But not all the time.

Most days I look at my children with wonder in my eyes and love spilling out of my heart at the cute and precious things they say and do — most days.

Time flies by so quickly. I am quickly approaching 32 but still feel as good as I did at 18.

My teenage babysitters remind me on a weekly basis I’m not as young as I used to be, by “ma’am-ing” me and calling me Miss Robin all the time. (And I do realize to some of you folks out there, I’m just “a kid,” and that’s fine by me.)

It seems like only yesterday I was driving my first car, my dad’s old maroon Oldsmobile (The Hot Tamale) from one babysitting job to another.

So much so, that from time to time I’ll look at my kids wondering how I could possibly already have three of my own, and say teasingly, “Where’s your Momma? When is she coming to pick you up? I’ve got a date tonight.”

They’ll squeal back at me, “You’re the Momma!”

Babysitting was such a great job for me as a high-schooler who loved kids. I got to go and play with other people’s babies, get them all riled up, get paid and go home. My favorite thing about babysitting in high school was the ability to say “no,” anytime I felt like it.

That’s the thing about being a parent, especially a stay-at-home mom.

There is no down time, no lunch hour, no relaxing staff meetings to talk about corporate downsizing or luxurious 30- minute commutes during which you can daydream and sip your mocha-choca-latte.

Motherhood is all day, everyday,  for all of your days…or so they tell me.

Most days I enjoy motherhood but not today. I had a sleepless night last night, and after a week of pool trips and entertaining the kids, sleep would be a good thing.

I couldn’t say “Call somebody else, I’m busy,” when my 4-year-old climbed into the bed with me about five minutes after I fell asleep this morning demanding orange juice and waffles.

“Go tell your mother,” I mumbled from underneath my duvet cover.

“You are my mother, Silly Goose,” she giggled.

“Oh, right…I’ll get right on that then,” I said as I stumbled out of bed for another day on the job.

(Robin O’Bryant is a Mount Pleasant resident and mother of three. Read her blog at online www.robinschicks.com or send her an e-mail, zebandrobin@hotmail.com)