Do the following before having kids.

I recently had a conversation with a lady who doesn't have children yet, but is looking foward to having them.  I had never really taken time to think about how children have impacted my daily routine.  I love my life now and wouldn't change it for the world.  After this conversation I began to think about all the things I took for granted when my only responsibility was myself.  I have laughed all day when thinking about some of this stuff!  I will do almost anything to help others laugh so here we go!  This is "Becky's list of things to enjoy before children"

1.  Going to the store with nothing but your purse.  Prepping to go to the store takes almost as long as the shopping expirience.  First I have to plan when will be the best time to make the trip.  I am NOT a morning person.  I tried going grocery shopping when all the kids are at school, but due to the times the kids get out of school this method leaves me with very little time UNLESS I start really early, and I do not start anything really early.  Ever.  I also do not want everyone going to the grocery store with me.  My brain feels like exploding when figuring out deals and what brands to buy.  The thought of wrestling multiple children, a teenager, and a husband makes me wanna crawl under the covers and suck my thumb.   Once I figure out when will be the best time to shop I then have to begin preperations.  I try and get all my groceries in one big swoop.  Now begins the coupon clipping, planning out our meals, and then making the list.  Because there are so many of us it is always wise to do a double check on the essentials.  We've ran out of toilet paper before and I vowed it would never happen again!  When walking into the store I usually have my purse, my coupon binder, the sale paper, and a child (almost always Ethan).
So for childrenless couples or single ladies:  Enjoy going shopping whenever you want to, for whatever reason you want to!  Walk around, look at stuff, pick things up, smell them, whistle, hum a little diddy, you can even skip if you want!  Once you have kids you'll be crying and gnashing your teeth all while looking for bulk foods and bargain shopping.  You have been warned. 

2.  Enjoy time spent behind your bathroom door!  Take nice long bubble baths, light candles, play soft music, and relax!  When doing your business enjoy your quiet time!  Read a magazine or something.  After you have kids they will ALWAYS need something the moment your butt hits the seat, or your body hits the nice hot bath water.  ALWAYS.  During my last bath there were 20 little boy fingers sticking out from under the door.  They were telling me all kinds of stuff, I was holding my breath for long periods of time under the water.  But before I could even get in the bathtub it took me 20 minutes to get all the toys out of it!  Ethan is going through a clingy stage so while fixing my hair the other day he was climbing up my body in an attempt for me to hold him.  During this episode he also informed me I had to many bumps on my face and needed to put on that tan stuff (aka foundation).  I love my babies...really. 

3.  Stay up late and sleep late!  There will soon come a time when staying out past 8:00pm sends your children into spastic maniac fits.  One day you will plan out all activities based on what time you will be getting back home, so that your kids can get in at least 87 hours of sleep that night.  If they do not get at least 87 hrs of sleep then hell will descend upon your life.  I learned the hard way that keeping them up later doesn't always equal late sleepers.  It ALWAYS equals very little sleep for the parents.  I will say that there is no greater joy then waking up on saturday morning to find little fingers prying open your eyeballs, and little feet jumping on your internal organs in hopes that you will wake up. 

I don't want this to be taken the wrong way.  I WANT my life this way.  I love taking Ethan to the store with me and finding deals and planning out all the yummy food I can fix my family.  I don't care that it takes an act of congress to have a sucessful shopping trip.  I choose this life.  I love this life. 

If I didn't have 100 interuptions while behind the door of the bathroom I'd probobally get bored and have to think or something dreadful like that!  I love those little fingers that creep under the door, and all the stories that they HAVE to tell me at that moment.  I choose this life.  I love this life. 

I love the late nights spent rocking away a bad dream, I love knowing that I am putting my children first when making sure that they will get the sleep they need to be in good spirits the next day.  I love the early mornings spent making pancake breakfasts and listening about all the wonderful, messy things that make up a childs life.  I choose this life.  I love this life. 

I took many things for granted when my only responsibilty was myself.  But I would rather have taken that time for granted then all the blessings and inconvieniences that come with being a Momma.  I choose this life.  I love this life.