Yeah... What she said.

I normally hate it when people get all "quotey" (yes, even though blogger doesn't recognize it, quotey is a real word).  But I came across this one and I couldn't help but share it.

"First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty. When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half... Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called 'Hell Drop,''Tower of Torture,' or 'The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,' and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age... Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short...  O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers... And when she one day turns on me and calls me a B in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Sh%^&t. I will not have it. And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. 'My mother did this for me once,' she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. 'My mother did this for me.' And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes. Amen." - from BossyPants, by Tina Fey

There are a lot of things I didn't know before I became a mother.  For instance, I didn't know how critical the situation really is when a toddler whispers that she has to go to the bathroom and there isn't one in sight.  I didn't know how many juice boxes you can go through in one day.  I didn't know how many stuffed animals can be acquired in a few years.  I didn't know that my heart would ache to hear my baby cry in her bed - even though she is 2 and a half and should be able to sleep on her own.  I didn't realize that when you become a mother, you give up all privacy in the bathroom.  I didn't realize how fast they really grow.  I didn't realize how my heart would race as I watch Lily ride her bike so fast (hoping she really will stop at the end of the street).  I didn't know I would be a sucker when they ask me really nicely just before bed if they can have an ice cream cone... (but they smelled so good and looked so sweet!).  I didn't expect the tears to come so steadily the day I dropped Lily off for her first day of school.  I really didn't expect to worry so much - about so much!  I didn't expect to be so proud!  I didn't expect to love them so strongly and so easily.  I really didn't.

And, one day, they will know exactly how I feel.  They will love and worry just as I do.  Just the way my mother did before me.