You Know You're a Parent If...

I have been thinking a lot lately about how different I am now that I am a mother. How we define ourselves informs so much of what we do, how we say things, who we talk to, what is important--but changes in those definitions don't happen overnight. So here are a few ways to know if you're a parent:

a) in the last week, the following thought has crossed your mind: "If I could have one thing in the whole world, it would be an extra-large capacity washer/dryer."
b) you are painfully familiar with the characters in Dora the Explorer--and Diego is just not cool, even though he has an electronic field journal.
c) the smell of play-doh makes you smile--until you have to pick it out of the carpet.
d) you have said one of the following statements to your children: "If you eat all your broccoli, you can have a cookie. But I must see a clean plate." "Keep your hands to yourself." "I do not want to hear you talk to your mother that way." "Buckle up, kids! We're goin' to Kids Night at Applebees!"
e) some part of your car or home (or both) has pen/marker/crayon marks that just will not go away, even with a Magic Eraser.
f) there are components for a scrapbook in your home, but you have no idea when you will compile them.
g) at least once a week (and probably more often), you awaken with tiny feet wedged into the small of your back--and you honestly don't mind.
h) your heart melts with every kiss, hug and "i love you" that you hear from sweet young voices and you want to grab them up and protect them from the yucky things in the world and simply shower them with perfection 24-7.