Have you ever signed up for a conference, went to see a movie, or ordered something new off a menu and it just wasn't what you expected, wanted or even what pictured, and overall it was just not what you thought you signed up for?

Motherhood is like that.

Do remember long before you had children and you pictured what your love nuggets (not the ones on the menu) would look like one day, how they and you would act, and just how perfect everyday life would be?

Yeah, no.

YOU. WERE. WRONG.

But how could you have known? You couldn't, so don't beat yourself up about it.

Still, what I do want you to do is realize about motherhood -- and really about anything else that occasionally depletes and challenges you, but also invigorates and fulfills the hell out of you -- is THIS: that there is something so utterly beautiful about innocently predicting the ease of an experience, venture, or job, facing a ton of stress and challenges while taking it on and then being subtly transformed by the bewilderment of it all.

I didn't realize becoming a mommy meant

so much laundry

so little sleep

so much crying (everyones)

so little appreciation and recognition

so much cooking and cleaning

so little time for a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g

so much to teach the kids

so little I know about so many things

so much love

so little time to myself

so much laundry

Wait...did I mention that already?

So, mama, if you're like me, sitting in front of a tower of wrinkled laundry that is on its third day in the dryer, so you finally decided to pull it out and dress your kitchen nook table in it, but then not fold it because you know, its Netflix time, then just remember this:

On any given day you may be faced with a person, thing, situation, or even feelings that you weren't anticipating, and you've got to roll with it and accept it.

You don't have to like it (laundry).

And, you don't have to do it (laundry).

BUT, you do have to accept that it is a part of your present reality and find the inherent (I promise you it's there) value in its presence.

What's the value of this massive pile of clothes you see here?

They serve as a reminder of how truly blessed I am to have four other humans to share my life, home, and kitchen table with when it's not covered in clothes.

And, if I don't get to folding these clothes soon, there will be a bunch of naked biscuits -- not the ones for eating -- sitting around the table for family breakfast.

Motherhood may not be exactly like I thought it would be, but in so many non-laundry ways, it's infinitely better.