The thing I really miss the most since I became a mom is traveling to far away destinations. But then, I slowly realized that motherhood is not so different from traveling after all. They may be two different experiences, but the adventures I have in both are also endless. Here are 5 reasons why:
1. Being a mom is like traveling; you have a faint idea of how things are gonna be like but you don’t always know for sure until you’re there.
When I was preparing our itinerary for London, I researched like a crazy lady. I obsessed about every detail, checked Google Maps (and even street view) about a thousand times, read countless blogs about the attractions and meticulously plotted our route! But even after all that, it was still a surprise to me how far the underground really was from our hotel and how tiny the Twinning’s shop really was!
It’s like being a mom. I’ve been told stories and given advice from seasoned moms. I’ve attended classes and have read all those “what to expect” books. But none of them compare to actually experiencing it myself! I still had some trouble with my breast pump (and clogged ducts, ugh!) and I still panicked when my son caught his first flu. You don’t really know how it’s like until you experience it (And then sometimes, you just sort of “wing it!”)
2. Being a mom is like traveling; it’s sometimes scary, sometimes challenging, most of the time exhausting but always exciting.
I crawled inside the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam not expecting how tiny the space really was and it scared me crazy. When I climbed Mt. Sinai, my knees were shaking so bad and I didn’t know if I could really make it back down (I ended up riding a camel, haha) Sometimes, traveling can be so exhausting, even frightening, but it is always very exciting.
It’s similar to being a mom. It may be full of sleepless nights, messy floors and arguments with a two year old (and those are definitely scary, challenging and exhausting experiences!) but I have to say, there’s never a dull moment!
3. Being a mom is like traveling; the most stressful moments become the best stories after.
One time, we missed our bus in Penang. Then there was that other time we got stranded in Guangzhou and had no place to stay. And let’s not forget that time I accidentally booked a non-refundable flight on the wrong dates (we were supposed to watch a race, oops!)
What about that time during my pregnancy when I cried to my husband because all I wanted was to go out and have pizza? And that time my 2 month old started wailing just as I got in the shower. And that time he spilled all my veggie juice because all he wanted to do was “help” stir it.
They were all so stressful… at that time! But now, I think of all those memories and look back on them with happy tears. They are now funny stories I don’t mind sharing with friends!
4. Being a mom is like traveling; there’s always something new to discover.
No matter how many times we go to Hong Kong (which I frequent, not of my own free will haha jk), there’s always something new to discover. You think you know all about the place, but then there’s always something that will still surprise you, once in a while.
Being a mom is like that too. You think you know your child but then you discover there’s more to him than what you thought you knew. It was only last month that I discovered Luke’s interest in flags. I also just recently learned about how easily he empathizes with the characters in his stories. And everyday, I learn something new about him.
And just as I am always excited to discover new things, even in familiar places, I am also so excited to discover new things about my son!
5. Most of all, being a mom is like traveling; you can only plan and do so much but the rest is still all by the grace of God.
If there’s one thing I learned from being a mom, it’s that I’m only surviving by the grace of God. It is very much like traveling, where you plan everything but still experience unexpected things. Sometimes I feel like I’ve got this thing figured out but then something happens and I realize I have no idea what I’m doing again!
It’s really all by God’s grace. I am far from being a perfect mom and I can only wish I am doing things right. But it’s a journey I’m excited to take because God is with me every step of the way. Not everyday is perfect and we have bad days together with the good ones, but I am thankful for all of them.
So here’s to all moms who are struggling, like me. And to all moms who have no idea if they’re doing this right, like me. And most of all, to all moms who are enjoying every single bit of this adventure, like me.
Happy Mother’s Day!