Mommy Body

My recent trip to Georgia got my thinking about how my body has changed since I had children. I don't mean my "love scars" aka stretch marks, or the way my bra size is constantly changing. I mean the fact that my body knows it's a mom and it knows when it's on vacation. On a typical day at home with the kids I might wait all day to go to the bathroom. I know those of you without kids are going, "but if you have to go how do you hold it all day?" to that I say, priorities my friend. I may have the 30 seconds to go but just think of all the other things I could be doing with that 30 seconds! In fact there are probably mommies reading this right now having to go! This is common, everyday for me, I hardly even think about. However when we (we being my body and I) were in Georgia I must have used the bathroom once an hour. Now your first thought might be, "honey you need to see your OBGYN that sounds like a UTI" Nope it's a SOETGWIW: So Excited To GO Whenever I Want. My bladder seemed to know that we could now use the bathroom whenever and wherever we wanted. It was like being a kid again, I saw every bathroom in every place we went. Oh the fun, the excitement, the many kinds of toilets, sinks and paper towel dispensers! Upon returning home last Tuesday I think I used the bathroom at the airport and haven't gone since;)
Another thing my body seemed to realize is that I did not need a soothing snack at 1:00pm. Most days as I begin putting children down for naps my body responds with a need for something sweet, it's favorite is raisinets but it will be satisfied by a scoop of ice cream, a cookie hidden from the sight of little eyes and forgotten about until then, a handful of chocolate chips, some icing, a spoonful of sugar, whatever: as long as it's sweet!!!! In Georgia I did not feel this need right after lunch. Now don't get me wrong we ate some great desserts but I did not need them, I merely enjoyed them.
I also slept without waking up every couple hours. I am convinced that once you become a parent it is impossible to sleep deeply except when you are separated from your kids. Even if your children don't wake you up at all during the night you are still waking up for some reason. It's as if your body refuses to allow you to rest just in case they might need you. Or maybe it's a defense mechanism so that the door handle turning wakes you up instead of a child's face 4 inches from your own waking you up. I believe that only happened to me once but it was so very frightening, maybe that's why I can't sleep deep, the fear of a tiny face looking at me and whispering "My bed is wet". Oh the horror.
So I guess I appreciate my bizarre body. It's amazing knowledge of how to be a mom starting with the first vomit of pregnancy all the way until. . . . . it's own end? I can already picture it "Welcome to Heaven Shannon, we've been waiting for you" "Awesome, thanks, can you please show me where the bathroom is?"