I’ve missed a few blog entries, as I was busy being present and fully submerging myself into a weekend of celebration as my first born graduated college. My Mother’s Day was spent traveling back home with my kiddos and I wouldn’t have wanted to spend it any other way. My son treated me to pizza on our way home and my heart completed melted. I’ve learned through the years that EVERY Mother’s Day looks different and that is…well, Motherhood.
I’ve had the pleasure of raising two beautiful children that are just good people. Is being a Mom easy – heck no. It’s a mixture of love…so much love, fear, chaos, excitement, stress, snot, barf, milestones, sleepless nights, confusion, questioning yourself, pride…I could go on and on…you name it, we’ve felt it. But the biggest emotion of all is love. The love for a child that has grown inside your body is unexplainable. The pride you feel when they start walking to graduating college is a heart bursting kind of feeling. Being a Mom is simply the absolute BEST!
As I was scrolling through Facebook and looking at all of the beautiful pictures from everyone’s Mother’s Day. I can’t help but think that this is also a really tough day for some. Being a mom is the most beautiful and rewarding position I have ever held in life . And, having an amazing mother is also such an incredible blessing. Not everyone has those same sentiments and here’s what I have to say to all of you…
To the Mother’s-to-be…what a blessing to be pregnant with the most beautiful gift. Start cherishing even the morning sickness, as you grow that miracle inside of you.
To the Mothers of littles…just smile and enjoy the ride. Sleep when you can, no one will notice the dust on your baseboards. If they ask you to play a silly game, play in the puddles or read them a book, the answer is always yes.
To the Mothers of teens…you blinked and now you are looking like a deer in headlights. Parenting pre-teens/teens is a full time job in itself. Try not to react to the crazy that will happen and keep your communication open. Most of all, give yourself some grace and hold onto those really good days…you know the ones where you get more than 5 words out of them!
To the Mothers of high school seniors…take it ALL in and let them go. Watching your children fly is one of the most beautiful things – don’t clip their wings.
To the Mothers of adult children…you are badasses!! You made it to the finish line. Enjoy the fruits of your labors and when they do something super cool, smile with great pride.
To the Mothers who have lost children…an enormous hug to all of you. I don’t have the proper words and I’m not going to try. I’m truly just sending so much love, strength and continued support your way.
To those that have a strained relationship with their Mother…you are an incredible human being – her loss.
To the children (big and small) who have lost their Mothers… I can’t pretend to know how that feels. My heart aches for you. Close your eyes and think of the most beautiful memory of her and know that she lives within you.
To the stay-at-home Mom’s and full-time working Mom’s…the internal and external juggle is real. You are truly doing the job of multiple people all while trying to hold it together. Permission to break here and there. You are human and the overwhelm of doing ALL the things is hard. Please remember to schedule time just for YOU – you can’t pour from an empty cup.
To all the Mother’s and children who don’t feel they fit in a category above…have gratitude for those that have been a Mother figure to you. And above all, give some extra love to your Mother’s, Aunt’s, Godmother’s, Step-Mother’s…and your children, for they gave you the precious gift of Motherhood.
So, a heartfelt happy belated Mother’s Day to all of you mothers out there. Please remember that Facebook is a 30 second glimpse into someone’s day/life. Please do not compare yourself or your journey with anyone else else’s, because again…it’s a glimpse. However you celebrated yourself and your loved ones, is beautiful in its own right. If by chance you did not feel celebrated, I’m giving you a huge hug from afar and telling you that being a Mom is very tough and sometimes thankless but man oh man, is it so worth the ride!
Please don’t save honoring yourself just for Mother’s Day. Will you always get it right, nope…but there is also beauty in that. There is no ‘perfect’ motherhood and/or childhood. There is just your journey and it is messy and beautiful all at the same time – honor THAT. Don’t forget to buy yourself flowers and take in all their beauty, as you should take in your own. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference. Cheers!
