It will surprise you when your six-year-old busts your lip with the baseball. It will surprise you that it hurts as much as it does. Don’t cry though, the other baseball moms will call you a Sally. It will surprise you even more when the little leaguer then proceeds to give you a catching lesson. That’s the beauty of kids. They surprise you with the lessons.

“Being a Mother is not about what you gave up to have a child, but what you’ve gained from having one.” – Unknown

It will surprise you when your child looks up at you one day with an innocent little face and tells you it looks like you have a baby in your belly. (Despite no such prospects). It will surprise you that it hurts as much as it does. Don’t cry though, the Man of the house will say you’re being too sensitive. It will surprise you even more when on your most haggard looking day your child out of no where will say, “mommy you’re pretty”. That’s the beauty of kids. They surprise you with their honesty.

It will surprise you one day when you say something ugly under your breath and the little ones in the back seat catch it. It will surprise you even more when they understand it and tell you, “we don’t use words like that, mommy”. Don’t cry though, you’re human and it will happen again. That’s the beauty of kids. They surprise you with accountability.

I just hope I’m not a Sally and I can take the lessons and the honesty and use it to be better. I’m sure I will cry along the way, but I can only hope they continue to hold me accountable to the example I need to be.