I expected motherhood to cause some profound changes in me.

For some reason, I thought the simple act of giving birth would transform me somehow into a woman that was deeper, wiser, and more complex than the girl who walked in to the hospital. I expected to radiate some magical "mother" vibe to all who saw me.

Surprise! I am still the same person as before, with the same likes and dislikes, the same stupid insecurities and goofy quirks. The only real change has been my capacity to love; it has literally grown to proportions I can't try to describe.

For the most part, I walk around feeling the same as I ever did, but there are unexpected moments when the fact that I'm a mommy hits me like a ton of bricks. I've had several of those this weekend, so I thought I would share a few and hope you'll add your own...

You know you're a Mommy when...

...your young co-worker is excitedly telling you about her plans to camp out for an iPhone, and your only reaction is, "Do you have sunscreen?"

...your potty-training daughter has a MAJOR accident, and you don't even blink while cleaning a seeming avalanche of poop off the floor, her legs, your shins, and the bathroom counter (how did it get THERE?)

...instead of singing Gwen Stefani songs in the shower, you find yourself humming a tune by the Backyardigans.

How about you ladies? When are you unexpectedly reminded of the fact that you're a mom?

Over the last few weeks DS has decided that he wants to go outside for a walk first thing in the morning. We aren't talking 9 A.M. here; it’s more like 6 A.M. At that hour, I haven't even made the coffee yet. He toddles over to our door and grabs one shoe and then brings it to me. So I say to him, "Oh, I see you want to go outside." He responds excitedly, "Outside, outside!" and then launches into a string of his cute toddler babble. Most mornings I am not really up for seeing my neighbors out walking their dogs this early while I am still dressed in my PJs. But, DS LOVES these morning walks, so I give in.

A national survey by the Pew Research Center discovered that mothers are viewed as doing a worse job than moms of 20 or 30 years ago, although the survey also showed that most believe the job is harder.  Fathers, of course, were viewed a bit less harshly:

A national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Feb.16-March 14 among 2,020 Americans,widespread belief that today's parents are not measuring up to the standard that parents set a generation ago. Mothers are seen as having the more difficult job, but they are also judged more harshly than are fathers. More than half of Americans (56%) say that mothers are doing a worse job today than mothers did 20 or 30 years ago. By comparison, somewhat fewer people (47%) say fathers are doing a worse job than fathers did 20 or 30 years ago.

Who are most critical of the job mothers are doing today?  This result does not surprise me at all: white evangelicals and middle-aged women:

White evangelical Protestants are among the most critical of the job today's mothers are doing. More than two-thirds of white evangelicals (68%) say moms are doing a worse job today when compared with mothers 20-30 years ago. This compares with 54% of white non-evangelical Protestants, 50% of white Catholics, and 47% of seculars.

As was the case 10 years ago, middle-aged women are more critical of today's moms than are younger women. Fully 66% of women ages 50-64 say today's mothers are doing a worse job. This compares with just 41% of women younger than 30, 56% of women ages 30-49, and 48% of women ages 65 and older.

What are the biggest challenges of parenting in the U.S. today, according to the survey?

The biggest challenge in raising children today, according to parents and non-parents alike, is dealing with the outside influences of society. Nearly four-in-ten Americans (38%) list societal factors when asked in an open-ended format to name the biggest challenge for parents today. Among the top specific concerns mentioned are drugs and alcohol, peer pressure, and the impact of television and other media.

Interesting correlation between going to church and seeing society as a problem:

Among parents of children ages 18 and younger, 42% who attend religious services at least once a week cite societal factors as the biggest challenge in raising kids today. This compares with 29% of those who seldom or never attend church. In addition to general concerns about society, parents who attend services at least weekly are much more likely to mention television and other media as the biggest parenting challenges than do parents who seldom or never attend (10% vs. 3%).

What do you think of this survey MotherTalkers?  Do you think moms are doing a worse job than moms of 20 or 30 years ago?

Early this month, April Branum, a 420-pound Orange County California woman, went to the ER complaining of stomach pains and discovered that she was pregnant with a full-term, 7 lb 7oz boy.  This discovery was followed by a successful delivery:

"Usually you can tell if you're pregnant, but with me, I couldn't tell," the 39-year-old Garden Grove resident said Thursday, pointing to her belly and explaining that, at about 420 pounds, she was so large that no one – including herself – could tell she had carried a baby to term.

The Orange County Register, who reported the story, had recently installed anonymous message boards on it's online site.  Following the posting of April's story, these boards were the host to over 200 comments, many of which were cruel and nasty including comments about her sex life and her eating and exercise habits.  And take a guess; where did this 'dialogue' end up? With oh-so-wise anonymous commenters moralizing and suggesting that Branum was going to be a "bad mom" because she was obese:

They analyzed her housekeeping ability, based on a photo of her home. And they called her names. "A pig is a pig," one person wrote. Another suggested that she "go on the show 'The Biggest Loser.'"

"The thing that bothered me most was, people assumed because I am overweight, I'm going to be a bad mom," Branum says. "And that is not one little bit true."