In these motherhood series I endeavor to share perspectives from mothers of various ages, at various stages in their lives, and parenting. Luba is a loving mother of two energetic kids. She is spirited, passionate, and caring. Luba has been kissed by wanderlust and is instilling a sense of adventure into her little girl and boy.
Tell us about yourself
I am a former teacher, turned stay-at-home mom of two children. Raising my children has been my full-time job for nearly nine years. Each day is filled with trials and challenges, but also coupled with joys. I consider raising my children the most difficult, yet the most important, job I will ever have.
Tell us about your mom, your childhood
My own mother raised my sister and me with traditional values. She believed in the importance of raising hard working, well-mannered, respectful children. My mother and father immigrated to America in their early 30-ies with a three year old and two month old in tow. Looking back, now that I am also a mother of two, on what this stage of life must have been like for her, I am in awe thinking about how difficult it must have been. Both my parents worked hard to continue their education, grow in the corporate world, and most importantly, raise my sister and me. My mother balanced all of this while instilling strong, respectable values in my sister and me. These very core principles form the core of who I am as a person, and undergird the values my husband and I work to instill in our own children .
What are Ethan and Rachel like?
In a word, wonderful! In another word, impossible!
What were they like as infants?
I’ve blocked many of those memories, at least for now …. But in all seriousness, Ethan was a difficult infant who ate under protest and slept against his will. When he did sleep and eat, he was a precocious bundle of joy who kept us laughing and made us marvel at his abilities. Rachel, on the other hand, was a trouble-free infant — she slept well, ate well, and always had a smile on her face. Her fun-loving personality appeared quickly showing a happy mix of adventure and “give me what I want or else.”
What is one thing that your kids have said, something that surprised, amused, or impressed you that sticks out in your mind?
This is an impossibly difficult question to answer because both of my kids have impressed and surprised me every day of their lives. For example, Ethan has a memory like no one I’ve ever met, and even as a very small child would remember small details others forsake. Rachel is amazingly street-smart with a personality that lights up a room.
What has given you the most joy as a mother?
Watching the discovery of the world through my children’s eyes is by far the biggest joy I continue to experience as a mother.
Is motherhood different that you imagined it? If yes, describe how so.
Motherhood is different because it is much more difficult than I imagined. I’m embarrassed to admit now that I used to believe that rambunctious children were a direct result of poor parenting and well behaved children were a result of good parenting. After having my own, I understood that children are just born with their personalities and there’s only so much shaping that we can do. That said, what we sometimes see as challenging traits will serve them quite well later in life, only to be labeled as a positive quality.
Any advice or comments for women who are soon to become new moms?
If you haven’t already done so, discover wine…to help you endure the whining!
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