Well, as if I wasn’t aware that I am a mom.  I’ve been doing things lately that scream YOU ARE SUCH A MOM!!

Of course, I exhibit the usual mom behavior.  Like licking your finger and then “cleaning” your child’s face that is covered in crumbs.  (Yes.  I do that.)

Or smoothing down wild hair (or stick-a-roosters, as we call them) before going into church.

Screaming Politely asking your children to stop fighting and to keep their hands to themselves.  (Keeping your hands to yourself is hard to do, especially when in the car.  I’m guessing it’s because it is a confined space.)

And then, there’s the non-stop worrying.  Are they being a good friend?  Are they using their manners when at a friend’s house?  Are they looking both ways when crossing the street?

How about when you are leaving somewhere and you have a long car ride home (as in an hour or more)?  I always say, “Go ahead and use the bathroom before we go.”  If someone says, “I don’t think I have to go” then I reply with “Everybody try.”  Yes.  I even said this the other day when we were leaving Adventureland to my mom’s friend, Connie.  Of course, I was joking.  Confession:  I say it to my friends when we go on our annual Chicago shopping trip, as well.  (In all fairness, I just care about my peeps and I don’t want anyone to have an accident (the bathroom kind) on the way home.)

Yes.  That mom blood runs deep.  Makes a person even want to mother grown-ups.  I can’t explain it.

Speaking of Adventureland.  You know you’re a mom when you ride those water rides.  The rides where you get soaked.  Yes.  I am not usually a fan of these.  Because WET JEANS AND WET UNDERWEAR PEOPLE.  But I rode them.  And it was fun!  And Nate and Maxim were beaming that their mom went on the ride with them.

Getting ready to brave the Raging River

You know another thing that exhibits mom behavior?  When someone asks you if you just saw the best movie that just hit the theaters to which you say, “Ummm…no.”  Because the only things you are watching are Wild Kratts, Curious George, Disney movies, Pixar movies, deer hunting shows where the hunter is whispering about his next move, or shark shows that teach you about EVERY. KIND. OF. SHARK.

I do ALL of those.  But I continue to add to the long list of “things a mom does”.

For instance, yesterday.  We were leaving the pool and Nate went through the men’s bathroom while Maxim and I went through the women’s bathroom to exit the pool.  Usually, when leaving the pool, Max has to go to the bathroom and so do I.  Because we do not pee in the pool.  I’m not saying anything about Nate.  (That’s one of those don’t ask because you may not want to know the answer kind of questions.)

We walked out and of course, we are standing right in front of the lifeguards who check people in.

“Nate, Max is going to use the bathroom, so we’ll be right back out.”

To which Max looked at me with a weird look and replied, “No I don’t.  I don’t have to go.”

“Ooookay.  Well, I have to go,” I said.

Then, I turned to the three life guards standing there watching the whole thing and said, “Nothing like announcing to you all that I have to use the bathroom, huh?”

Oh. My.  Like a bunch of sixteen and seventeen year olds wanted to know my bladder schedule.

How about when we moms go shopping?  It’s always on my mind to be on the look-out for what the boys might like.  Take Sunday for instance.  My parents had asked if they could have the boys for a few nights so, Hubby and I spent Saturday and Sunday partying like twenty-one year olds.  If that means being home from our date by 8:45 on a Saturday night.  And then one watches the 1987 Sylvester Stallone flick Over The Top while the other is reading a book…yes.  We were partying like twenty-one year olds, for sure.

Anyway, Sunday afternoon, we went to the mall.  Why?  Because I told Hubby I’d like to look at Scheel’s for some black tennis shoes for Maxim.  (He has really been wanting a pair, since big brother got a new pair for school.  Even though they both got a really cool blue pair, as well.)  See.  You know you’re a mom when you go shopping and no longer spend hours trying on clothes at the Gap or Von Maur, but choose to be on the hunt for the perfect pair of tennis shoes for your five year old.

Yes.  You know you’re a mom when you behave in this manner.  But.  I wouldn’t change it for the world.  Being a mom is such a gift.

What’s something you do that screams YOU ARE SUCH A MOM?!  Please share.  I can’t be the only crazy one out there!