Mommy Monday: Thoughts on Being a Mom

This was shared on social media today by one of my best friends. I think women are naturally hard on themselves, but especially when it comes to being a Mom.

I wrote the following about six months ago:

I just welcomed my fourth baby on April Fools Day, and her entrance into the world was no joke! My water broke in Walmart, my Dr. was out of town, and to really top it off, my epidural didn't work, resulting in my first all-natural delivery. It pretty much put an exclamation point on a very crazy,  difficult, trying year. It's hard to complain too much, when I see others who have things so much worse; but we all face hard things, and I've learned it's how you respond to challenges that really prove what you are made of. I'm not saying I always respond in the best way, and it seems to me that hard things will continue to be put in front of me until I can learn to face them with unwavering faith, dignity, and bravery...so most likely the rest of my life!

What I have learned this past year, is that I am stronger than I ever thought possible. However, there are times when it's hard for me to see what gifts and abilities I have been blessed with in life. My Mom is a gifted musician, who uses her talents to bless the lives of an entire community. She's also a writer, who has had multiple stories published. It's easy to look at all of the talented people (especially women) in my life, who seem to be making a difference. Right now my entire life is engrossed in raising four little munchkins. As I take a short break to type this, I have kids fighting over Legos, a baby starting to wake up, laundry that needs to be switched, dishes that need to be done, and dinner that needs to be made...oh, and now a bloody nose to deal with. 

Yep, that about sums it up. Life with four kids is all-consuming. I see friends being successful in their careers, starting businesses, and using their many talents that I do not posess. Right now my biggest accomplishments are completing endless loads of laundry and dishes, making sure we are all kept clean and fed, helping with homework, reading stories, playing with toys, and singing songs. I'm not rewarded with income or career advancements, but I am starting to see the little rewards I do get: lots of hugs and kisses, beautiful baby smiles, kids' amazing test scores, developmental milestones, hand-made pictures and I love you notes...just to name a few.

Life is good! Being a Mom is the hardest job I've ever had. I worked a variety of jobs from around age 8 or 9, until I gave birth to my oldest at 27. It was not easy to quit and be a full-time Mom, but I have never regretted my decision to be at home. They grow up so fast! Even though I am hard on myself and want to do better, I hope that in the future they will understand and appreciate my sacrifice. I am forever grateful my own Mom was home with me and my siblings. There are specific times I remember needing her, and I could always rely on her being there for me. 

This is my life as a Mom. These are the four best things I've done with my life up to this point, and I'm grateful they call me Mommy.