groundhog day

i once heard someone say, "motherhood is kind of like groundhog day." nothing else. no explanation. just a flat statement. and she had a tone about her that was to say her statement wasn't a compliment to motherhood or february 2nd.

of course, maybe at the time i wasn't listening for an explanation. why is it like groundhog day? what about motherhood could possibly do with a groundhog popping his head out of a hole and looking for his shadow?

it wasn't until later that i realized they were talking about the movie, not the actual day, but let's not talk about that. it wasn't until i became a mother that i realized this person was basically stating that motherhood was boring. the same. monotonous...day in...day out.

and now that i'm a mother, i have to agree. but not in that uncomplimentary, wishing-everyone-knew-my-life-was-oh-so-boring tone. quite the contrary.

yes, i often find myself doing the same things over and over and over again. i've changed a kazillion dirty diapers. i've wiped the bean's face a bazillion times. i've yawned more in the last three years than i did during the previous 25 combined. i've spotted a trazillion white onesies never to be fully recovered. i've watched countless episodes of the backyardigans. i've done numberless loads of dishes and wiped food from every corner of our kitchen a kajillion times. i've been spit up on, pooped on, peed on, slobbered on and more.

i've also received a kazillion hugs and kisses. i've snuggled the bean a bazillion times. i've wiped the yawn off my face to go and watch her sleep. i've folded a trazillion adorable, tiny outfits with a smile on my face. i've laughed at countless episodes of the backyardigans. i've gone down numberless park slides as i hear a shrill giggle beside me. i've formed numberless fauxhawks with the help of water and shampoo on the cutest little body i've ever seen. for a time, i heard the cutest little voice say the funniest things i'd ever heard in my 28 years.

but the greatest part about the movie isn't the fact that phil gets to live his day over and over again. it's the fact that he gets to learn from the previous day and figure out how to live that day better. more full of life. more full of love. more full of adventure.

i know motherhood has helped me do just that.

some days are better than others, just like the movie. some days i throw in the towel. i push snooze and just want to give up. others make each day worth living. i try new things and make sure that little girl knows just how much i love her. and hopefully, as i continue to be blessed with more days, the better days will continue to outweigh the throw-in-the-towel days.

i wonder if that other mother ever finished the movie.

motherhood is kind of like groundhog day. and i kind of like it.