Before I Was a Mom

Before I was a Mom - 
I made and ate hot meals. 
I had unstained clothing. 
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom - 
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. 
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom - 
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. 
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom - 
I had never been puked on, 
wet on, 
spit on, 
chewed on, 
or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Mom - 
I had complete control over my thoughts, 
my body, 
my mind. 
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom - 
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests, or give shots. 
I never looked into teary eyes and cried. 
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. 
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom - 
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. 
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I could not stop the hurt. 
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. 
I never knew that I could love someone so much. 
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom - 
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. 
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. 
I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child. 
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom - 
I had never gotten up every ten minutes, in the middle of the night, to make sure that all was okay. 
I had never known the warmth, 
the joy, 
the love, 
the heartache, 
the wonderfulness, 
or the satisfaction of being a Mom. 

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, 
before I was a Mom.