"Happy Mother's Day!"

I received my first round of greetings last month. Now, before you get excited, I'm not pregnant. I received the greetings from parents of my students last year. "Being a teacher, you stand as the second mom to your students. So, happy mother's day, too!"

Hmm? I felt good to be appreciated for the job I do. And the same time, it got me thinking when will I start to receive greetings because I really am a mother already.

In a previous blog, I mentioned that, for me, parenthood is something you (and your spouse)really prepare for. Most people assumed that when I started teaching, I would get all excited about having my own kids. On the contrary, while IT IS fun being around them, I got to see the other side of that. I found how difficult it can get to discipline them, how physically exhausting it is being with them, how great a responsibility is it to make sure you impart proper values to them, how your patience can be tested, etc. I get a sneak peak into parenting for a couple of hours and it's no joke! I always tell people that I love my job so much, and I love my kids a lot, but I am just thankful that, at the end of the day, I can return them to their parents.

For the past months, my husband and I have been seriously talking about adding a new member to our household. Yes, we know we can afford it, we know we want it, but somehow talking about it gives us the jitters. Somehow, there was always something that made us take a step back and ask, "Are we really ready?".

Aside from the fact that I am not getting any younger, and that I want to grow up with my kids too, I've been thinking if I'm ready to give up my "freedom". Freedom to do what I want at a whim, freedom to pack up and travel to wherever, freedom to just be lazy and not do anything, freedom to go and stay out, freedom to act like a single person without a care in the world.

That's pretty much how our married life has been and bringing in a little one into such a lifestyle won't be easy.

And so, we've been praying and praying and praying about it and somehow "Happy Mother's Day!" is now music to my ears.

I guess the production process begins here. ;)