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A post shared by A N D R E E A M A D L E N (@andreeamadlen) on Dec 5, 2018 at 9:41pm PST

My choices are my choices.

When it came to the idea of having children, I have to admit, I was uncertain…even if I’ve always imagined myself being a young mother. I wasn’t influenced by societal expectations—every one of us has to decide for ourselves, and my decisions don’t have to coincide with yours.

Not every woman, of course, has a duty to conceive.

But I’m happy with my once unconscious decision.

More than that, I’m grateful for everything that has come afterward…

…Motherhood.

 

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A post shared by A N D R E E A M A D L E N (@andreeamadlen) on Dec 12, 2018 at 10:01pm PST

My life as a mother, at 29, is something like these words—interrupted.

Until a few months ago, I was practicing yoga at a normal hour, since my daughter would wake up after 9 a.m.. I would have plenty of time to finish my practice before she woke up.

These days, I have to wake up at 6 a.m. if I want to practice yoga otherwise— my yoga routine transforms into something like a child hangs on momma yoga.

So Motherhood has transformed my life, and I’m just riding the wave.

 

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A post shared by A N D R E E A M A D L E N (@andreeamadlen) on Apr 2, 2019 at 9:53pm PDT

And being a mom is not just about what I gave up to have a child—it’s about what I’ve gained from having one.

I have gained so much.

 

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A post shared by A N D R E E A M A D L E N (@andreeamadlen) on Apr 25, 2019 at 9:17pm PDT

I’ll never expect my kids to do the same things I do.

However…I noticed that my daughter imitates everything I do. She compliments the way I dress, and the pictures I take.

I’ve realized that it’s important to always be aware that what we do as parents will always have a huge influence on our kids.

I’m smiling because she saw me trying to take some pictures with a new dress and she said, “I want to take a picture with you.” She went to her room, changed her clothes, and came back.

She took my hand and said:

“Mommy, one leg up, like me.”

 

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A post shared by A N D R E E A M A D L E N (@andreeamadlen) on May 16, 2019 at 11:07pm PDT

My little daughter is fire and ice, adorable and annoying, stubborn and independent, kissable and distant all at once.

Just like me.

~