I love love love the Mommy Panel and look forward to everyone’s answers each week. Not familiar with the Mommy Panel? Check out the details and meet the members here.
This weeks question was:
Looking back, what were you like before kids?
Mommy: Michaela
My little miss is only nine months old. So, in a lot of ways, I’m still trying to figure out who I am with a kid!
One thing that has changed is my adventure bug is almost dead. I loved doing new things and exploring new places. But now, I the unknown scares me. Will there be somewhere to change my little miss? Will she cry the whole drive there? The questions go on and on. We’ve become home bodies in a way we never were before. I’m hoping this is something that will change as she gets older. I know we both miss the random adventures.
Mommy: Brittney
I’d like to say I had more time, but I don’t think that’s necessarily true. I worked a full-time job, a part-time job, and volunteered so I stayed plenty busy. Now my full-time job is mommy, and I still have a part-time job and volunteer.
I was definitely more selfish with what free time I had. 🙂 And I don’t think we appreciated how spontaneous we could be. We didn’t think twice about going out to eat, to a movie, on a last minute trip when we were DINKs (Dual Income, No Kids).
HOWEVER — I wouldn’t change the way things are for the world! Love my little girl!
Mommy: Melissa
Hmmm…First off I was pretty young when I became pregnant. I was 19. So definately not fully mature. Even to this day I have a very immature side to me. But back then it was a more intense immaturity and even a different type of immaturity. If that makes any sense. I was definately someone who dated around. I was attracted to the bad boy type. I wasn’t a party person. I have been at maybe 8 parties my entire life..but I had my own definition of fun. I was the shy and very quiet type. But once you got to know me I was a different person.
My dream was to be a stay at home mom. But I thought I would take a year off and go do whatever, go to college, get married and then do the stay at home thing. Instead pregnant while in college, had my son, lived with my mom she supported me and my son for about 3 months, and was on welfare for a month so I could basically pay my mom back and feed my son until I found a job. Found a job and worked there until I moved in with my fiance, got married. And everything from there somehow works out.
I would say having kids changed a lot of who I am but I still kept some traits. It’s like I have combined the traits of a mom with the traits I always hope I would keep.
Mommy: Jill
Before I had kids I was a neat freak. Everything was perfectly clean all the time. I was so organized and had everything planned out. I hated having anything dirty and if it was, I clean it up pretty quickly!
My priorities have definitely changed since then. I am OK with having things dirty some days because it can wait. It is more important to play with my kids then clean the bathroom or straightening things up.
Mommy: Rachel
Before I had kids I was spontaneous, organized, witty and artistic. I sometimes find it hard not to mourn the loss of that person. The mindblowing thing is seeing those cool attributes in my growing children, even if -sigh- I’m not like that anymore!
Mommy: Cori
This question has made me pucker my brow—before kids? What is that? I seriously can’t think of what in the world I did before chasing a toddler, changing diapers and watching The Wiggles 24-7.
I think my husband and I did a lot of sitting around watching tv-and not much else! I remember playing a ton of online games while I was pregnant and haven’t touched one since. We also went out with friends a lot more. These days I would rather sit home in my robe reading story books then go hang out with friends! Though we do sometimes grab a sitter and have dinner with our old pals!
Mommy: Natalia
I was independent, working woman. I didn’t party a lot but liked the freedom of hanging out when I wanted to. I also loved to travel. I still travel now sometimes with the kids and sometimes without. But when it is with the kids, it’s a lot harder!
Mommy: Amanda
I was definitely did things more for myself. I was less paranoid, a little less crazy {ha}. This is a hard question! I’m pretty young still so I was going out more, still enjoying more of the “college” life. It’s almost hard to try and remember because my life now is so much more wonderful with our daughter that everything else I was before doesn’t matter 🙂
Mommy: Anitra
Ummm…sane. That was easy. Seriously, though. I was calm. Laid back. I went with the flow and I didn’t worry about things. Now I have these two sweet little kids that constantly have me on my toes and worried about one thing or another. I’m pretty sure my sanity was never in question before kids, and now I wonder on a daily basis if I will ever be sane again.
Mommy: Tonii
Ummm…I don’t really remember 😉 I guess lots of things about me were different before I had my children. I loved my sleep, loved just being with my husband all the time, and was fairly irresponsible. I can happily say…those things have all changed now. Sleep is hard to come by, but I know I can never get these years back…I try to remember that. Date nights with my husband are rare and if they happen they are the highlight of my week now…but half the time all we do is talk about our cute kids anyways 😉 As far as being more responsible…its happening slowly but surely:) All in all, I love who I am becoming as a mother. My kids have made me better…I have to be better for them, they deserve it!
Mommy: Missy
As I read that out loud Megan blurted out SKINNY! “Gee Megan thanks. Are you calling me fat?” I don’t think that was what she meant with this question but yes, I am a few pounds heavier. I was pregnant at 17, married 3 months after my 18th birthday and became a mom 46 days later. The divorce was final in 2006 11 years and 11 months after the marriage began.
How do I answer this question in a short enough paragraph to add it to the link up? I was a child when I became a wife and a mom. Through the years I have matured. I grew away from things that I once liked because the love of my children was stronger. I was never told that I could go to college and make something of myself as a kid. It was always told to me that we did not have the money for college. I took the test to join the ARMY, was talking to a recruiter…Continue reading here.
Mommy: Karen
So much leisure time! I’d spend hours at a cafe with my husband or alone reading books or working on crafts. One way I’ve changed is I used to be so much more available and giving to others. I still do what I can, but I no longer have the resources of time and energy as I did before. I feel frazzled much of the time now, like we are barely staying afloat from day to day so adding on the needs of outside people often seems near impossible. I imagine this will be just for this season while my son is so young and high-need (and if we have another the season will be extended no doubt). I miss that part of me and I hope we are reacquainted with one another one day. I want my son to meet her too.
On the positive side I have a lot more self-confidence now than I did before. I’ve had multiple experiences now of going with my gut over other’s advice, even the pediatrician at times, and found out on the other side of things that I made the right call. I’ve learned to trust my intuition as a mother.
Mommy: Emily
ME-centric!! I had a hard time not putting MY needs first. Having a child makes you realize (very quickly!) the world does not revolve around you!
Hey y'all!I'm Kelley. I'm a recipe making, picture taking, coffee drinking momma to 4 crazy kiddos. Join me as I share our family favorite dinners and my copycat coffee drinks too!
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Tonii says
These are all such great answers!! I especially love Karen's comment about learning to trust out intuition…great women you have on this panel! I'm proud to be a part of it! Thanks Kelley!
Simply Raising 8 says
I love Karen's about having less time for others. It is the same with me. It seems like I have always been one to help others and since having my children I am not able. I also sometimes feel like I do not do enough with volunteering at the kids school and such but I am busy making sure the kids have clean clothes dishes done homework done and make it to there own events to help out at things.
dangerous driving says
Why didn't he go into Democratic Republic of Congo or Zimbabwe or any of the other countries where civilians are being slaughtered?