Motherhood: The Hardest Job You'll -- Well...

Source: PA

I often think about how hard it is to be a mother. It is hard! It is not fun. It is a lot of constant battles. It is a lot like herding sheep, catching greased pigs, feeding horses apples with your hands flat so you don't get bit, training monkeys, and taming lions, not necessarily in that order. I do love my job as a mother, don't think I don't, but man, it is so hard! 

When I get sick, I don't get a lot of slack. There are still diapers to be changed, laundry to be washed, meals to be cooked, babies to be nursed, etc., etc., etc., etc. Yes, I put a lot of  those in there, because so often all those mundane tasks of motherhood fall under the "Etcetera" category.

I was watching the New York Marathon yesterday.  The announcer was talking about the woman in the lead, Paula Radcliffe.  She has a little toddler baby girl named Isla.  The announcer said Paula often chants Isla's name at the homestretch to keep herself running.  He also mentioned little Isla would be at the finish line, waiting for her mommy. 

As soon as Paula stepped across the line, little Isla came flying out from somewhere, happy to see her mama. Little Isla ran up to Paula and stretched her arms up to her mother. Paula had looked exhausted, of course -- her whole last mile she looked jagged and a bit out of sync -- but none of that mattered as Paula scooped the little girl up and into her arms. After a few seconds she put the girl down, but that wouldn't do for Isla. So up into Mommy's arms again she was brought, with no thought to how tired her mom must be, only the need to be in her mom's arms. 

So yes, I close with (and excuse my stealing), Motherhood: The Hardest Job You'll Ever Love (when your kids are asleep).

More good ideas about motherhood:

-9 Reasons Why I Like Being a Mom
-21 Ways to Enjoy Being a Mom
-Stumbling into Motherhood