20 Unexpected Things You Learn About Yourself After You Become a Mother

Flickr user Ed Yourdon

Nobody ever said that motherhood's a breeze, but while so much of the focus is on what we teach our children, we often forget how much we learn about ourselves. For each of our kids' first experiences, we discover traits and strengths we never knew we had ourselves. Don't believe us? Check out 20 things we've realized since becoming mothers.

01
No matter how strong you are, you'll still cry like a baby when your child gets shots.
ABC

No matter how strong you are, you'll still cry like a baby when your child gets shots.

02
How little sleep you really need to function the next day.
Disney

How little sleep you really need to function the next day.

03
How much caffeine you can actually consume without taking off like a rocket ship.

How much caffeine you can actually consume without taking off like a rocket ship.

Source: Giphy

04
How proud you can be of someone else's accomplishments.
NBC

How proud you can be of someone else's accomplishments.

05
How much joy you can actually experience when your child achieves another first.
NBC

How much joy you can actually experience when your child achieves another first.

06
How long you can really go without a shower!
ABC

How long you can really go without a shower!

07
How, regardless of how much you hate puke, you can clean up your kids', no problem.

How, regardless of how much you hate puke, you can clean up your kids', no problem.

08
How little tolerance you actually have for other moms.

How little tolerance you actually have for other moms.

Source: Lifetime

09
That you had an inner photographer bubbling up in you all along.
Disney

That you had an inner photographer bubbling up in you all along.

10
How miraculous your body really is.
Searchlight Pictures

How miraculous your body really is.

11
How long you can really go wearing the same yoga pants.
NBC

How long you can really go wearing the same yoga pants.

12
How strong you are when it comes to standing up for your child.

How strong you are when it comes to standing up for your child.

Source: WiffleGIF

13
How willing you are to sacrifice your own goals for your children's.
The Weinstein Company

How willing you are to sacrifice your own goals for your children's.

15
How much like your own mother you are becoming.
Fox

How much like your own mother you are becoming.

16
How few material things you really need to be happy.
HBO

How few material things you really need to be happy.

17
How powerful a hug can be.
Disney

How powerful a hug can be.

18
How competitive you really can be.

How competitive you really can be.

19
How much you can get done in an hour by yourself.
Paramount Pictures

How much you can get done in an hour by yourself.

20
How much love your heart can hold.

How much love your heart can hold.

Source: WiffleGIF