You are mother. Mom. Mommy. Mama. A superhero in sweats. A hero in a hoodie. And even the smell of fresh vomit or a trash can of dirty diapers can’t take you down. You work long days and sometimes even longer nights. You laugh until you cry and you cry until you fall asleep. Sometimes. But it is worth it.
They love you. They trust you. They think you are the best, the brightest, the most intelligent. Every coloring sheet scribbled and flower picked by the wayside is for you. Every note with misspelled words. Every offer to clean the windows with spit and paper towels. To them, your cape flies high, your eyes shine brightly, and you make the greatest grilled cheese the world will ever know.
Love the one they love. It is okay to love yourself. While they rest, so should you. Grab a book and relish in its pages. Sip on some hot tea from a beloved mug. Paint your nails bright red, wear your favorite shade of lipgloss. When others offer to help, let them. Allow them to give you respite so you can spend a little time in the quiet. Or a Mom’s Night Out with other ladies who found the one shirt that was clean to wear out in public. They love you too.
It is okay to buy a movie sized box of candy at Target and eat the entire box on the way home (I am totally fine with it). Find your favorite dress, light those candles and have desserts and good conversation out on the back porch with that husband of yours, with the fireflies dancing and the faint smell of those diapers wafting from the trash can indoors. Life is sweet. You are mom. Mother yourself as you would mother your littles.
Because one day the house will be empty, that laundry will finally all be folded, and you will have sweet memories of young motherhood and how taking just a little time for yourself left you refreshed and renewed.
Then you will call up those children of yours to see who’s hungry. Grilled cheese is on the menu today.
I don’t do this enough!! Thank you for the reminder. Great post!!
Shew, Neither do I. It is something I have been slowwwwly trying to be more intentional about over the past few months!!
Awww…you make me laugh and cry! You speak the truth. I need to get better at this! Thanks for this reminder and encouragement….it was just what I needed to read today!
Haha! Sorry about the tears, but yay for the laughter!! I need to get better as well, little by little though, huh? Thanks for your encouragement today!
With three little ones and homeschooling my 11 year old, I have practically given up on mommy time. Thanks for inspiring me to look for those little moments during the day. I should slow it down at night, hubby is often waiting for me to come to bed. I keep telling him oh, just the dishes, I’ll be there in a second, oh, let me sweep and mop. Finally when I’m done he is fast asleep. Thanks you!
I hear ya! I homeschool as well, and the very thought of any personal time seems non-existent. I am trying to be more and more intentional–waking up early for some quiet time, spend time with hubs before bed, where ever I can carve out that time!
Love it. Thank you for the sweet reminder that all too soon our children will be grown.
The best way to enjoy this time with them is to take care of ourselves,them and leave the house until its empty. (Besides it will be easier to clean then too.)
Amen! It WILL be easier to clean by then. Let’s just take care of the people in it and let the house see some love when the other hearts of the home are full! 🙂
So great and so true!!
Thanks Beth! It is something I am trying to be more and more intentional about!
A good word. 🙂
Thank you, sweet friend!
Love this .. Christie I prayed many years ago for a daughter ..GOD sent me a wonderful ,son who I love more than life, but I never dreamed all those years ago that YES someday I would b blessed by GOD to have a daughter and TODAY I can say THANK YOU GOD… …..For YOU .. Christie … My daughter who has blessed me with my beautiful babies .. You are a wonderful mother and I am so proud of you and how you are teaching Eden,August, Titus all about GOD.. I know I don’t say it enought… But you are a GREAT mom … Just enjoy these days with them because they WILL grow up and no one can explain how sad an empy house can be….until it’s EMPTY .. Love you:) Mimi
Thanks for the love, Peggy!
Love this Christie! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks! It was so fun meeting you last night!!