Moms. Holla.

This post is dedicated to any and all mommas.  (Side-note - I think dads are da bomb as well, but since I'll never be able to relate to dads quite like I can to mommas, hence the dedication.  Love to all dads.) 

I've never been one to label any specific job as "hardest job in the world" because I truly believe there are many jobs that are taxing in every way.  That being said, I have to say mommying definitely ranks in the top 5 best and hardest jobs in the world.  In the short 18 hours I have nannied for the crazies (my affectionate name for these sweets), I have been completely exhausted, sweat through every layer of clothing, laughed until I cried, internally freaked because both littles were melting down in a parking lot, and had a combination of bananas and snot wiped in my hair.  Ya'll, this mothering thing is not for the faint of heart.

Mommas, read:  major props to you.  You rock out at this mothering thing all day every day.  You love with all you are even on the hard days.  You put yourself aside for people less than half your size.  And you cry tears of joy when your babes hand you weeds to put in a pretty vase.  You are my heros.  When I grow up, I want to be just like you. 

This summer I have the glorious job of watching three of the most beautiful, animated, hilarious, adorably sweet, and undeniably awesome little boys (there are 4 other little boys I'm quite partial to) on Tuesdays.  I often refer to them as the crazies because while they are 95% sweet, they are also 5% crazy (aka: full of little boy orneriness).  

In my brief time with them so far this summer, I have learned an abundant amount of lessons I will undoubtedly take to motherhood whenever that time should come.  The following are some snippets of our days together, and it should be noted that nothing, literally nothing, is exaggerated.  People, weird stuff happens wherever I am, so my nannying gig is no different.

I took the twins (22 months old) to a local kids place where nothing is off-limits and the phrase "no, no, don't touch that" is never uttered (blissful).  While in the toddler area and while attempting to create a colossal padded fort for the boys, I stepped on a rainbow-shaped pad, twisted my ankle, awkwardly flailed (you guys, I'm gangly, so anytime I lose my balance, it's ain't pretty), and promptly crashed to the ground.  In the process, I skinned my knee pretty bad.  Remember how bad it hurts when you skin your knee?  Oh right, you probably don't because you probably haven't skinned your knee for a good two decades.  Yeah....  And the best part is that the toddlers just kept playing unbeknownst to my pain while the other moms in the fenced-off area looked at me with such pity.  Apparently my face told the story of how my knee was feeling.  Cheers to you, moms, for making it look graceful when painful things happen. 

On our way to the van from the play place, the twins took turns being sad about leaving.  I lack a tremendous amount of upper body strength, so carrying them both was just not an option.  Since they were kind enough to take turns being sad, I figured I would return the favor and take turns carrying each of them.  While not fool-proof, my plan worked as we safely arrived to the van a mere 15 minutes after we left.  And the best part is, by this point, I had only sweat through one layer of clothes.  Props to moms with multiple littles.  How you manage to make it in and out of stores without breaking a sweat (or joining your littles in their melt-down!) astounds me. 

I picked up the older brother and one of his buddies just after lunch, and by the time everyone was safely buckled, one of the toddlers pointed to his shoeless right foot.  Awesome.  With sweat literally dripping off my face at this point, I looked around the van to no avail.  Minor freak-out ensued.  I finally found the shoe in the front seat (don't ask) and felt much relieved.  Well done, moms, for you do extremely complicated things (like transport multiple children of various ages) with ease.  And you rarely sweat.  Seriously, how do you do it!?

Bathtime happened right after naps this week.  One of my buddies was so sad about it, so I let him play with the cup that they use to dump water on their heads pre- and post-shampooing (awful explanation - I assume you understand the concept of a cup in the bathtub).  Rookie mistake.  One minute later, I was drenched after he thought he would return the favor and dump an entire cup of water on me.  Love to you, moms, for you have learned to laugh when your babes make you look like a hot mess.  You continue to amaze me.

Mommas - your job is exhausting in every way.  (Literally, every muscle in my body ached after yesterday.  No joke. But my heart was also ridiculously full.)  You have the power to shape moldable little minds and hearts - what a privilege!  The maddest of props to you, mommys.  And while I can't say it yet, whenever I see you in public with a little, I just want to take your hand and say, "Solidarity, sister.  I get it.  Keep going."  Utmost respect to you for doing what you do all day every day.  The world is truly a better place because of you.