100 Days of Happiness Day 78

Motherhood is the hardest job in the world. Even before I had children of my own I said it. I would nod solemnly and say, “Oh yes. Hardest job in the world.” But I didn’t really know what that meant.

For one, it means that from the moment you discover you are carrying a life inside you, your body is no longer your own. Everything you eat, smell, experience has to be considered. Once your baby arrives, your body is a source of food. And for years, your mommy body is a place of comfort, a shield, a climbing structure, a teething ring, a soft landing nest when the world becomes scary. Your hands soothe and feel for sickness and scrapes, and these hands also clean up poo and barf. Really, nothing is truly yours and yours alone any longer… Your time, your intentions, your very heart is wrapped up with your little children. And perhaps that is the most challenging (and rewarding) part of being a mother. You are exposed -- vulnerable… Your heart that had formerly been encased deep inside your body, beneath strong bones and tendons, now is set forth into the world. It runs directly into harm’s way sometimes. It will sometimes get bruised in front of your very eyes.  You must watch as your precious soft heart tumbles around in a tumultuous world. You guide as best as you can, but it is terrifying. And hard.

We all do it differently. There are single moms and working moms and full time stay at home moms. Some moms have one child, some have six children, some moms are pregnant for the very first time. Some mothers have lost children… One thing I know, we have all cried at night thinking we are doing it wrong. We look around and think the other moms have a firmer grasp on what to do. We are all struggling and working and doing our best. That is all we can do.  So we shouldn’t judge. Or compare. We should appreciate each other and give praise with kind words or helping hands.

I am thankful for my own mom today because she raised 2 kids on her own while working full time. That may sound like it was tough for her (it was!) but it has given me such perspective on the world around me. She showed me by example that women are strong, capable, creative, and can do anything. I am also thankful for John’s mom, who brought 3 amazing sons into the world. And I am so very thankful for the amazing mom friends I’ve made throughout the years – many “mentor moms” and friends who have made this mommy journey such a joy. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you  Mamas – not just today, but every day. You make me happy.