You know, these words don't come out of my mouth easily, as most of you reading this know, I think I am great at everything! AND I AM, (But only ask me for verification). And only because I have an awesome set of parents who made everything in my life possible, except my own kids....I'll claim those guys.
A mother's job is never finished, there is no break, off-switch, or days off. Even when the kids are not around a Mother's brain doesn't stop thinking about the list of responsibilities that goes along with said children. And many moms have said the silly phrase, It gets easier as they get older. I laugh at that now. Whoever said those ridiculous words is dead wrong. Its a malicious lie we seem to tell women who are new to the club. And as my babies are growing so fast, and as I watch my fifteen year old eat cheerios and chocolate milk on my new couch, I can't help but question if I was a horrible child as well- surely not!
I was practically perfect in every way. I didn't steal the car, lie about boys, or have a dirty room. I sat perfectly still at church, never raised my voice, and was an angel in school. When I look back at my years as a child and teenager, these are the memories that are most clear. And that's always what my mother made me think.
That was her real magic.
A mother's job is never finished, there is no break, off-switch, or days off. Even when the kids are not around a Mother's brain doesn't stop thinking about the list of responsibilities that goes along with said children. And many moms have said the silly phrase, It gets easier as they get older. I laugh at that now. Whoever said those ridiculous words is dead wrong. Its a malicious lie we seem to tell women who are new to the club. And as my babies are growing so fast, and as I watch my fifteen year old eat cheerios and chocolate milk on my new couch, I can't help but question if I was a horrible child as well- surely not!
I was practically perfect in every way. I didn't steal the car, lie about boys, or have a dirty room. I sat perfectly still at church, never raised my voice, and was an angel in school. When I look back at my years as a child and teenager, these are the memories that are most clear. And that's always what my mother made me think.
That was her real magic.
I have learned that's what a good mother does. Give their child the self-confidence and courage to take on the world, by not only giving the world to their horrible children but also living their dream. I watched my mother finish her Master's and Doctorate degree while raising 2 kids. I watched her pay bills and problem-solve, and resolve conflicts with her husband. When life launched lemons, she made lemon-aide (just like her mother taught her) I watched her get up every day and go to work.
I never saw the struggle, I only saw the smile.
As a mother myself now, I know this was not all there was. I have my four children I have realize I was probably not as perfect as I remembered...but that's how it should be. Kids should look back on their parents as the super-heroes who made life possible. It is impossible to hide the daily struggles from our kids, but I know I'm supposed to try- that's part of being a mom. I know I can't take away the ups and downs of life, and my kids shouldn't grow up in a bubble, but they need grow into adults with the strong foundation and self-confidence to take on the world. They need band-aides that heal, arms that hug, bodies that listen, and eyes that smile.
I never saw the struggle, I only saw the smile.
As a mother myself now, I know this was not all there was. I have my four children I have realize I was probably not as perfect as I remembered...but that's how it should be. Kids should look back on their parents as the super-heroes who made life possible. It is impossible to hide the daily struggles from our kids, but I know I'm supposed to try- that's part of being a mom. I know I can't take away the ups and downs of life, and my kids shouldn't grow up in a bubble, but they need grow into adults with the strong foundation and self-confidence to take on the world. They need band-aides that heal, arms that hug, bodies that listen, and eyes that smile.
To all the Moms who are making it one day at a time,
To all the Moms who are playing ball with their kids,
To all the Moms who stay up late at night waiting for their kids to make it home,
To all the Moms who are rubbing their bellies and have no idea of how their lives are about to change,
To all the Moms who are spending Mother's Day alone because their kids are off changing the world.
To all the Moms trying who think it's horrible I called children horrible.
We have some big shoes to fill!
To all the Moms who are playing ball with their kids,
To all the Moms who stay up late at night waiting for their kids to make it home,
To all the Moms who are rubbing their bellies and have no idea of how their lives are about to change,
To all the Moms who are spending Mother's Day alone because their kids are off changing the world.
To all the Moms trying who think it's horrible I called children horrible.
We have some big shoes to fill!
RSS Feed
