Two weeks ago, I had the awesome opportunity to babysit five beautiful children that I've known for about two years now. These kids are some of the sweetest kids you will ever meet, and their parents are some of the best people you will ever have the privilege of knowing. During these four days, I stepped in as "mom." Having five kids ranging from the ages of seven months old to fifteen years old is no walk in the park, and I learned first hand that stay at home moms make it look so much easier than it is. In those four days, I know they taught me more than I taught them.

1. Sleep is for the weak.

If I was lucky, I'd get about five hours of sleep a night, off and on. From around 4:30 a.m. to around 8 p.m., I was feeding a baby, catching a toddler as he tried to jump from the floor onto my lap, and running kids to school and picking them up. Moms, I now understand what you mean when you tell me that I will never sleep the same again after having kids. Every little noise woke me up and I went to check on all my kiddos every time. It's been a week, and my sleep schedule still has not adjusted back to a full 8 hours every night. But I wouldn't have any other way.

2. Toddlers can and will destroy everything.

From banana holders to my feet with legos, if it has the capability to break, then a toddler will break it. I spent most of my time saying "Don't touch that" or "Wait for me to come help you." After I said each of these things, I usually heard a loud bang and a small voice saying, "Uh-oh. I sorry." While my toddler destroyed everything, seeing his innocent little face covered in regret and sadness made it impossible to be evenly remotely upset. Things can be replaced, words can't be taken back. What you say will stay with them for a long time.

3. Hugs and band-aids fix everything.

Dealing with five kids running around and playing meant lots of cuts and stubbed toes. Every time I heard a small cry out in pain, I knew immediately that I had between 15-30 seconds before I had a child in front of me, showing me the boo-boo. I knew then that all I had to do to make it all better was put a small band-aid on it and give them a big hug and tell them it'll be okay.

As exhausting as it is to be a "mom," I would go back and do it everyday all over again. There's just something about going to bed at night, totally exhausted, knowing that you did the best job you could taking care of five other human beings. Babysitting isn't anything like motherhood, but at least you get a taste of what it's really like. I love my kids, and they make me so excited to have my own kids one day. So here's to the moms that do what I did for four days every day. You make it look so easy. Keep up the awesome work!