Unexpected skills since becoming a mother

Helene Smit - 14 Dec 14

I recently read on a blog about a lady who added ‘bookbinder’ as a new skill since becoming a mother. Other mothers added skills like ‘potential war mediator’ and more obvious ones like ‘nurse’ etc. This made me think of what my new skill set is. I have all the usual ones like not being grossed out so easily anymore, my patience not knowing any bounds  and coping( or functioning) with severe lack of sleep, but I have a few unexpected ones to add :

+ I am an accomplished multitasker. I know people like to think that they are multitaskers in general. I know I thought I was when I was working but only now I truly understand the scope of being a real multitasker. Doing the dishes, preparing a snack, keeping a toddler away from home appliances, wiping a nose and all of this whilst on the phone with her father telling me to ‘dot down a few things’ on the calendar…and watering the plants ( unfortunately with dishwater).

+ I’ve developed the stealth of a sniper due to the nature of doing housework with a sleeping baby close by. I’ve minimised the splashing of water whilst bathing and I can creep up to a sleeping child without it ever knowing I was in the room.

+ I am like a ninja in the night! I am sure I have night vision now. This comes after nights of training of changing diapers with only a nightlight or maybe the soft glow of a mobile phone’s screen.

+ I am adept with the art of distraction – a necessary tool when in a pickle. Child upset due to us leaving playgroup? Ooh, what do we see here? There is this object in mummy’s handbag. Something that crackles? Isn’t it amazing? Does it go moo? Here hold it…and off we go.

+ I can clean my whole kitchen in six minutes! That is how long the steriliser took in the microwave to sterilise the bottles. It is amazing what can be accomplished in six minutes. I might be worth mentioning that my kitchen is about 4 square meters, but I think it is still very impressive.

+ I developed a sixth sense. I can now tell when my child is up to no good when I am in a different room from her. I am sure all mothers can relate to that feeling you get when you are busy doing something and you realise that you can hear nothing from the next room…

+ My upper body strength has improved greatly due to carrying (and holding tight) my growing child. Carrying ALL the shopping bags in one go…no problem.

+ I became a food stylist. I can now style a mini wiener sausage and cucumber so that it looks enticing to a 1 year old. It is an art. It has to be carefully arranged as to look like objects that the baby might find on the floor (for that goes into the mouth easily.) That carrot is not for eating, it is just casually lying there in the bowl and you might understand it better by putting it in your mouth.

+ I am ambidextrous. My handwriting with my left hand has improved immensely. I know I am the only one who can decipher it, but the fact of the matter is that I can write with it since I was forced to do it as my right hand (the good one) was busy holding my precious.

+ I now know my toxic plants from the non-toxic ones due to a certain someone’s delicate palette.

+ I am an amazing actor. I can act surprise every time my daughter’s little head appears from around a corner with a ‘heddo’. Even if it is the twentieth time in a row or her whole body is sticking out.

+ My laundry skills are up there with the best. I know things like alcohol removes ink and I actually heard myself say the other day ‘How do you get your whites so white?’ True story…I am a walking talking laundry cliché.

I am sure that more ‘skills’ will develop along with my child’s needs and I suspect that at a certain stage (probably sooner than later) I will have to do a course in zoo keeping, but I am surprised and a little bit proud of the person I became since my daughter’s arrival.

Motherhood is different for all of us… if you’d like to share your thoughts, why not join our Network & start posting?

Helene Smit

Helene Smit moved from sunny South Africa to beautiful Berkshire in 2007. She lives in Reading with her husband, little girl and the occasional stray animal. She used to be an architectural assistant in London, but is now a stay-at-home mother trying to be a working-from-home mother.

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