About Mother's Day (a bit late)

This is a poem I had read a while ago and loved, but then forgot about until our Michigan church put it in their May newsletter. It's about being a Mom. I fell in love with the poem all over again, because these words are so absolutely true! Here it is:

BEFORE I WAS A MOM
~author unknown~

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 every day.

Before I was a Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words of lullabies.

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

Before I was a Mom
I had never been thrown-up on,
Pooped on
Spit on
Chewed on
Peed on
Or pinched by tiny fingers

Before I was a Mom
I had complete control of
My thoughts
My body
And 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 him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that someone 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 would be to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that someone so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every ten minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth
The joy
The love
The heartache
The wonder
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

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