Fourteen years ago I became a mom. I was twenty-six years old. I had a full-time job at a very busy ad agency as a copy/compliance editor. It was an extremely demanding job and one I loved very much. After giving birth, I had every intention of returning to my day job. As my twelve week maternity leave was nearing its end, I was certain of one thing. There wasn't a job in this world I could love more than being Jake's mom. I made the decision to become a stay-at-home mom and I've never looked back.
Things I've learned...
My grandmother used to say these are the best years of your life. I'd look at the mountain of bottles in the sink, the runny noses and the loads of laundry and think, seriously? Guess what? She was right. The time I spent snuggling with my babies on a rainy day or pushing them on the swing in the yard will always be some of my favorites along with bath time, story time and silly time.
When I would go to the mall with the diaper bag filled with cheerios, goldfish and juice cups, pushing my double stroller I'd see a woman carrying her Victoria Secret bags, hair highlighted, nails done, floating in and out of stores without any kids and I'd think, "I wish I was her." Ten years later, I AM HER. Guess what? I wish I was the mom pushing the double stroller.
One time the kids and I were watching a Pooh movie and Christopher Robin was going off to school and he and Pooh were singing a song. The lyrics went something like this...
Christopher Robin - "Forever and ever is such a long time, Pooh."
Pooh - "Oh Christopher, forever isn't long at all."
Guess what? Pooh was right.
***
Today my "babies" are 14 and 11. We're still cuddling on the couch and making memories for me to cherish the rest of my days. I wear lots of hats... author, PTO mom, wife, substitute teacher, but the title I most appreciate is being a mom to Jake and Cole.
Happy Mother's Day!
Leave a comment and Beachwalk Press will throw your name into the drawing for some awesome prizes. Be sure to leave your email address too!
Prizes:
1 - $20 Gift card to your choice of Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or All Romance Ebooks
2 - $10 Gift cards to your choice of Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or All Romance Ebooks
Ella
xoxo
So precious, thank you for sharing your story! Happy Mother's Day to all the fabulous mothers out there :) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletethestephanieloves AT gmail.com
Ok it worked LOL Gift Card word be a great Mom Day gift for me thanks for the chance. I was 16 when I had my first now 4 later ( 1 adopted ) I have loved every minute of being a MOM.
ReplyDeletepuddinp1e@msn.com
Happy Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome Ella! You rock!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway, ella! Vicki. Livedathousandlives@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteHi Ella, what a beautiful way of saying Happy Mom's Day. I lost my mother way back in 1986 and have missed her ever since. Now I have grown daughters and grandchildren and would not trade the title of mom for anything in the world. It is by far our greatest accomplishment. Happy Mom's Day to you! God Bless you and your family
ReplyDeleteMy email is: svnnort@comcast.net
DeleteAwww great kids. Lovely article. It is true and I'm only feeling it for the first time with my oldest, 7 going on 14 school wise.... but I see her growing so much more. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHeap happy Mother's Day to all, and ella congrats on your 3 yr anniversary
ReplyDeleteMdoneill01@yahoo.com
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThanks for sharing your beautiful story. I am thankful to be able to celebrate Mothers Day. Our daughter was born 8 weeks early and we didn't know if she would ever come home. This will be my 15 Mother's day and I am so blessed. Happy Mother's Day!!!
ReplyDeletesarah_69_00@yahoo dot com
Love me some Ella Jade! Happy Mothers Day!!
ReplyDeleten.kuhn.acn@gmail.com
That is a beautiful story of your kids! I have 3 of my own & they are the best gifts I've ever received! Us mom's have a Mother's Day once a year but our children should be celebrated each & every day!! Happy Mothers Day!
ReplyDeletevgrhottie@yahoo.com
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us, is a beautiful things to be a mom
ReplyDeleteHappy mother days
mami_chula1126@yahoo.com
ReplyDeletethank you again
Happy mothers day. Thank you for the chance. Babsishere@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI was a stay at home mom for 2yrs before I went back to work. I love my kids and being homw with them but at the same time I like working my measly 16hrs a week. I feel like that is my "me" time...I just get paid for it!. Happy Mothers Day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day to you (I know your not MY mother, but you are a mother :) ) Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteLife is so much more spicy with mini's ;-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's day!
ReplyDeleteLovely story thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this...Happy Mother's Day!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. Really brings it all into perspective. It all goes so quickly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! Happy Mother's Day to everyone ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteSorry this is Lisa Loredo :)
Deletelisaloredo05@yahoo.com
Beautiful story, Happy Mother's Day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
Carjoh56@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing and Happy Mothers Day!
ReplyDeleteJessiem950@gmail.com
From one Mom to another Happy Mother's day!! Thanks for the giveaway!♡ parkerzmommy89@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and the chance. Happy Mother's Day! :) kristypetree@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the awesome giveaway and Happy Mother's Day to you! My boys are 18 and 15 this year.
