Dear Mommy,
Just as you have set the children down for a moment of rest,
after wiping peanut butter off of every flat surface in the kitchen and putting
the fourth load of laundry to wash again because it was forgotten in the washer
and has now become musty smelling… I want to remind you that you are beautiful.
The work that is done behind the scenes just so life can run
smoothly is important work. Did you learn this juggling act in school? Probably
not. Did you learn the art of nursing a baby while helping your 2-year-old go
potty and in the midst of sing-alongs with your 4-year-old? Not likely. But
here you are, doing important work.
“The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” ~William Ross Wallace.
It is a season. Those years when your little ones are
growing, developing and formulating their perspective of the world will pass by
in the blink of an eye, so slow down and just be in that season. There will
never be anyone better at being your children’s mother than you. It doesn’t
mean it is easy. It requires waking up a bit earlier than the brood to spend
some time in prayer, collecting your thoughts and even getting in some
exercise. This sounds like a tall order, especially if you are still waking up
in the middle of the night with babies, but trust me, the discipline of an
early alarm clock for precious quiet time will save your sanity. You will find
that you can get a better grip on your day, your spirit and your health when
you put this little tip into practice.
It is not selfish, it is self-preservation. Keep your own
cup full so that you can pour out love and goodness to your babies.
Society has changed so much in the past few decades and
stay-at-home-moms now seem to be viewed as those who have a luxurious
privilege, but truthfully, who better than a child’s mother to know the heart
of a child and guide the shaping of their character? Today’s families are so
busy and often juggle the caretaking responsibilities of the children. Everyone
thinks someone else is watching the littles and frequently the needful guiding
hand is not available to truly help the child arrive safely to adulthood.
I won’t pretend that I understand your family dynamics, or
what best fits your finances, but I will tell you this, you will never regret
dedicating your time to be fully present during the young years of your child(ren)’s
lives. Fulfillment in a career can come at a different time in life. Does it
mean that you cannot have your own personal interests? I don’t think so. Those
motherhood years can be ones that you develop skills in cooking, organizing,
writing, gardening, floral arranging, teaching (you are teaching your children
every day- degree or not), photography, sewing and even develop leadership
skills as you volunteer for organizations pertaining to your children’s
activities. When my children were very young, I would go to the library and
check out every book I could get my hands on in a particular subject, like
floral arranging or bread-making, and use resources at home to hone these new
skills. Those were some of the most enriching years. The children often learned
right alongside of me.
Perhaps not a one will read this simple musing, but the
thought begged to be written out. Mommies are irreplaceable. If you are having
a difficult day, or it seems like you will never find yourself again amongst
the endless duties of mommy-hood, rest assured, this is a season, and you are
doing the most important work of your life.
xoxo,
Tasha Brickhouse, RD, LD/N
xoxo,
Tasha Brickhouse, RD, LD/N
