Things you wish you knew before you were a mom

Neal and I are not quite to the stage of having children yet, but it is definitely in the near-ish future.  Because I know this, and to keep myself busy, I am trying to find talents to develop that will help me when we do become parents.  So, my question to you, is what do you wish you knew before you were a mom?  What do you wish you would have done differently before you had kids?  What do you wish you had learned how to do before your little one(s) were born?

Thanks :)

Beauty and peace

I'm not one to normally post stuff like this, but I just watched this video and think it is beautiful.  It brought such peace to my heart.

Baby's first bath:
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/04/skip-your-morning-meditation-watch-this-instead/

Today

Today.  Sunday, July 29th.  I am whirling between happy and sad, from one moment to the next. Today was my last Sunday as the CTR 6 teacher.  I looked at all those little faces that I've gotten to know for the last 6 months.  I saw how happy they are, and I can see the changes that have happened since I became their teacher.  I feel and remember the things they have taught me about love and having an eagerness to learn.  Today was our last official day in our current ward, and we got to speak.  Today I found out that my best friend from high school had her little boy, and that everything went well and everyone is healthy.  Today I look around my house and see my house in disarray...half packed, but not really packed.  In a week we will be in our new home, and I will be preparing to start my new job in less than 24 hours.  We are doing and have so much to do this week that I really would rather sit and do nothing.  But unfortunately, we have to do all of these things.  We have to pack, and we are going to leave.  We will all press on...I think.

Want to see a mood swing put into writing?

I promised Neal I wouldn't post anything negative on here tonight, since honestly, I'm in a rather negative mood.

I'm learning that I have a very hard time not becoming offended when someone attacks someone or something I care very much about...and I'm learning there are a lot of those someones or somethings.  I easily become offended and then get defensive and then say hurtful or careless things.  Okay.  I'll work on that.

But seriously, why is everyone so quick to assume they know the whole story?  That their ideas are right, no matter what?  That they know everything there is to know about something, and so there can't be a different side?  Or they're even unwilling to listen to a different side?  Or they're told something about that something that they take to be truth, even though its a completely biased opinion from someone who's had a bad experience, or quite frankly, their "truth" has no validity at all?

I feel like tonight a lot of things that I care about have come up in this manner.  So what did I do?  I got defensive and it put me in a negative mood.

Changing subject.

Neal and I have been very blessed lately.  We've made new friends.  I got the job I wanted.  We were able to be approved for and sign a lease on the condo we wanted, in the ward we wanted, in the stake we wanted.  We've been very blessed financially in this month that I'm not working that we were rather worried about.  We have each other, and that's something I'm very grateful for.  I'm grateful that he listens to me rant, cry, freak out, worry, and be calm.  I'm also grateful for my testimony, and for the faith I have in the Atonement for EVERYBODY...not just people of my religion.  People can change if they are willing to change.  That I have learned so far in my relatively short life here on Earth, and I have seen it.  I am also grateful that I believe in a truly just, understanding, merciful God.  One who in omniscient and therefore sees things I do not see and knows things I do not know.  I am grateful that I truly believe that He judges in a just way, and that everyone, at some point, will answer for things they truly did wrong.  Whether I believe they did wrong or not.  I'm grateful that is NOT my job, and it frustrates me when people think it is their job (if that seems hypocritical and opposite, I was just wondering the same thing as I typed that...)

Look at that.  I'm in a better mood now.  That's right.  You just witnessed a mood swing happen, live, as I was typing.

Good night.

PS.  I didn't write the title until I read the post and thought to myself, "Wow...I hope no one thinks I'm bipolar or something." (Which, was not meant jokingly....bipolarism is a serious thing...seriously.)