Growing into myself: Happy Mother's Day!

It’s funny how trials and hardships are the catalyst for getting to know oneself.  I never seem to know what I am made of until it has been tested and tried.  Although I feel as if I must relearn myself ever few months I no longer have the debilitating self doubt that carried my through high school.  The only thing I can attribute to this fact is that I know what my role is and I am proud of all I accomplish in the role of mother.  As I have mentioned before I have never been the overly feminine or nurturing personality and although I desired more than ever to be a mother I worried that it would not come naturally to me as it did to so many others.  Although there was the typical adjustment period I feel that for the first time in my life, I have found my calling.  Now I am not saying I am an awesome mother, but I am confident in my role and proud and privileged to be blessed with the gift and miracle that is my son.  Who would have thought that the job that is ever changing and so mentally, physically and emotionally taxing would be the one thing to give me confidence in who I am?  But no matter what happens in my life around my or how my relationships change with others, I will first and foremost always be a mother.  That confidence is something I have been searching my whole life for and now even though I am still self conscious about my person appearance and weight, over all it doesn’t matter because that does not affect my role as mother.  Although I am still filled with self doubt and second guessing, I know I always put my child first and do everything in my power to make him happy, keep him happy while teaching him the emotional and mental skills he will need for the duration of his life, while all the while learning all I can from him; this is what makes me a good mom.  As I am expecting a second addition to our family I can’t help but compare this pregnancy to my first and remember all the anxiety I felt and all the fear I faced at the endless possibilities of failure.  Not that I am a seasoned mom seeing I have only been doing this for nineteen months, but if I had any advice to offer it would be this:

-You are the world to an individual, make sure and stay worthy of that praise by always striving to be the best we can as we guide our children through the pitfalls of life.

-Remember yourself and learn that you are you…and you are a mother; find a balance so the mom aspect of your life strengthens the you aspect that was there pre baby.

-Set your goals high for what you want to get accomplished (whether daily or lifelong goals) and don’t be overly critical or too hard on yourself if you fall short.  Your children are watching and learning to shoot for stars even if we miss a time or two.

-Lastly, always share love and affection.  I know my son needs a good cuddle after he wakes up and although it often times throws off my schedule, I always well rewarded when he shows me affection in return with hugs and kisses throughout the day that many time heal any sort of ache in my heart.

We have been gifted with a great responsibility, so to all my fellow mommies out there: Happy Mother’s Day.  You are all amazing women and I know I have learned so much from many of you and could only hope to be the type of mom I see in many of you.  Remember today isn’t about the praise from our spouses or children (that’s if they even remember the day) instead today is a recognition that it take a hearty woman to fill her own shoes while tying the shoes of several others J