To you, the mother.
To you, perhaps the tired mother who wants to throw her hands in
the air and have a good cry over the frustration of the day but
can't even figure out what exactly made it so frustrating. To
you the mother with littles who need you 25 hours in a 24 hour
day. To you the mother, in whatever season of motherhood you may
be in who needs a reminder about motherhood. To you, the mother,
who might wonder if all of this mothering stuff really does make
a difference.
Well, it does. And here is a small reminder of why.
You see, you are an amazing being. You get up before dawn and go
to sleep well past the setting sun. And often, you stay awake
through out the nights - waking to the cry of an infant or the
whimper of a toddler with a bad dream or up watching for the
teenager to return home. You, even though you're tired, wake
in the morning and put a smile on your face and look at those
little ones who kept you up through the night and whisper to them
I love you. It's a love that isn't dependent on sleep or
looks or agendas. It's a mother's love.
You cook and bake and clean and do it all again. And again. And
again. So often when there's nothing in the pantry you can
work your magic and pull a meal together that gets the cheers and
hoorays of those sitting around your table. But you have thick
skin - often the meals are met with noses turned and sighs and
little ones telling you they really don't like whatever you
lovingly prepared. And then, dear mother, you negotiate and
barter and set limits and hope that they eat at least two bites
before they wash it down with the diluted half milk half
chocolate milk mixture.
You are the chief problem solver. You can handle any argument -
whose turn it is to unload or load or if one kid is bothering the
other way too much. You have limits on name calling, yelling,
fibbing, and teasing. You have mastered the art of counting to
ten - in a row. You know when to step back and climb the stairs
and sit on the floor in the bathroom and count to one hundred and
then come out with a renewed sense of energy. And even if you
don't have you just push through. And sometimes, it means
pbjs or pancakes for dinner - and then your kids think you're
even cooler.
You budget and drive and clean. And laundry? You breathe it. Day
in and day out and day in and day out. Those mystery and long
lost socks are no match for you the sorter, folder, and
organizer. And even when you get behind you still joke about
taming Mount Washmore even though really, really you wish for
just one week where you didn't have to fold all of those
clothes. But, deep down, hidden in there, you know that this is a
season - a sweet season - where the onesies, blankets, size 2T
socks, soccer shorts, and leotards get to be in your wash. So you
breathe deep and try to remember the value and sweetness of these
fleeting years while you fold the stack of wrinkled t-shirts.
You, dear mother, are amazing. So often you look at all others
are doing and then you measure yourself with a stick that is much
too short. You'll look at all they do and miss the amazing
things you do. No one knows your kids the way you do - their
quirks, sense of humor, and how to finally get them to stay in
bed. You know when to just ignore the noise and keep on talking.
You know them. You go to bed exhausted and wake up tired and yet
you still give and do it the next day because you love the ones
who call you mom.
You need a reminder today, a reminder of your greatness. And so
today, to you the chief budget keeper, problem solver, sock
folder, rocking chair rocker, temperature taker, sitter up till
the teen gets home, sweeper, toy sorter for the tenth time in a
day, listener, driver to and fro, cooker, cleaner, medicine
giver, tamer of the laundry, repeated reader of books, and giver
of self you need to remember that what you are doing today makes
a difference.
It matters.
Motherhood matters greatly. The littles or middles or bigs in
your home look at you. Their mom. They see the good - the way you
give, the sweet things you do, the meals you make - and they love
you. You deserve to be loved. And sometimes, sometimes they
forget to tell you. Sometimes they yell at you or don't obey
or say things like I hate you and all of that. Those things
don't define you. Instead of quitting you just keep going.
You go through sleepless nights, tight budgets, crabby kids,
worry about tomorrow, homework being lost, times being sick, more
sleepless nights, and all of the above plus more. Those tender
hugs from years passed matter just as much today as do those
moments where you want to whisper I quit but instead keep going.
That is my definition of a hero.
You are a hero.
Every single day. When you get up and rise and love on those kids
and give of self. Don't ever listen to the lies of the world
that tell you that you are only a good mom if you do x, y, and z.
Motherhood isn't graded by the number of pinterest projects
completed, or clever facebook status updates, or perfectly
executed birthday parties, or the number on the scale. Motherhood
isn't this quantifiable thing - it's not graded by
everything you accomplish, but rather is a beautiful example of
giving of self and loving even when the reserve tank is empty.
Your heart gives everyday.
So you, sweet mother, today I want you to move through your day -
no matter how your day is - and remember that you are making a
difference. Those kids who seem forever young will grow. And you,
you are the one blessed with today and the time to walk that
growing up journey with them. In all the bumps, twists, turns,
and ups and downs no matter what you are their mother. And that
is something to be absolutely celebrated today.
Grab your cape.
Superheroes need them.
Because that is exactly what you are.