You know you are a mother when...

- You plan your day at 6 am or if you are prudent, the night before. You never, I repeat, never get into your car and go where the road takes you. You never just 'wing-it' anymore. Your sojourns in the outside world are limited to three-hour windows. Or as is known in the parenting world - the time between feeds.

- The well dressed women at grocery stores are almost always stay-at-home-moms (SAHM). They dress up, because they know, going to get that gallon of milk is the only evening out they will have for that whole week. Unless of course there is a paediatrician appointment the same week.

- Random women on the streets smile and nod when you walk with a stroller. Misery loves company.

- As a single/newly-married woman, shopping for hand bags/purses are one of life's greatest pleasures. But as a mother you slowly find yourself dumping your wallet into one of the diaper bag's many pockets. That way you just have to carry one bag.

- You discover that almost every store has a 'passenger with child' parking spot that is right next to the entrance. So you drive around till you get it.

- You have a mental blueprint of malls and their elevators. You know that is the only way in and out when you have a stroller.

- You have no idea about which day of the week it really is and have to constantly pull up your calendar to find out.

- Your iPhone now has apps for month-by-month development milestones, feeding schedulers and white noise generators.

- You visit your neighbourhood baby store every fortnight just to see if they have something new.

- You can sleep right through a storm but wake up even if your baby starts stirring in his bassinet.

- Your showers and meals don't last more than five minutes each. 

- You feel a deep sense of accomplishment every time he achieves one of those milestones mentioned in those baby books you now have on your coffee table.

Giggles