Being a Mom

There's no such thing as being a perfect mother. It's not possible to perfectly execute every move you make or every statement that comes out of your mouth. It's not possible to always react just exactly the way that is best received by those listening. There is no such thing as perfect and infact, perfect would be pretty boring.

I'm not sure that kids appreciate or even understand all that we do for them. From birth, they have depended on us to meet their every need, so often making it look effortless. So why would they take the time to consider all the sacrifices we make or consider how hard some of what we do actually is?

Being a Mom is the most rewarding and also the flippin hardest thing ever. Yes. EVER. It is all consuming, thankless, and never ending. When your "child" is 5, 15, 45...they are still your child and you will still parent them...or at least try to. You would do anything to take all of their hurt and worry away, to your own detriment. You would run, drive, fly to the rescue if asked. You'd even walk over Legos too...wait...maybe not walk on Legos. Have you done that?! The worst! Kidding. You'd walk on hot as coal Legos. Twice even!

They come into this world, all slimy and screaming, yet our motherly instincts kick in then, or eventually, and we love them without condition. We love the little booger eating, limit testing, manipulative, beautiful creatures with our whole hearts. Fascinating, isn't it? We wouldn't tolerate their behavior from another living soul, but we will love our children to the end of time. That kind of love exists nowhere else.

So today, as I leave counseling, to help process all of the kid things and all the baggage that leaves, I am grateful. I'm tired, depleted, kinda blah, but deeply grateful. Being a Mom is the exhausting gift that keeps on giving, but I wouldn't change it for anything.