Remember that kid in school who raised their hand for every question? Who read ahead for fun? Yep, that was me. Took extra credits each semester of college for my own enjoyment. Watch documentaries instead of romantic comedies. Plan girls nights around visiting authors and lectures. Spend my Saturday nights doing puzzles with my husband.
Ladies, I’m a nerd. I love to learn, and I love to challenge myself.
Which is why I think that everyone was surprised when I decided to take an extended break from law to raise my babies.
“But won’t you be bored?”
First of all, *waves finger in the air* there isn’t time to be bored as a mom. There are stories to read, butts to wipe, ouchies to kiss, laundry to fold, dishes to wash, meals to cook. There is listening to 4-year-old jokes (I say this with love – these are the worst jokes you’ve ever heard). There are hours of repeating the sounds your 1 year old makes. There are library story times and open gyms. There is the never ending sleep dance (you know it, the combination rock-bounce that every mom instinctively knows will shush her baby to sleep). Then, there is more laundry. More dishes. Because those are never ending as well.
Because every mom is a freaking superhero, working her tail off 24/7.
That said, being a stay at home mom had me intellectually bored out of my proverbial gourd.
Pete The Cat may be one groovy dude, but he’s got nothing on RBG.
While I might excel at preparing veggies for every meal (and then subsequently watching my kids feed them to the dog), there is no challenge. No metric with which to measure my progress. No extra credit. No learning. No new.
So, I’m making my own almond milk (well, a combo of almond and oat – which I’ve discovered is my favorite). I’m trying (unsuccessfully) to develop my own sourdough starter. I joined Beachbody, and I’m shocked at how thrilled I am to complete program after program. I’m making time to read. I’m even making time to write for myself.
I’m searching for the challenges. The little personal successes. The moments that I can say “I figured that out!” or “I did that!”
And, I’m finding them. And, y’all, it is making me a better mom. The nerd I was before my kids were born still exists. She’s still here. And caring for her – making sure she’s healthy and happy – is key to caring for my children. She was drowning in the never ending reading-rocking-washing-cleaning of staying home with my kids.
Sure, buying almond milk would be easier. But, I’m going to make my own. Simply because I like the challenge.
Hashtag, nerd mom.
