I have been humbled many times in my 30 years, but never so much as I have been in the past 20 months. Raising a child has put me in my place.

People told me that becoming a parent would radically change my life. That meant nothing to me, because I didn’t understand what that meant. Now, I think I’m getting an inkling. Mothering the Toddler is truly the most awesome task I’ve ever been charged with. Every day is a new strange mixture of excitement, fun, laughter, and maddening frustration.

I am humbled by motherhood because it brings out the very best and very worst in me. In every other avenue of my life I can hide behind circumstances, or personality differences with other adults to explain away my bad behavior or lack of patience. But with my child, there is really no excuse for my shortcomings except to admit that I am only human.