The Trade In: A Mother's Day Deal

 

The Trade In: A Mother's Day Deal

By The Reformist Princess

I traded in my sane, ordered demeanour for my crazy rush to meet the demands of making lunches, putting bandaids on skinned knees and resolving sibling quarrels. 

I traded in my sensible phone conversations to ones interrupted every minute as I yell instructions, tidy messes and bounce toddlers on the hip. 

I traded in being the star of my own show for being a stage-hand in theirs. 

I traded in expensive high heels for a practical pair of Birkenstocks.

I traded in my one hourly weekend house clean to the impossible mountain of wiping hand prints off walls, moping muddy footprints, vacuuming up the endless stream of playground sand that crunches under my feet and scrubbing the smooshed watermelon off the couch. 

I traded in my weekly load of washing to at least two loads a day. 

I traded in restaurant dining and careless nights spent with my friends for 7pm bedtime routines of baths, teeth brushing, story time and a barrage of constant questioning tactics from small people trying to evade sleep.

I traded in a budget that had little strain for one that had to accommodate a long list of needs such as new pairs of shoes, swimming lessons, a heck of a lot more food and babysitting

I traded in a healthy, relatively untroubled body for one that aches, droops and struggles from the huge strain of bringing humans into the world.

I traded in a tidy, mundane fridge for one full of sticky handprints, a riot of colouring in, merit certificates and scribbled I love you notes. 

I traded in unimportant, uneventful nights of rest for an endless run of shrill voices and cold little hands reaching out for me in the darkness.

I traded in my individuality for the knowledge that a part of me would always live on in you.

I traded in Christmas and Easter mornings that were rather uneventful for early holiday wake ups full of anticipation, excited little voices and a reminder of how exhilarating life can be.

I traded in my quiet and calm arrivals home for ones when I’m greeted with an assault of cuddles, cries of joy and a sparkle in those little eyes.

I traded in my old version of love for a whole new level of love that truly knows no condition, that keeps me awake at night smiling over memories of the day, that makes me rage in protection and worry constantly about their wellbeing. 

And it was the best deal of my life.