ReplyDeleteamandavinson535@aol.com
Happy Mother's Day, being a mom is my favorite job too! :-) caraolson24@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy babies are noe 33,29 & 21. I wouldn't trade the time I got to spend with them at home for anything! Cuddles and sticky kisses are the best rewards in the world!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Happy Mothers Day. my email is 99.hill@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's day to you all. All mothers should cherish the time spent with their little ones. They grow so fast. Glad you were able to stay home with them.
ReplyDeleteOops I forgot to leave me email. Jmancini44@gmail.com
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your story. I loved it and it sounds a lot like mine. I have four kids ages 14, 13 11, and 6. I can't believe how fast they have grown and I would love for them to be small again.
ReplyDeletecrystalnewman51@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing your story.. I am a mother to two girls that are 5 and 3 and then coming up the rear is the baby of the family is Ryan and he is 1.. I love all my babies dearly they are truly my blessings...
ReplyDeleteopps email lol... mosierj143@gmail.com
DeleteLove your post. It' sweet and I agree that spending time with your children hold the best memories when they grow older. Happy Mother's Day.
ReplyDeleteMy little man is 2 years old and it's really been the best 2 years of my life. I would never give up one moment of it to be anyone else, to live a kid-free life. Life with out my child would be meaningless. Thanks for the chance to win and Happy Mothers Day To all you mothers out there!
ReplyDeleteashes_0249@yahoo.com
My boys are 10 and 11. I ask myself everyday where the time has gone but we still have random movie night where we watch in my room where we've turned the king size bed into a fort or the tickle wars or even water wars outside wth water balloons. I'm sure going to miss these moments when they are grown but so glad they'll have happy memories to look back on.
ReplyDeleteTiffany
Tmsaylor@gmail.com
My mother is gone, but I miss her every day. I have 3 kids, and 8 grandkids, and would love if someday we could all be together for Mother's Day, we are scattered all over the country. Happy Mother's Day to you.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great story and that quote from Winnie the Pooh is one of my favorites! Happy Mother's day I hope yours is fabulous! Thank you for the chance! Anastasia_romonav@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteHope you have a Happy Mothers Day
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing I have felt that way as well when they are young you wish you had your old self back where you had time to take care of yourself and hen they are grown you wish you were that mess again, Happy Mothers Day! mrscrabbyfan@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! I love being a mom& now a "Nanny"! Each child is a gift~~
ReplyDeleteOops forgot email!
Deletefroggy_momma(at)hotmail(dot)com
Happy Mother's day to all of us Moms! Thanks you for sharing! Also appreciate the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 3 year anniversary, YAY. Thanks for the great giveaway. Have a great Mother's Day. laurie_lunn@msn.com
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 3 yr Anniversary. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a chance at the giveaway!
Happy Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteAs a Mom you get to BE everything else - and so much more.
It can be an exhausting job, but there is no quitting. And the rewards are such you'll never find anywhere else.
wismom works@ gmail (dot) com
Thanks for sharing.. happy Mothers day!!
ReplyDeletempashon@hotmail.com
Melanie J
Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletecl_fox@yahoo.com
-Carrie
Happy Mothers Day! I am blessed to be the mother of two young men. It saddens me how fast these years have gone by. But my boys are awesome and fill me with joy everyday. Simpson4945@sw.rr.com
ReplyDeleteeven though my kids are nearly 3 and 5 this is the first year i get a mothers day present since my son had a mothers day stall at kinder but my kids were the greatest gift i got :)
ReplyDeletejessicaoz(at)hotmail(dot)com
What a great write up! :) I agree-- "mom" is my favorite title that I have also. My little guy will always be my "baby", even long from now when he's taller than me ;) Happy Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteReadingAmore@gmail.com
~Amy
Wonderful story Ella, thanks for sharing. I hope you have a blessed and wonderful Mother's Day. <3
ReplyDeleteForgot my email koala571 at msn dot com
DeleteVery sweet post :) Jake and Cole are lucky boys!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day! Your SO right. I'm sending my oldest to high school next year and my baby will be in middle school. She's reaching womanhood so fast and it seems like yesterday I was bringing them all home. <3
ReplyDeleteEmail: cgmartin79@yahoo.com
Awesome :) kbobb01@aol.com
ReplyDeleteForever isn't very long at all ;) Thanks for sharing your post--what a great reminder to treasure each of our days!
ReplyDeletefedora at gmail dot com
Love the stories you share about your kids, you inspire me to want to do what u did...
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great Mother's Day!
ReplyDeletenat2am@msn.com
Happy Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the giveaway!
neilliza@yahoo.com
Happy Mother's day from one mom, who was considered a young mom, to another!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's day from one mom, who was considered a young mom, to another!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story, hope you had a great Mothers Day! M8231m@aol.com
ReplyDelete