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Hey Kids: Once Upon a Time, We Were Kids Too (Seriously)
by Clara Thompson
Aug. 22, 2023
Most women I know cherish their role as mothers. Motherhood has deepened our ability to love and reshaped us in profound ways. It’s a demanding job that often consumes us, requiring us to be the best versions of ourselves while simultaneously draining our energy reserves. As we navigate the ups and downs of parenting, we acknowledge that our children are also on their own journeys.
It’s tough for kids to grasp that we once stood in their shoes, not too long ago. They often exclaim, “You wouldn’t understand,” or “You can’t possibly know what I’m dealing with!” To them, we are just “Mom”—the same way we viewed our own mothers so many years ago.
We are the ones who soothe you to sleep and check for monsters lurking under your bed. We remember your peculiar preferences—like how you insist on crunchy peanut butter with crustless bread. We’re the ones in sensible shoes, always armed with Goldfish crackers in our bags.
Yet, we are so much more than just mothers.
Some of us were spirited adventurers, playing kickball with neighborhood friends and scaling tall trees in our backyards. We captured fireflies in jars until our mothers called us in for dinner. Others of us were the ringleaders of mischief, orchestrating all sorts of playful escapades.
We had dreams of becoming veterinarians, police officers, or Olympic gymnasts, and we drifted off to sleep in our Wonder Woman pajamas, envisioning a life full of adventure. We yearned to be somebody special, and we felt a sense of freedom.
We had a passion for music, playing cassette tapes repeatedly, memorizing every lyric of “Piano Man” just to impress our friends. We spent countless hours in our rooms, lost in the melodies of Led Zeppelin and Stevie Nicks, weaving our stories into their nostalgic lyrics.
We experienced our first kisses behind school bleachers and changed into our friends’ clothes at school—outfits our mothers would surely have disapproved of. We told our parents we were going to the movies, only to sneak behind theaters to witness upperclassmen sipping mysterious drinks from brown paper bags. We were fearless, unencumbered by responsibilities. We were fun.
Summer days were spent swimming laps at the community pool, sipping cherry cream soda, and munching on cheese sandwiches under beach towels while our dads played racquetball. Nights found us at the skating rink, arms linked together with our favorite airbrushed comb sticking out of our back pockets. We were unstoppable.
Some of us were followers, striving to fit in, especially after moving to new schools in different states. We were flexible, trying to find our footing in unfamiliar surroundings.
We fell in love more than once, happily giving our hearts away, only to learn the importance of recognizing their value. We were once the center of someone else’s world.
We were determined, too. Many of us finished college while juggling jobs and living off ramen noodles. We traveled with friends and spent summer nights on back porches, sharing stories and making plans. We had the world at our fingertips.
Motherhood has undeniably transformed us for the better. But remember, we were all of these things before you entered our lives. We’ve felt the same hopes and fears you do. While we may not understand everything, know that we’re more than just your mother—we were once just like you.
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In summary, we are multifaceted individuals who once shared similar dreams, fears, and adventures as you do now.