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Burping, tooting, diaper filling, drooling little charmers! Just when you sit down to regenerate what brain cells you have left, there they are, precious and precoscious all at once! Life changes when little ones come your way; when you need a moment for potty, laundry, dishes, making calls, coffee and cleaning, it is as if they sense your desperation, sending out squeals in pitches you thought only opera singers and birds were capable of. That is being a mom. It can become a world of juggling and magical tricks when these little marshmallows come in groups of two or more, as you try to keep up! Once you could make a decision based upon your needs and now you feel like you will never again be able to shut a bathroom door without someone pounding on it with inquiries of "Mommy, whatcha doin'?

In the joy of it all, you find exhaustion. As each day begins, you continue to make this larvae to butterfly metamorphosis, losing more of the old you and becoming more a "Mommy". This quiet transformation begins with the first fluttering in your belly and grows in leaps and bounds after hours of painful contractions, to the most serene moment where you find yourself staring straight into your tiny ones eyes for the first time.

It isn't long before you begin to forget your first name, as it is replaced by "Mommy". You suddenly speak with a new jargon known only to other mothers and fathers, using a vocabulary that includes words such as; poo, tinkle, binky, blankey, wa-wa and boo-boo.

Suddenly, one day, the thought or words, "Ohhhhh, I really miss having alone time!", form and are quickly followed by horrid, treacherous pangs of guilt for having such selfish thoughts. Afterall, how could you, a mom, even think of being alone when you have been blessed with such beautiful babies?

Moms, rest assured, what you are feeling is normal. Try not to panic, cry, scream or run for the soap, hoping to clean away the nasty words, but, instead, realize it is time to get some YOU time in, for the sake of all, but mostly for your own growth...and sanity!

It is not only important, but should be a priority, to find some guilt-free time alone. As moms, you may not have hours to sit in front of the television watching "I Love Lucy" marathons, but you can take joy in refreshing yourself for moments to minutes, whenever possible.

Every moment you have of quiet time, rejoice and take deep breaths, do some stretches, allow your body to unwind. It is amazing what this can do for a weary mom's psyche.

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