Any mother can tell you that there is nothing quite like being a Mom. When I was considering having children, I remember being told that I would lose my freedom. So what, I thought. I'm not the party girl type. Little did I know that my lost freedom was not just the ability to drop everything and go to a movie or to a concert. Oh, no, there is also the freedom to go to the bathroom alone, the freedom to make a five minute trip to the store, or even the freedom to just take a nap when I needed one.



Adult conversation is another freedom that I am really beginning to miss. It was so nice to be able to talk with my husband for more than a minute without having to stop a rampaging child or kiss a boo boo or answer a question like "what's equity?" You'd never think that you would miss answering the phone, either, until you realize that waiting for the third ring means having your toddler talking to anyone foolish enough to call before bedtime.

Of course, I would never go back to the pre sticky finger days for anything. There is something special about the gleam of your toddler's eyes when she has just been forgiven for destroying something expensive that can simply not be found anywhere else. There are rewards untold in rescuing endangered dolls or keeping the kitchen from catching fire despite the best efforts of your son. And we can't forget the joys of cleaning up after the lovely pets that seem to go hand in hand with having kids.

The pets who knew us before the children arrived have also learned the meaning of parenthood. At first they were a little hesitant about having their ears chewed on or their butts sniffed by anyone but each other, but they have since gotten used to games like "let's see if we can dye the dog's hair with Kool-aid" and "if we scare the cat will she stick to the ceiling like on TV?"

Yes, there is nothing in the world like being a mom, and that is something that any mom will tell you if you ask her. On Mother's Day, you get breakfast in bed from your darling children including your favorite oatmeal (just a little crunchy), and fresh orange juice ("why don't you tell me how you made it after I drink it?"), and lots of hugs and love from the little ones who make it all worthwhile. Children add a special kind of spice to your life, and they are only young once. So laugh and enjoy every day with them, especially this Mother's Day.