by Neriza Oseguera

Created on: October 05, 2009   Last Updated: October 15, 2009

Life before having children is fairly simple. It may not seem so at the time, but it really is. Hopping in the car and going wherever you want, sleeping in late, and lavish vacations. A really hard life! I would look at people with children screaming and think, boy if that were my child, it would not be acting like that. Getting up and going to work was a breeze.

Then comes the next phase of life. You find out you're pregnant. For some this could be a dream come true. For others, a nightmare come true! Either way life as you know it will NEVER EVER be the same. I know, I know, everyone thinks they have it down. Nothing is really going to change, and it will be so simple. People will read all the baby books, and the father is going to be perfect and help with those 2 hour feedings. Your baby is going to sleep through the night and never fuss.

Motherhood begins to change us when we find out we're pregnant. A little being is growing inside of us and we have a bigger responsibility now. Eating, sleeping, and simply walking takes on a whole new meaning. What we consume the fetus does too. Rest becomes extremely important, and keeping balance becomes virtually impossible with a new center of gravity!

Roughly 40 weeks later you will find that was a long past dream. Maybe in some cases Dad will willingly hop out of bed for that 2:00 a.m. feeding, but most will find an argument to ensue about who did the last feeding! Regardless, the little one has to be fed, burped, changed, and put back to sleep, which brings us to the no sleep phase of how motherhood changes us. Most Mom's will never get a full night's sleep again. If you have a colicky baby then you will get even less sleep.

Getting out of the house changes too. Before motherhood you just grab your purse and go. Now there are Binky's to grab, bottles to fix, diaper, and extra changes of clothes, possibly for you and the baby. It's not just one person anymore. You have a bundle of joy to pack and take too.

Day-to-day life becomes more challenging. Worries set in that you'd never dreamed of before. In the back of a mother's mind is always something. Is that person in the corner hacking just choking, or is it some rare disease that they can pass to your precious one? Is that other person over there staring a kidnapper, or just admiring a beautiful child? There is always something to worry about.

Most of motherhood teaches us that there is something to love in this world more than shoes! This little angel teaches us that there is no greater love. More than anything you want the best for your child, and will stop at nothing to protect and keep them safe.

Learn more about this author, Neriza Oseguera.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.