the end of the day. I completely understand why being a “stay at home mom” is a job. Again, I’m so sorry for thinking your days were spent at the country club.

MYTH: Moms Refer To Their Baby In Months To Be Obnoxious.

I remember being at a social gathering once, and two moms talking about how their child was 12 months and the other saying their baby was 15 months. I secretly rolled my eyes into the back of my head and thought… “You guys can say they’re a year/year a half.”

Yep, now I get it. All of these milestones/clothing/vaccinations are based on months. I doubt I start referring to Declan in “years” ’til he reaches the 2-year-old mark.

MYTH: My Conversations Won’t Revolve Around My Baby

Anyone who thinks that hasn’t had a kid. My friends and I still might catch up on the latest gossip, but our conversations have shifted from “so and so got so drunk last weekend” to “is it normal for your baby to not have pooped in 2 days?”

We joke all the time how funny our conversations were a year ago. Now I have mom groups where we discuss all of our children’s bodily fluids, quirky habits along with our anatomy changes. Things I NEVER thought I would talk about, let alone admit on my blog.

And if you haven’t already, just TRY and see if you can go on a date with your spouse and not talk about your kid.

MYTH: You Chop Your Hair Off Because You’re Lazy

My hair has always been my thing, and I figured most moms had cut their hair off because you just stop caring. When really, you don’t have a second to yourself and an easy hairstyle is a must. Not to mention, even if I do my hair these days, it still finds its way into a ponytail because Declan thinks of my hair as a means to steer me around the house. I think the days of having long hair might be over for me.

MYTH: My House Will Never Be Covered With Baby Stuff

Do you want to slap me yet? Haha. I remember thinking that baby toys were loud and obnoxious both in a visual and auditory sense. “I will never have my house covered in baby stuff.” Yeah, that’s a joke. I have a 3-story townhome and every floor has a designated baby area full of toys, diapers, etc. To think that you will never be that mom is a joke.   

MYTH: I Will Have Plenty of Time To Work On “Me.”

Unfortunately, this is a harsh reality. I didn’t realize that working full-time and being a mom full-time, “you time” is harder to come by. I had a rough recovery from my c-section and a screwed up back, so my fitness journey has been a bit delayed. I do find some time to do self-care thanks to my husband, but I know a lot of women don’t have that support or option.

Needless to say, our little people are definitely worth it, but I was VERY judgmental about motherhood before heading out on this journey. I have some friends who are very passionate about what it is to be a woman after having a baby. You brought this tiny human into the world, sacrificed your body, and shifted your life around to care for them.

So, for the mom’s reading this right now (which I assume your kid must be sleeping since you have a minute to yourself) cheers to your badass self. What you do every day isn’t a walk in the park, and your kiddos are lucky to have you.

And don’t leave me hanging… how were you naive before having kids? Let me know in the comments below!

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