Thanks to Poise and Linqia for partnering with me to make this post possible. All thoughts an opinions are my own, as always. 

I talk a lot on the blog about the fact that having kids is really REALLY hard work. That’s because I feel like sometimes this brutal truth gets swept under the rug quickly in favor of sentiments like, “But I’d never trade it for the world!” or “My children are my greatest joy!”

I identify with those feelings, too. It’s a mixed bag, this parenting business, full of some of the most intense lows and the most intense highs you have ever known, and often in the same hour, let alone the same day. Since I’m a fan of showing both sides of the coin, I thought we should tackle the subject of laughter.

photo credit: Auntie K via photopin cc

The Messy Truth

Let’s just go ahead and tackle the bad news right off the bat: if you have given birth to a child, then laughter is about to change in a physical way. Your laugh will pretty much sound the same (though perhaps the pitch might hint at sleep deprivation). But here’s the thing people don’t warn you about: a really good belly laugh might result in a change of wardrobe. That’s right, sisters, YOU MIGHT PEE YOURSELF. Thanks, Mother Nature, for that fun little post-delivery bonus!

This part of of laughing after you have kids is not fun, and it can also cause you to not enjoy life as much, out of fear that you might have a little “situation” when you weren’t prepared. For me, the solution is not to be found in curbing my laughing (because what fun is that?) but in making good use of a brand new Poise product designed for light bladder leakage (totally not a fun term…so let’s rebrand it as “mom laughs”).

Check out Poise Microliners the next time you are out running errands. You can find them at many retailers (such as Walmart). They are super thin, super discreet, and take care of you when something is absolutely hilarious and you just want to laugh, dang it!

The Beautiful Truth

The beautiful truth about laughter after becoming a mom is that the entire universe slows down and condenses itself inside of your little bubble in those moments that bring a smile to your face. It’s a completely overwhelming feeling to be totally lost in the joy of loving another little person, and that feeling happens at an alarmingly regular interval, as well. The highs are higher than you ever dreamed, friends, and that’s why the laughter is so often accompanied by tears. Your body is just feeling ALL THE FEELINGS and those are the moments when you feel like, “This. This is my greatest day on earth!”

The truth is that those moments are fleeting, just as a good belly laugh is fleeting. But they come at you out of nowhere and just blow you away with the intense amount of love and happiness that hits you all at once. It is like being submerged in joy, or as Queen Bey  would put it, being Drunk in Love.

Laughter as a mom is worth the inconvenience that accompanies it ten times over. But let’s not be afraid to talk about the messy business of laughter, too, ‘k?

Win it!: We all need a “win” every now an then, and today is your lucky day! Every last one of you is about to be a winner! Poise wants to send you a free sample of their great new microliners. All you have to do is click on over and give them your mailing address. I think you will really like the product (I do!), and if you don’t, hey, it was free! 🙂