Defining moments as a mom

There are many moments that define us moms as moms. For each mom it's different.  It could be little things like stepping on a toy in the middle of the night or hearing your little one call you "mama" for the first time or other things like dropping your kid off for his/her first day at school or attending their first sporting event, etc. Of course, there are many steps along the way and many points at which may make you feel like a mom and it is all of these moments that add up to a lifetime full of memories that complete the journey of being a mom.

This past weekend had 3 elements that made me feel like I really am a mom.  Obviously, I've felt like a mom for the past 32 months as I've changed endless amounts of diapers, pumped for 13.5 months to feed them, made their meals, folded mountains of laundry, etc.  However I've also received millions of smiles, giggles, hugs and kisses, etc on a daily basis that makes my "job" as a mom so rewarding and it’s what keeps me going each day.  But the moments I'm talking about today are the moments I dreamed of when I was growing up of how I pictured what it would be like to be a mom. (Clearly, I never imagined having triplets… that has just been an added bonus!)

I love parties!  Who doesn't?  This was our 2nd weekend in a row that we had a birthday party on a Saturday. It's also tax season which meant I would be flying solo with all 3 kids to the party. Luckily, they are great listeners (most of the time) and the other moms of the kids in their class are always willing to help out.  Something about taking kids to birthday parties makes me feel like a mom. I remember always being invited to friends' kids parties before we had kids and I always enjoyed going, but I never understood how different it would be once I had children who would enjoy it. The excitement on their face when they bring their friend the gifts, watching them play with all of their friends while I chat with the other moms, the delight in their voice as they help sing happy birthday and the joy on their face as they get to enjoy the birthday cake makes my heart melt.  Bringing the kids to birthday parties and talking with the other moms truly makes me feel like mom.

This weekend’s birthday party was also filled with another defining mom moment: dealing with a bloody injury! Anyone who knows me, knows I hate blood. The mere fact alone that I managed to do IVF and survive a triplet pregnancy is a miracle in and of itself.  However, this is when you know you're a mom. These things don't/can't bother you any more or at least not when they involve your own child. Jake took a bad fall off one of the bounce houses and split his lip. A common injury in kids, but it was our first one and it produced a lot of blood!  Luckily it stopped bleeding on its own because I really didn't have time to go to the ER that afternoon!  Jake is a tough little guy and he was better quickly and ready to party on!

The final defining mom moment of the weekend was the ECEC fundraising luncheon that I was proud to co chair. Dylan, Jake and Emma started preschool back in September (3 days a week for 3 hours) and part of sending them to school meant I wanted to get involved.  I became the room mom and I was also asked to be on the luncheon committee. Little did I know just how much work I was getting myself involved in. It was so much fun and worth every hour I spent stuffing envelopes, wrapping baskets, organizing donations, etc.  I always wanted to be that mom that was involved in her child(ren)'s classroom/school and now I'm living that dream.  The event was very successful and I was proud to have been able to be a part of it.
This weekend reminded me that I am a mom.  Each day I wake up to 3 little kids who remind me of this, but there are always some major moments along the way that stop me in my tracks and make me realize that my lifelong dreams of what I hoped being a mom would be are finally coming true.