I had a conversation with a good friend recently on a day that started with a tough morning for me and it was the day after a not fun day as a mommy for her. And, we talked about motherhood not necessarily being a confidence booster, especially in the early years. Motherhood can be hard.
There may be moments, that last a few minutes or even days, when you think “I am a great mom.” It also seems like there are a lot of moments of “Am I doing this right? or “Is this the right decision for my child?”.
You are not alone
As a mom, I have questioned myself a lot, especially in the early years – more than I ever have as a professional or as even as a wife. I initially thought I was alone in this, but I’ve only spoken to one mom who is confident ALWAYS. And I’m talking about really confident women, who excel in their jobs and fields and who are truly outstanding individuals in all they do. As our boys have gotten older, I have started to feel more in the groove, but I still question myself.
Motherhood has its challenges – it’s often called the hardest job you’ll ever have. And there is a reason for that. It can be messy and exhausting. It can be frustrating. It has its moments that make you want to pull your hair out. Toddlerhood…enough said.
In the end, though, it’s so worth it. The happy moments are amazing. My boys seek out my hand when we’re walking somewhere. My boys give me a huge squeeze and say “I love you” or whisper “I had fun today” as I put them to bed. I receive a picture from our 6-year old that he has clearly spent so much time and effort on specifically for me. Our toddler says “Mommy loves me big!” and I’m filled with enough joy to make me smile from ear to ear for days. And I know moms out there can relate. Being a mom is the most fulfilling job I can imagine. I am thankful for the blessing of being a mom to these two wonderful boys.
You are loved, mama!
Moms out there, I’ll leave you with these thoughts…
You are not alone. Talk to another mom and she’ll tell you that she understands what you’re going through – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
We are enough. We are more than enough. We do enough. No, we do more than enough. Every day. We do our best and that is all that we can expect of ourselves. In those moments of doubt, take some deep breaths and give yourself some grace.
And remember that we are loved. We are loved by our kids, by our significant other, by our families…and by our tribe. Remember that, even in your moments of doubt, and maybe things won’t seem as hard.
Happy Mother’s Day, lovely moms everywhere! Sending all the virtual hugs and high fives you can imagine. Enjoy your day, whatever that looks like!!!
