:: the TRUTH about motherhood : part 13 ::

:: Mommy Goggles ::

Parenthood has changed every possible facet of my life.

Which, actually, I knew that it would. I knew that becoming a mommy would take it’s toll on my life, my daily routine, even personal hygiene (TMI?). But I guess that’s where KNOWING and EXPERIENCING are two totally separate things.

I have loved the song “La Vie en Rose” (roughly “Life through Rose Colored Glasses”) performed by Edith Piaf way back during WWII for years now. It’s probably one of my all time favorites. Because every now and then I like to throw a pair on (figuratively) and enjoy the shifted perspective. Or maybe it’s the accordion in the background that makes me day dream that I’m sitting in a French sidewalk café leaving me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Either way.

But I guess one of the most unexpected changes thanks to this whole motherhood thing has been in my perspective on things. Or what I recently heard another mom refer to as MOMMY GOGGLES. And may I just say, I see everything through my Mommy Goggles. EVERY.THING.

My husband isn’t just the love of my life anymore. He’s the father of my baby boy and when I see snippets of him in my son, it makes me fall in love all over again (sappy, but true). My marriage isn’t just between two people anymore, it’s the cornerstone of our family. My house isn’t just a half-painted constantly messy covered in dog hair place to come back to at the end of the day, it’s truly our home.

My friendships suddenly aren’t worth maintaining anymore unless they understand that it might take me 7 months to return an email or a phone call because, well, I’m too busy cooing and giggling with my not-so-baby boy. My relatives are about a gazillion times more important to me because they bend over backwards (sometimes literally) just to make my son laugh or smile – because they want to. And believe you me, I’ve gained some serious understanding of my parents.

But the Mommy Goggles go beyond that. I smile at the little kiddos in the grocery store that are babbling as they ride by in their mommy or daddy’s cart. I strike up conversations with other moms over at the diaper isle. I gave a sympathetic smile to a mom just today who had a 4 year old boy (unfortunately also named Cameron…) throw one of THOSE tantrums (you know, where EVERYONE looks because he’s screaming THAT loud) and she had to discipline him publicly and leave a cart full of groceries behind. Shoot, I even had the guts to strike up a conversation with Law & Order’s Alana De La Garza in Babies R Us because, after all, she’s going to be a mom soon and why not?

Which is why I say that Mommy Goggles have not only enriched my personal life and relationships, but have also made me completely insane.

On that note, enjoy a few photos of Mr. 16 Months, coming in at 36+ inches tall (what!?!?) and 30 lbs. We’re considering just strapping a basketball to his hands now.