Being a Mom is enough.
Seriously. It is. I recently found myself in the corporate world having to justify my purpose and the importance of staying home with my son. When people ask, “So, what are you going to do now that you won’t be working?” I answer, “Take care of my son.”
Hearing that response, I get different judgmental looks and notice that some people want further explanation, as if the work it takes to be a mom isn’t enough. Or isn’t even relevant compared to whatever else should define me like my job, my goals, my marriage, and the way in which I earn a paycheck.
Why is it that when I say I am a mom some people expect something else to follow? As if I hadn’t just said something to them. Being a mom is enough. PERIOD. That’s it. End of story. That is my sole purpose right now: to raise my son.
It’s a 24/7 calling with a $0 paycheck.
That is enough. That is every single second of every single day. I don’t need to follow up with anything else. I don’t need to justify or validate myself to anyone. I am a mom. I am a provider of life. I am enough. My new calling in life is enough.
My new calling in life doesn’t end in 30 years and then I draw a pension. It is forever. It is to provide him with the best possible start in life and get his soul to eternity. I think that is enough. He will only be little and young for such a short period of time. I will cherish it and will be there for him no matter what it takes.
His first six months of life I think I was away from him a total of 30 hours combined. That is 30 out of 4,380 hours.
Does that sound insane? Maybe.
But guess what? He absolutely needed me 24/7 and it was worth it. ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT. I nursed him, carried him, held him when he slept, interacted with him, BAWLED HYSTERICALLY cried with him, and built up his confidence and independence. You can see that in his personality. You can see that the love, sacrifice, and affection I gave him has made him the happiest and healthiest baby, and now toddler.
Being a mom is enough, ladies. Seriously. IT IS.
You grow humans for crying out loud. HUMANS. Your body grows a brain, heart, lungs, eyeballs, and so much more. I THINK THAT IS ENOUGH. For those mommas who breastfeed, you are making food for your child solely to survive, provide nutrition, security, and an incredible bond. YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR.
Do I value who I am outside of being a mom? ABSOLUTELY.
Do those other hobbies, jobs, careers, friendships, and relationships matter? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.
BUT, when a woman is asked, “So, what do you do?” “When are you going back to work?” “Why aren’t you using your degree?” “Don’t you have student loans to pay off now?” “You aren’t going back full-time?” “That must be nice to stay at home all day and not work,” kindly smile and respond, BYE FELICIA “Bless your heart.”
Because, deep down you know, YOU ARE ENOUGH.
